WEIGHT CONTROL PRACTICES OF UNITED-STATES ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of various weight-loss practices in U.S. adolescents and adults. Design: The Youth Risk Behavior Surve y, a self-administered survey of a random sample of high school studen ts in 1990 and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a rando m-digit dial survey in 1989. Setting: Thirty-eight states and the Dist rict of Columbia. Participants: High school students (n = 11 467) and adults 18 years and older (n = 60 861). Results: Among high school stu dents, 44% of female students and 15% of male students reported that t hey were trying to lose weight. An additional 26% of female students a nd 15% of male students reported that they were trying to keep from ga ining more weight. Students reported that they had used the following weight control methods in the 7 days preceding the survey: exercise (5 1% of female students and 30% of male students); skipping meals (49% a nd 18%, respectively); taking diet pills (4% and 2%, respectively); an d vomiting (3% and 1%, respectively). Among adults, 38% of women and 2 4% of men reported that they were trying to lose weight, whereas 28% o f each sex reported that they were trying to maintain their weight. Co nclusions: Attempts to lose or maintain weight are very prevalent amon g both adolescents and adults, especially among females.