The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among teens is a major public health problem. Project EAT-I found that approximately 12% of females and almost 17% of males were obese (defined as at or above the 95th percentile). Another 20% of girls and 15% of boys were overweight (defined as at or above the 85th percentile but less than the 95th percentile).
Females:For females, obesity was most common among African American, Hispanic and Native American youth. In each group, 15-22% of these youth were obese and another 20-26% of youth were overweight. The percent of youth who were obese or overweight was considerably lower among Asian American and White females.
Males:The picture was similar for males; more than 25% of Native American males and 20% of Hispanic males were obese, and in both groups another 22% of males were overweight. However, in males, the prevalence of obesity was similar among African American and White youth (about 15%). In contrast to females, obesity was more common among Asian American males (17%) than among White males.
The prevalence of obesity among teens remained high from Project EAT-I to Project EAT-II. Results also showed a secular increase from 1999 to 2004 in the combined prevalence of obesity and overweight among high school females. Among females who participated in Project EAT-II as high school students, the combined prevalence of obesity and overweight was 28%.
Dieting and Weight Concerns
While about 1 in 5 females who participated in Project EAT-I were actually found to be overweight, the majority of teenage females were worried about their weight and reported attempts to diet.
Dieting is common among teenagers and may lead to weight gain through the long-term adoption of behaviors that are counterproductive to weight management, including binge eating, reduced breakfast consumption, and decreased physical activity. Results from Project EAT-I showed...
Forty percent of students went on a diet in the past year.
Eighty-five percent of female and 70% of male students used moderate dieting behaviors such as eating less high-fat food, eating less sweets, and eating more fruits and vegetables over the past year.
A concerning 56% of females and 32% of males used unhealthy dieting behaviors such as skipping meals, using diet pills, and smoking more cigarettes, specifically to lose or control their weight.
A smaller but quite worrisome percentage of students were the 12% of females and 4% of males who reported use of dangerous dieting behaviors such as taking laxatives or diuretics, vomiting after meals, or fasting.
Approximately 3.5% of students surveyed reported having a doctor tell them they have an eating disorder. Undoubtedly, the high rates of overweight and obesity among youth is a major public health concern, but disordered eating and eating disorders are also of great concern.
Over the 5 years between Project EAT-I and Project EAT-II, there were increases in the percent of young people using unhealthy dieting behaviors.
Among females who transitioned from middle school to high school the percent reporting unhealthy behaviors (e.g., skipping meals) increased from 49% to 59% and the percent using extreme weight control behaviors (e.g., taking diet pills) increased from 9% to 18%. Extreme weight control behaviors also increased from 14% to 24% among females who transitioned from high school to post-high school.
The use of unhealthy weight control behaviors decreased among males who transitioned from middle school to high school. However, among males who transitioned from high school to post-high school, the percent using extreme weight control behaviors doubled (from 3% to 6%).
Students using unhealthy dieting behaviors at Project EAT-I were at increased risk for binge eating and using dangerous dieting behaviors at Project EAT-II.
Students using unhealthy weight control behaviors at Project EAT-I were three times as likely to be overweight at Project EAT-II as teens who didn't use unhealthy weight control behaviors.
Project EAT-I found that 46% of females and 26% of males had low levels of body satisfaction. Poor body satisfaction during the teen years is related to greater use of unhealthy behaviors that may lead to weight gain.
Young people having lower body satisfaction at Project EAT-I were more likely to report unhealthy dieting behaviors, binge eating, and lower levels of physical activity 5 years later at Project EAT-II.
Lower body satisfaction at Project EAT-I was further related to increased risk for depression and poor self-esteem 5 years later among females who transitioned from middle school to high school and among males who transitioned from high school to post-high school.
Over the 5 years between surveys, body satisfaction decreased among all age groups of young people except females who were in high school at Project EAT-I.
Approximately 22% of males and 25% of females who participated in Project EAT-I reported being teased about their weight at least a few time per year. Nearly 5% of males and 7% of females indicated that they were teased at least once a week. The teens reported teasing by both peers and family members.
These findings are concerning as being teased about one’s weight in middle school or high school was found to predict poorer emotional well-being 5 years later in Project EAT-II. Teens who were ever teased about their weight reported lower levels of self-esteem and lower satisfaction with their body. Among females and older males (in high school at EAT-I), ever being teased about one’s weight also predicted more depressive symptoms in Project EAT-II.
Females who reported being teased about their weight at Project EAT-I were also more likely to report frequent dieting in Project EAT-II than their peers who were not teased.
Males who reported being teased about their weight at Project EAT-I were more likely than their peers to report binge eating and the use of unhealthy weight control behaviors 5 years later in Project EAT-II.
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Project EAT: Results
