Abstract
Objective
To describe the prevalence of self-weighing in the transition period from adolescence
to young adulthood and examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between
self-weighing and weight status, psychological, and behavioral outcomes.
Design
Project Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults, a longitudinal cohort study that assessed variables 3 times over 10 years.
Participants
A total of 1,868 adolescents and young adults.
Main Outcome Measures
Weight, body mass index, weight disparity, body satisfaction, weight concern, self-esteem,
depression, and unhealthy weight control behaviors.
Analysis
Cross-sectional and longitudinal.
Results
Significant positive correlations were found at each time point between self-weighing
and weight concern for both genders. Self-weighing was significantly inversely related
to self-esteem at each time point in female participants. Increases in endorsement
of self-weighing were significantly related to decreases in body satisfaction and
self-esteem and increases in weight concern and depression in female participants
and to increases in weight concern in male participants.
Conclusions and Implications
Findings suggest that self-weighing may not be an innocuous behavior for young people,
particularly women. Interventions should assess potential harmful consequences of
self-weighing in addition to any potential benefits. It may be appropriate for clinicians
to ask about self-weighing, and if it is frequent, to explore motivations, perceived
benefits, and potential adverse correlates or consequences.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 10,
2015
Footnotes
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: The authors' conflict of interest disclosures can be found online with this article on www.jneb.org.
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
