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Extreme Weight Control Behaviors and Risky Sexual Behaviors Among High School Students

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Emily Johnson, MS, CHES , Department of Health Education & Behavior, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Robert Weiler, PhD, MPH
Tracey E. Barnett, PhD , Department of Behavioral Science and Community Health, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Lisa Pealer, PhD , Hassett Willis and Company, Washington, DC
Purpose:  Extreme weight control behaviors (EWCB), such as using laxatives and diet pills, skipping meals, and self-induced vomiting, are predictors of disordered eating among adolescents and have been linked to depression, substance abuse, and cigarette use. It appears that there is also a connection between EWCB and risky sexual behaviors (RSB), although the literature is less clear.  To corroborate current evidence, this study examined associations between EWCB and RSB.

Methods:  Data were collected from a convenience sample of 4,178 students in grades 9-12 attending five high schools using the YRBS questionnaire. Logistical regression models were used to assess associations between EWCB and RSB controlling for demographic characteristics.

Results: More females than males report fasting (17% vs 8%; X2 = 68.6, p<.0001), taking diet pills (7% vs 4%; X2 = 18.0, p<.0001), and vomiting (7% vs 3%; X2 = 29.7. p<.0001). Adjusting for sex, grade level, and race, participants who reported fasting behaviors were 3.2 times (CI: 2.3-4.5) more likely to have had sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13. Vomiting or laxative use was predictive of early sex initiation (AOR 4.3, CI: 2.8-6.5) as were diet pills (AOR 3.5, CI: 2.2-5.3). Participants who fasted were 1.4 times (CI: 1.1-1.7) more likely to have had more than three sexual partners.

Conclusion:  EWCB were significantly associated with greater odds of RSB among adolescents, suggesting a co-morbidity manifestation of behaviors related to body-image distress.  Findings underscore the importance of providing school health services to adolescents who practice EWCB.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe the association between extreme weight control behaviors and an increased risk of risky sexual behaviors among high school students. Explain the association between extreme weight control behaviors (including fasting, taking diet pills or using laxatives, and vomiting for weight control)and early sexual initiation among female high school students.

Keyword(s): Sexual Risk Behavior, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Doctoral Student in the Department of Health Education and have been working with professionals in the field on this research. As they have authored and co-authored numerous scholarly articles, they bring expertise to the study in regards to methodology and research design. I have previous professional experience working with adolescents in high school.
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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