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A National Survey

Mary Story, PhD, RD; Fern R. Hauck, MD, MS; Brenda A. Broussard, MPH, MBA, RD; Linda L. White, RD; Michael D. Resnick, PhD; Robert W. Blum, MD, PhD

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994;148(6):567-571.

Abstract
Objective
To assess weight perceptions and weight control practices among American Indian–Alaska Native adolescents.

Design
Survey.

Setting
Nonurban schools from eight Indian Health Service areas.

Participants
A total of 13 454 seventh- through 12th-grade American Indian–Alaska Native youths.

Main Outcome Measures
A revised version of the Adolescent Health Survey, a comprehensive, anonymous self-report questionnaire with eating- and body image–related questions.

Results
Forty-one percent of the adolescent girls reported feeling overweight, 50% were dissatisfied with their weight, and 44% worried about being overweight. Almost half (48%) had been on a weight-loss diet in the past year, with 27% reporting that they had self-induced vomiting at some time to try to lose weight. Eleven percent reported using diet pills. Girls who reported feeling overweight were more likely to engage in unhealthy weight control practices than were those who felt they were of normal weight or underweight. A larger proportion of boys were satisfied with their weight (68%), with 22% worrying about being overweight. However, compared with rural Minnesota youth, both American Indian girls and boys had greater dissatisfaction with body weight.

Conclusions
Our study shows that American Indian youth, particularly girls, are dissatisfied with their weight and are worried about being overweight, and that unhealthy weight control practices are common. More attention needs to be placed on developing culturally appropriate weight management programs for Indian youths.

(Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1994;148:567-571)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (Dr Story), Adolescent Health Program, Department of Pediatrics (Drs Resnick and Blum), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Loyola University, Chicago, Ill (Dr Hauch); Diabetes Program, Indian Health Service, Albuquerque, NM (Ms Broussard); and Navajo Area, Indian Health Service, Window Rock, Ariz (Ms White).

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