WEIGHT MODIFICATION EFFORTS REPORTED BY BLACK-AND-WHITE PREADOLESCENTGIRLS - NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE GROWTH AND HEALTH STUDY

Objective. This study tested four hypotheses: (1) a high percentage of 9- and 10-year-old girls are already trying to lose weight; (2) more white than black girls are trying to lose weight; (3) more black than white girls are trying to gain weight; and (4) weight modification eff orts of preadolescent girls are influenced by factors other than race, such as maternal criticism, body dissatisfaction, and socioeconomic s tatus. Design. Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data on 2379 girls 9 and 10 years of age, which consisted of 1213 black and 1166 white e nrollees. Results. Black girls were taller and heavier and showed earl ier signs of puberty than white girls but were less dissatisfied with their weight, body shape, and body parts. Approximately 40% of 9- and 10-year-old girls reported that they were trying to lose weight. Of th ose girls classified in the fourth quartile of body mass index (BMI), approximately 75% were trying to lose weight. After adjusting for BMI, no significant black and white differences in the prevalence of those trying to lose weight were seen, but significantly more black than wh ite girls were trying to gain weight. Multiple logistic regression ide ntified a high BMI, the mother telling her she was too fat, and body d issatisfaction as the major factors associated with trying to lose wei ght. However, chronic dieting was only associated with a high BMI and the mother telling her she was too fat. An important predictor of girl s who were trying to gain weight was being black, along with having a low BMI and the mother telling her she was too thin. Conclusions. Atte mpts at gaining weight are much more frequent among black preadolescen t girls than their white counterparts. No racial difference was found between black and white girls in their efforts to lose weight or to pr actice chronic dieting. Because approximately 40% of 9- and 10-year-ol d girls are already trying to lose weight, pediatricians should capita lize on this concern by providing information on proper weight control techniques. Educational efforts should be directed to both the mother and the child, because weight control efforts of preadolescent girls are stimulated by their mothers' admonitions of being too fat or too t hin. The high prevalence of dieting among the thinnest preadolescent g irls also needs to be addressed by pediatricians.