ARE OBESE ADOLESCENT BOYS IGNORING AN IMPORTANT HEALTH RISK

Objective: The present study assessed satisfaction with weight, shape, and physical appearance, as well as the frequency of weight reduction efforts, in four well-defined groups of adolescents: (1) normal-weigh t girls; (2) normal-weight boys; (3) obese girls; and (4) obese boys. Method: Subjects were selected from 453 females and 355 males from a p arochial school. In addition to the measurements of height and weight, adolescents completed a series of questionnaires on weight and dietin g, weight and figure satisfaction, parents' attitudes toward weight, a nd anxiety. Results: Only 49% of obese boys had tried to lose weight o ver the past year as compared to 90% of the obese girls (p < .001). On ly 13% of the obese boys were currently dieting as compared to 62% of the obese girls (p < .001). Despite the relative equivalence of weight in the obese boys and girls, the boys perceived themselves to be less overweight (p < .05) and happier with their looks (p < .001) than obe se girls. Thirty-three percent of normal-weight girls were dieting, an d 70% had attempted weight loss over the past year. They were signific antly less happy with their weight and figure than were average-weight boys (p < .001) and, remarkably, did not differ significantly from ov erweight boys on these measures. Discussion: Obese adolescent males, i n particular, need to be educated about the potential liabilities of t heir excess weight and encouraged to take appropriate action to correc t it. (C) 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.