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The role of social norms and friends' influences on unhealthy weight-control behaviors among adolescent girls

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  • Eisenberg, Marla E.
  • Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne
  • Story, Mary
  • Perry, Cheryl

Abstract

Dieting is common among adolescent girls and may place them at risk of using unhealthy weight-control behaviors (UWCBs), such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diet pills, or fasting. Research has suggested that social factors, including friends and broader cultural norms, may be associated with UWCBs. The present study examines the relationship between the school-wide prevalence of current weight loss efforts among adolescent girls, friends' dieting behavior, and UWCBs, and investigates differences in these associations across weight categories. Survey data were collected in 31 middle and high schools in ethnically and socio-economically diverse communities in Minnesota, USA. The response rate was 81.5%. Rates of UWCBs were compared across the spectrum of prevalence of trying to lose weight and friends' involvement with dieting, using [chi]2 analysis and multivariate logistic regression, controlling for demographic factors and clustering by school. Girls with higher body mass index (BMI) were more likely to engage in UWCBs than those of lower BMI. Multivariate models indicated that friends' dieting behavior was significantly associated with UWCBs for average weight girls (OR=1.57, CI=1.40-1.77) and moderately overweight girls (OR=1.47, CI=1.19-1.82). The school-wide prevalence of trying to lose weight was significantly, albeit modestly, related to UWCBs for average weight girls (15th-85th percentile; OR=1.17, CI=1.01-1.36), and marginally associated for modestly overweight girls (85th-95th percentile; OR=1.21, CI=.97-1.50), even after controlling for friends' dieting behaviors. The social influences examined here were not associated with UWCBs among underweight ( 95th percentile) girls. Findings suggest that social norms, particularly from within one's peer group, but also at the larger school level may influence UWCBs, particularly for average weight girls. Implications for school-based interventions to reduce UWCBs are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Eisenberg, Marla E. & Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne & Story, Mary & Perry, Cheryl, 2005. "The role of social norms and friends' influences on unhealthy weight-control behaviors among adolescent girls," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(6), pages 1165-1173, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:60:y:2005:i:6:p:1165-1173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Johnson, J. & Whitaker, A.H., 1992. "Adolescent smoking, weight changes, and binge-purge behavior: Associations with secondary amenorrhea," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 82(1), pages 47-54.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eisenberg, Marla E. & Wall, Melanie & Shim, Jin Joo & Bruening, Meg & Loth, Katie & Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne, 2012. "Associations between friends' disordered eating and muscle-enhancing behaviors," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(12), pages 2242-2249.
    2. Alexander Miething & Mikael Rostila & Christofer Edling & Jens Rydgren, 2018. "The Peer Context of Dieting: The Relationship between Young Adults’ Dieting Frequency and Their Friends’ Weight-Related Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Odelia Rosin, 2012. "Weight‐Loss Dieting Behavior: An Economic Analysis," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 21(7), pages 825-838, July.
    4. Strombotne, Kiersten L. & Fletcher, Jason M. & Schlesinger, Mark J., 2019. "Peer effects of obesity on child body composition," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 49-57.
    5. Nicole A VanKim & Carolyn M Porta & Marla E Eisenberg & Dianne Neumark‐Sztainer & Melissa N Laska, 2016. "Lesbian, gay and bisexual college student perspectives on disparities in weight‐related behaviours and body image: a qualitative analysis," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(23-24), pages 3676-3686, December.
    6. Łukasz Kryst & Magdalena Żegleń & Julia Badzińska & Agnieszka Woronkowicz & Małgorzata Kowal, 2023. "Intergenerational Changes in the Waist Circumference and Selected Associated Indicators among Children and Adolescents from Kraków (Poland), between 1983 and 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-14, March.
    7. Silvia Castro & Kristina Czura, 2024. "Cultural Taboos and Misinformation about Menstrual Health Management in Rural Bangladesh," CESifo Working Paper Series 11204, CESifo.
    8. Dang, Rui, 2015. "Spillover effects of local human capital stock on adult obesity: Evidence from German neighborhoods," Ruhr Economic Papers 585, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    9. Anette Lykke Hindhede, 2018. "The Communicability of Non-Communicable Diseases: An Overview of Sociological Contributions to Ideas of Contagion," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 23(3), pages 655-670, September.
    10. Toni Mora & Joan Gil, 2013. "Peer Effects In Adolescent Bmi: Evidence From Spain," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 22(5), pages 501-516, May.
    11. Choi, Jaesung & Park, Hyunjoon & Behrman, Jere R., 2015. "Separating boys and girls and increasing weight? Assessing the impacts of single-sex schools through random assignment in Seoul," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 1-11.

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