Title
Dieting, weight and health in adolescents in the Netherlands
Author
Brugman, E.
Meulmeester, J.F.
van der Spee-Wekke, A.
Beuker, R.J.
Zaadstra, B.M.
Radder, J.J.
Verloove-Vanhorick, P.S.
TNO Preventie en Gezondheid
Publication year
1997
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of dieting and the relationship between dieting, nutritional habits, and health among young adolescents in the Netherlands. METHODS: Out of 1359 secondary school children, aged 13 through 15 y, who were invited for a routine health assessment by school doctors or nurses as part of the Child Health Monitoring System, 1279 (94%) responded and data were analyzed. RESULTS: Among secondary school children 13% of girls and 5% of boys were dieting at the time of the health assessment. Half of the dieting pupils were at risk of overweight, while the other half were within the normal weight range. The mean preferred weight of the dieting pupils was not lower than the mean actual weight of the non-dieting pupils. Dieting pupils skipped meals more often and consumed less sweets and salty snacks, soft drinks and bread than non-dieting pupils. School absence due to illness was relatively high in dieting boys, and medicine use was high in dieting girls. CONCLUSION: As in other Western countries, dieting is a common practise among young adolescents in the Netherlands, especially in girls. 'Unhealthy' dietary practices, like skipping breakfast, are already present at early age, therefore preventive programs should be targeted at young adolescents.
Subject
Health
Adolescence
Dieting
Health
Nutrition
Weight
Absenteeism
Adolescent
Body Constitution
Body Mass Index
Diet, Reducing
Feeding Behavior
Female
Health Status
Humans
Male
Netherlands
Prevalence
Questionnaires
Sex Characteristics
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:2da358d9-d926-493c-b89b-93ce7893765c
TNO identifier
233789
ISSN
0307-0565
Source
International Journal of Obesity, 21 (1), 54-60
Document type
article