High prevalence of abnormal eating and weight control practices among U.S. high-school students

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine the prevalence and to identify correlates of abnormal eating and weight control practices in U.S. high-school students. METHOD: A three-stage cluster design technique was used to select 15,349 students from 144 different high schools. Each completed the 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Questionnaire. RESULTS: Abnormal eating and weight control practices during the past month were reported by over 26% of female students and 10% of male students. Rates of abnormal eating and weight control practices varied by ethnicity and geographic location. Other correlates of abnormal eating and weight control practices included having an underweight body mass index (BMI): (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.01-1.91), exercising to control weight in past 30 days (OR=1.51, 95% CI=1.30-1.76), dieting to control weight in past 30 days (OR=3.89, 95% CI=2.65-5.73), and interactions between gender and both weight perception and weight satisfaction. DISCUSSION: The high proportion of U.S. high-school students who have participated in abnormal eating and weight control practices in the past month demands immediate attention. The identified correlates may help target prevention and control programs.