WHY DO ADOLESCENT GIRLS WATCH THEIR WEIGHT - AN INTERVIEW STUDY EXAMINING SOCIOCULTURAL PRESSURES TO BE THIN

Body concerns, dieting, and weight watching were examined in 30 year 1 0 adolescent girls. Semistructured interviews consisting of open-ended and rated questions assessed descriptions of and reasons for weight l oss attempts, with an emphasis on noting sociocultural influences. Aud iotaped and transcribed interviews were assessed for themes, coded and rated. Findings suggested a strong role of sociocultural influences l eading to both unhealthy and healthy body attitudes and eating behavio rs. Media and fashion were reported to exert the strongest pressures t o be thin for subjects. While a few subjects reported direct pressures to diet from friends and parents, indirect social influences were mor e common. These influences included social comparison, joint dieting a nd avoidance of social disapproval. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.