HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (Publish Ahead of Print[PDF]) All Versions of this Article: 91/1/147    most recent ajcn.2009.28321v1 Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Field, A. E Articles by Willett, W. C PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Field, A. E Articles by Willett, W. C Agricola Articles by Field, A. E Articles by Willett, W. C

Weight-control behaviors and subsequent weight change among adolescents and young adult females^1,2,3

¹ From the Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (AEF); the Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (AEF, BR, and WCW); the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (AEF and WCW); and the Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention and Harvard Medical School (JH) and the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (WCW).

² Supported by research grants DK-59570 and DK-072117 from the National Institutes of Health.

³ Address correspondence to AE Field, Children’s Hospital Boston, Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, 300 Longwood Ave (LO-649), Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: alison.field{at}childrens.harvard.edu.

ABSTRACT

Background: Little is known about the effectiveness of behavioral strategies to prevent long-term weight gain among adolescents and young adults.

Objective: The objective was to assess the relation of dietary and physical activity weight-control strategies, alone and together, with subsequent weight change.

Design: This was a prospective study of 4456 female adolescents and young adults aged 14–22 y in the ongoing Growing Up Today Study. Weight-control behaviors, including dietary approaches and physical activity, were self-reported in 2001 and were used to predict weight change from 2001 to 2005.

Results: In 2001–2002, 23.7% of female adolescents and young adults were trying to maintain their weight and another 54.4% were trying to lose weight. Approximately 25% used each of the following weight-control strategies: not eating snacks, following low-calorie or low-fat diets, and limiting portion sizes. In addition, 47.7% reported exercising at least occasionally for weight control. During 4 y of follow-up, participants gained an average of 3.3 kg. None of the dietary approaches to weight control predicted less weight change; however, females who exercised 5 d/wk gained significantly less weight than did their peers (–0.9 kg; 95% CI: –1.4, –0.4). The most successful strategy for weight-gain prevention among the females was to limit portion sizes (–1.9 kg; 95% CI: –2.6, –1.1) combined with frequent exercise.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that physical activity is a necessary strategy for long-term weight control among adolescents and young adult females. Combining dietary weight-control approaches with physical activity is the most effective method for reducing weight gain.

Received for publication July 1, 2009. Accepted for publication October 9, 2009.