Naturalistic weight-reduction efforts prospectively predict growth in relative weight and onset of obesity among female adolescents

This study examined the prospective relations of naturalistic weight-reduct ion efforts to growth in relative weight and onset of obesity with data fro m a community study of female adolescents (N = 692). Initial self-labeled d ieting, appetite suppressant/laxative use, incidental exercise, vomiting fo r weight-control purposes, and binge eating predicted elevated growth in re lative weight over the 4-year period. Dietary restraint, self-labeled dieti ng, exercise for weight-control purposes, and appetite suppressant/laxative use predicted an increased risk for obesity onset. Data imply that the wei ght-reduction efforts reported by adolescents are more likely to result in weight gain than in weight loss and suggest the need to educate youth on mo re effective weight-control strategies.