243813 Losing Weight by Any Means? The Relationship between Weight Loss Status and Weight Loss Methods Among High School Students in Tennessee

Monday, October 31, 2011: 11:30 AM

Amanda R. Cole, MS , Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Norman Weatherby, PhD , Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Andrew Owusu, PhD , Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Poliala Mahoney Dickson, MS , Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Brittney D. Oliver, BS , Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
Samuel Sowah, BS , Department of Health and Human Performance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN
     
Background/Purpose– Many interventions have been aimed at adolescents who are overweight or obese in order to reduce negative health outcomes. Using TYRBS (Tennessee Youth Risk Behavior Survey) data, this study examines the association between trying to lose weight and several weight loss methods (both healthy and unhealthy) considering gender and age. Method– We utilized data from the 2009 TYRBS. The sample size was 2,209 high school students. Selected weight loss methods (physical activity, eating less food, fasting, using diet pills, and inducing vomiting) were dichotomized for complex sample tables' analyses. Analysis/Results– Odds ratios were calculated for each variable assessed. Students who were trying to lose weight were more likely (OR = 1.85 [1.47-2.32]) to participate in physical activity for 60 minutes daily, eat less in the last 30 days to lose weight (OR = 12.1 [9.38-15.64]), fast to lose weight (OR = 4.03 [2.90-5.60]), take diet pills (OR = 7.74 [4.66-12.86]), and induce vomiting to lose weight (OR = 3.44 [1.90-6.20]). No significant associations were observed when considering age and gender. Conclusions– Significant associations between weight loss status (trying to lose weight) and unhealthy weight loss methods among this population indicate potential serious negative health consequences. Additional research, grounded in theory, is recommended to better understand unhealthy weight loss practices among this population.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the current status of the Tennessee overweight and obese adolescent population List unhealthy weight loss methods Analyze associations between students trying to lose weight and weight loss methods used

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Weight Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: This was my thesis topic that I defended in July to graduate with my masters degree. My advisor is Dr. Norman Weatherby. I have previously presented other poster presentations. I have been studying weight in adolescents for three years. I did a training for Nashville Metro health teachers on the topic of obesity in adolescents. I have experience as a health educator and inspector in the food safety field.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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