American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 20, 1045-1056, Copyright © 1967 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Adolescent Dieters: Who Are They?

Physical Characteristics, Attitudes and Dieting Practices of Adolescent Girls

¹ From Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

1) Fifteen percent of adolescent girls surveyed were found obese by triceps skin-fold measurements. About 60% of them had been on reducing diets by the time they were seniors in high school and about 30% of them were on diets at the time they were questioned. Therefore, a larger percentage of the girls had dieted than those who would be objectively classified from a medical standpoint as being frankly obese or even nearing obesity and in need of dieting.

2) Dieting behavior was related to body weight, body fatness, build characteristics, and perception of overweight.

3) Many girls who do not need to reduce for health reasons wish to reduce for purposes of appearance and are trying to do so.

4) Dieting practices differed with degree of obesity. Obese dieters reported that they: were on diets longer, had started dieting younger, and had more weight loss on their diets than nonobese dieters.

5) Knowledge of nutrition with regard to calories was low, but higher among dieters than nondieters, and among the obese than the nonobese.

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