CHANGES IN PSYCHOLOGICAL VARIABLES AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS BY DIETING STATUS OVER A 3-YEAR PERIOD IN A COHORT OF ADOLESCENT FEMALES

Purpose: Psychologic and behavioral changes associated with frequent d ieting were examined. Compared to nondieters, frequent dieters were hy pothesized to show more adverse psychologic changes and increased use of unhealthy weight control behaviors, but possibly healthier eating a nd exercise behavior changes, over the three-year period of observatio n. Methods: A prospective study of female students, in grades 7-10 at baseline completed a health behavior survey in school once a year for a total of three years. Results: Restrained eating, body dissatisfacti on and drive for thinness, self-induced vomiting, laxative use, diet p ill use, and alcohol use, significantly increased, and physical appear ance and self-concept significantly decreased among frequent dieters, compared to nondieters. Changes in scores on five EDI subscales, eight self-esteem subscales, weight fluctuations, dietary intake, and physi cal activity patterns did not significantly differ over time by dietin g status. Conclusion: Dieting may reflect a general pattern of unhealt hy behaviors adopted in adolescence, rather than act as a causal facto r in promoting psychologic distress.