Self-help Articles

by Eric Stice, Ph.D., Rebecca P. Cameron, Ph.D., Joel D. Killen, Ph.D., Chris Hayward, M.D. & C. Barr Taylor, M.D.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions with children and teens in the United States. Parents, school systems and medical personnel are at a loss for how to effect the change that is needed in so many different areas of our children's lives. Much has been published about what needs to be done, yet the number of overweight youths keeps rising.

The Motivation for Teen Weight Loss
Meanwhile, role models in the media have never been thinner. Anorexia is celebrated as being the "way to look" in television, music videos, movies, advertisements, and fashion. As if adolescence isn't difficult enough, girls today are facing a practical and emotional dilemma that is only worsening.

Research shows that adolescent girls who engage in weight-loss efforts such as dieting, use of appetite suppressants, laxatives, and vomiting are not only more likely to be at risk for obesity, but tend to also gain rather than lose weight over time.

The study reported herein looked at 692 ninth grade girls from three northern California high schools. The study was conducted by psychologist Eric Stice, Ph.D., of the University of Texas at Austin, and researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine. The study was designed to investigate student health beliefs and behaviors, and the girls were evaluated for a three year span of time.

Evaluations included self-report questionnaires and weight and height measurements. Results indicated that, controlling for initial body mass, those adolescents who reported elevated dieting and radical weight-loss efforts were more likely to gain weight than those who did not report these efforts.

Two Possible Reasons for Increased Weight in This Group

The first reason for increased weight in this group of girls, according to the researchers, was that the girls' weight-reduction efforts "may not reflect decreased caloric intake and increased exercise. These youths may perceive that they are dieting or exercising at therapeutic levels when in fact they are not."

Getting accurate information about weight loss is often difficult for teens, who are more likely to listen and take action based on the latest rumor more than scientific recommendations.

Physicians and other health care professionals might not prove to be helpful to these teens, who probably do not approach their family doctors to discuss their abuse of laxatives, weight loss pills or vomiting techniques.

The second reason is that such weight-reduction efforts in teenagers may be a marker for a propensity to become obese. "Perhaps individuals with a family history of obesity have already initiated weight-control efforts because they are concerned that they will follow in the footsteps of their parents," said the authors.

The genetic propensity toward obesity may be so overpowering that a teen's average efforts
to overcome

• a genetic predisposition, compounded by
• today's culture with “super-sized” food portions,
• high-fat and low nutritional food choices and
• a more sedentary lifestyle
• are simply not enough. Teens may not have enough information or personal emotional
• skills to offset all these factors and succeed with realistic goals over time.

Studies like this help the scientific community and general public increasingly understand the complexities of this problem, and that no single easy "fix" is going to work to everybody. More help is clearly needed by our teens.

Parents would be advised to not simply dismiss their teenager's repeated concerns about weight. Parents can step into a quagmire when they argue with their teen about body size. Weight, weight loss and weight management is clearly a puzzling, complex, and often emotionally ridden problem that will not go away with parental attempts at control.

With the risk of appetite suppressant abuse, laxative abuse and vomiting so prevalent today, parents would be well advised to have calm discussions with their teens about their bodies. If the discussion doesn't go well and your teen isn't responsive, consider getting the help of a professional, or a group of professionals.

First, routinely check your teen's eyes for signs of stimulant use. If a teen is using an appetite suppressant such as an amphetamine their pupils will be dilated. That is, the black part of their eyes will be enlarged, so their eyes will look more black than usual. If they are using appetite suppressants that include amphetamines, they also will be euphoric, or unusually happy.

Next, speak with your dentist. They are often well trained in eating disorder treatment because they are in the unique position of being able to examine tooth enamel, which will wear away if regular vomiting is an issue.

Third, if your teen insists on losing weight, ask your physician to recommend a nutritionist who is experienced in working with teens. A nutritionist may have more leverage in convincing your teen about normal weight limits that you, and will be less emotionally involved. Your teen is likely to get facts and educational information tailored to their belief systems and levels of understanding from such a professional.

Weight loss and weight maintenance requires a methodical, well-considered plan, preferably one that has been carefully designed and approved by a trained medical professionals. Whatever you do, know that your time and energy are well-spent because weight and weight maintenance is important, life-long issues.

This information originally received from the American Psychological Association (APA), in Washington, DC.