THE RELATIONSHIP OF CALORIC-INTAKE TO FREQUENCY OF DIETING AMONG PREADOLESCENT AND ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Objective: To assess the relationships of concern with weight and shap e, frequency of dieting, body mass index (weight/height2 ), and energy intake among 431 preadolescent and adolescent girls from a working-cl ass New England suburb. Method: A cross-sectional study design used se lf-report measures of concern with weight, frequency of dieting, and a verage dietary intake. Results: Approximately 30% of the girls in each age stratum were above the national age-standardized 85th percentile for body mass index (BMI). Body mass index was positively associated w ith concern about weight and shape (r = 0.46, p = 0.0001) and frequenc y of dieting (r = 0.49, p = 0.0001). Extreme concern with weight and s hape was most common among the obese preadolescent and adolescent girl s; however, dissatisfaction was also present among the underweight fem ales. Fifty percent of the girls who were below the national age-stand ardized 15th percentile for BMI reported their ideal weight is less th an their current weight, implying that among young women thinness is n ot adequate protection against dissatisfaction with weight and shape. Frequency of dieting was positively associated with concern about weig ht and shape (r = 0.53, p = 0.001) but not physical activity (r = -0.0 4, p = 0.36). Overall, we did not find strong evidence that dieters we re eating less than their nondieting peers. Only among high school stu dents was there a significant negative association between frequency o f dieting and energy intake (r = -0.20, p = 0.01), suggesting that ''d ieting'' may have a different meaning to preadolescents and adults. Co nclusions: These findings indicate that self-reported frequent dieting in preadolescent and young adolescent girls is more indicative of ext reme concern with weight than of decreased energy intake. Furthermore, extreme concern with weight and shape is most common among the obese preadolescent and adolescent girls.