Use of Questionable Dieting Practices among Young Women Examined by Weight History

Abstract

Given health concerns about destructive dieting practices, this investigation examined differences in dieting practices, dietary and activity patterns, and body dissatisfaction between young women who were weight stable and women who were not. Retrospective group comparisons were carried out for 155 college women 18–24 years of age, who were measured for height and weight after completing a questionnaire on dieting and food and exercise practices. Only 3 women had maintained weight losses for at least 2 years. In the final analysis, 119 women were classified into one of three groups based on dieting and weight history: (1) weight regainers (n = 48), (2) weight-stable dieters (n = 48), and (3) weight-stable nondieters (n = 23). Regainers used more dieting methods (p ≤ 0.01), used more questionable dieting methods (p ≤ 0.01), reported consuming fewer calories (p ≤ 0.05), had higher BMIs (p ≤ 0.01), and had greater body dissatisfaction (p ≤ 0.01) than stable dieters and stable nondieters. These findings support the conclusion that women who regain weight use significantly more questionable weight control strategies than do women whose weight is stable. The Health Objective 2000 of sound dietary practices and regular exercise to attain appropriate body weight will not likely be achieved in this population of women without special risk reduction efforts and attention to underlying psychosocial issues.