Dieting and Disordered Eating Behaviors from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Findings from a 10-Year Longitudinal Study.

Dieting and Disordered Eating Behaviors from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Findings from a 10-Year Longitudinal Study. Diane Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPH, RD; Melanie Wall, PhD; Nicole I. Larson, PhD, MPH, RD; Marla E. Eisenberg, ScD, MPH; Katie Loth, MPH, RD.

The purpose of this study was to determine if dieting behaviors, particulars those determined to be unhealthy or extreme, are able to be tracked from adolescence to young adulthood. Previous research shows that not only is dietary quality often lower in individuals with dieting and weight concerns but also individuals displaying dieting and disordered eating behaviors often predict both an increase in weight gain and an increase in the risk for developing an eating disorder. It was hopeful that the results of this study could help to determine the best possible timing for intervention in those individuals with unhealthy or extreme dieting behaviors in order to prevent the development of an eating disorder.

This study looked at the dieting behaviors of two groups of individuals over a ten year period to track any differences and similarities. The researchers went into 31 public schools in the St. Paul/ Minneapolis area in Minnesota where 4,746 juniors and seniors high school students completed a survey and had anthropometric measures taken. The two grades were separated into two age cohorts, one being the younger cohort and one being the older cohort. The survey examined the eating and activity habits and various weight related variables among two cohorts. A follow-up survey was sent at the 10-year follow up period and 48.2% of the original sample responded.

The study showed that there was overall no significant difference in dieting practices between the baseline assessment of the individuals and the 10-year follow up. One half of the females in both cohorts reported dieting within the last year while one third of the males reported dieting. However, male dieting did show to increase over time. It was also clear that dieting behaviors were much more prevalent in females, but dieting behavior did increase in males throughout their twenties. It did become apparent that dieting behaviors did track over into young adulthood especially in the older cohorts as those who dieting in adolescence in both cohorts and genders were more likely to do so in young adulthood. Also, unhealthy weight control behavior was also shown to carry over into young adulthood from adolescence as well. Some changes did become evident in dietary patterns of individuals over time. It was shown that the older cohort of girls’ unhealthy weight control behaviors significantly decreased over time. Binge eating was also shown to increase in both genders in the older cohorts.

This study had many strengths in its original sample such as its large population base, its large size, its gender diversity, and its variety of ethnicities. However this was slightly overshadowed by the weaknesses in its 10-year sample which respondents consisted primarily of white females and individuals of higher socioeconomic status. More research is needed to determine an appropriate intervention time period, however it was suggested that in clinical practice, dietetic practitioners should ask about the use of these behaviors before adolescence, in adolescence, and into adulthood and to inform individuals about the dangers of unsafe dieting practices.

Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Larson, N. I., Eisenberg, M.E., Loth, K. (2011). Dieting and Disordered Eating Behaviors from Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Findings from a 10-Year Longitudinal Study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(7), 1004-1011. doi:10-1016. J.jada.2011.04.012