INAPPROPRIATE DIETING BEHAVIORS AND RELATED LIFE-STYLE FACTORS IN YOUNG-ADULTS - ARE COLLEGE-STUDENTS DIFFERENT

Completed mail surveys were used to determine the presence of inapprop riate dieting behaviors, which included use of diet pills, powders, or restrictive diets, induced vomiting, or laxative use to get rid of fo od eaten. The subjects were a random sample of young adults in Michiga n, 18 to 24 years, divided into subgroups of male and female college s tudents, nonstudents, and college graduates. Fifty men and 51 women co mpleted mail surveys after an initial telephone contact. The findings showed that 33.3% of women and 8% of men reported use of inappropriate dieting behaviors. College men and women reported the greatest use of inappropriate dieting behaviors (9.7% and 43.3%, respectively) but we re the most physically active. Young adults who had never been to coll ege were the heaviest (body mass index [kg/m(2)] = 25.0 and 27.6, for men and women, respectively). The study findings led to the question w hether the collegiate environment combines with stage of development t o precipitate use of inappropriate dieting behaviors. Overweight and s moking were health risks for young adults who had not attended college . Thus, there is a need to target health education efforts to young ad ults outside the college environment as well as on college campuses.