The associations of healthful weight-control behaviors with psychological distress and changes in body mass index among young adults. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elran-Barak, Roni
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 26:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 283
• Page End: 295
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Add-Health -- depressive symptoms -- healthful weight-control behaviors -- psychological distress -- self-esteem -- weight gain -- young adults; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105319840693
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

The aim of this research is to study young adults who try to lose weight using only healthful weight-control behaviors. Secondary analyses of the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add-Health, N = 3, 882) were performed. Females who used only healthful weight-control behaviors had lower self-esteem than females who did not try to lose weight, and less depressive symptoms than females who used unhealthful weight-control behaviors. Data suggested that females who used only healthful weight-control behaviors were at higher risk for gains in body mass index than females who did not try to lose weight. This study adds to the extant literature about weight-control behaviors by highlighting that people who try to lose weight using only healthful weight-control behaviors merit special attention from both scientific and practical points of view.