Overweight Adolescents (overweight + adolescent)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Five-year longitudinal predictive factors for disordered eating in a population-based sample of overweight adolescents: Implications for prevention and treatment

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 7 2009
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer PhD
Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to identify predictors of prevalence and incidence of disordered eating (binge eating and extreme weight control behaviors) among overweight adolescents. Method Five-year longitudinal associations were examined in 412 overweight adolescents who participated in Project EAT-I and II. Results Among both overweight males and females, risk factors for disordered eating included exposure to weight loss magazine articles, higher weight importance, and unhealthy weight control behaviors, while family connectedness, body satisfaction, and regular meals were protective factors, although there were some differences in predictors of prevalence (total cases) versus incidence (new cases) of disordered eating. Among males, poor eating patterns, including fast food and sweetened beverage intake, increased risk for disordered eating, and the use of healthy weight control behaviors was protective. Discussion Attention should be directed toward decreasing disordered eating among overweight adolescents. Findings suggest the importance of promoting positive family relationships, psychological health, and regular meals, and steering adolescents away from overemphasizing weight and using unhealthy weight control behaviors. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2009 [source]


Improving the Mental Health, Healthy Lifestyle Choices, and Physical Health of Hispanic Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 12 2009
Bernadette M. Melnyk PhD, CPNP/NPP, FAAN
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Obesity and mental health disorders are 2 major public health problems in American adolescents, with prevalence even higher in Hispanic teens. Despite the rapidly increasing incidence and adverse health outcomes associated with overweight and mental health problems, very few intervention studies have been conducted with adolescents to improve both their healthy lifestyles and mental health outcomes. Even fewer studies have been conducted with Hispanic youth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the COPE (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) Healthy Lifestyles TEEN (Thinking, Emotions, Exercise, and Nutrition) program, a manualized educational and cognitive behavioral skills-building program, on Hispanic adolescents' healthy lifestyle choices as well as mental and physical health outcomes. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled pilot study was conducted with 19 Hispanic adolescents enrolled in 2 health classes in a southwestern high school. One class received COPE and the other received an attention control program. RESULTS: Adolescents in the COPE program increased their healthy lifestyle choices and reported a decrease in depressive and anxiety symptoms from baseline to postintervention follow-up. A subset of 7 overweight adolescents in the COPE program had a decrease in triglycerides and an increase in high-density lipoproteins. In addition, these overweight adolescents reported increases in healthy lifestyle beliefs and nutrition knowledge along with a decrease in depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The COPE TEEN program is a promising school-based strategy for improving both physical and mental health outcomes in adolescents. [source]


Efficacy of weight loss drugs on obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in obese adolescents: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

OBESITY REVIEWS, Issue 2 2010
S. Czernichow
Summary Weight loss drugs have been developed to reduce the comorbidities associated with excess weight. We conducted a meta-analysis of the efficacy of orlistat and sibutramine on weight, body mass index, waist circumference and cardiovascular risk factors in overweight adolescents. MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library were searched for relevant articles using MESH terms and keywords. Studies were included if they had reported quantitative estimates and standard deviations of the association between each weight loss drug and weight, with information on at least one cardiovascular risk factor. A total of eight trials (three orlistat and five sibutramine) with information on 1391 individuals was included in the present analysis. The mean decrease in weight between the intervention and control groups was 5.25 kg (95% confidence interval: 3.03,7.48) after a minimum follow-up of 6 months. There was evidence of statistical heterogeneity between the studies (I2 = 76%) that was no longer apparent after exclusion of trials of orlistat (mean weight decrease = 5.32 kg; I2 = 38%). There was little evidence that treatment was associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular risk factors but this requires verification from future large trials with longer study follow-up. [source]


Cross-Validation and Discriminant Validity of Adolescent Health Promotion Scale Among Overweight and Nonoverweight Adolescents in Taiwan

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 6 2006
Mei-Yen Chen
ABSTRACT This study used cross-validation and discriminant analysis to evaluate the construct and discriminant validity of Adolescent Health Promotion (AHP) scale between the overweight and nonoverweight adolescents in Taiwan. A cross-sectional survey method was used and 660 adolescents participated in this study. Cluster and discriminant analyses were used to analyze the data. Our findings indicate that the AHP is a valid and reliable scale to discriminate between the health-promoting behaviors of overweight and nonoverweight adolescents. For the total scale, cluster analyses revealed two distinct patterns, which we designated the healthy and unhealthy groups. Discriminate analysis supported this clustering as having good discriminant validity, as nonoverweight adolescents tended to be classified as healthy, while the overweight tended to be in the unhealthy group. In general, overweight adolescents practiced health-related behaviors at a significantly lower frequency than the nonoverweight. These included exercise behavior, stress management, life appreciation, health responsibility, and social support. These findings can be used to further develop and refine knowledge of adolescent overweight and related strategies for intervention. [source]


Are overweight adolescents at higher risk of engaging in unhealthy weight-control behaviours?

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 5 2009
Helena Fonseca
Abstract Aim: To examine correlates of unhealthy weight-control behaviours (UNWCB), and to explore possible associated variables. Methods: Sample included 3762, 8th and 10th grade public school Portuguese students who participated in the 2002 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC)/World Health Organization (WHO) survey of adolescent health. Factor analysis was used, and two scales were identified as ,healthy weight-control behaviours' (HWCB) and ,UNWCB' through Kaiser criteria analysis. Frequency scores were developed and used in analysis of variance (ANOVAs) test as dependent variables, according to gender and age. Pearson correlations and post-hoc analysis were performed to identify potential associations. Results: UNWCB were significantly higher among those who were dieting or not dieting, but considering they should, and were significantly and progressively increasing from those perceiving themselves as thin, to those perceiving themselves as being the right size and those perceiving themselves as fat. Overweight reported more frequently than non-overweight, both HWCB and UNWCB. Finally, there were significant differences concerning alcohol use, with UNWCB increasing progressively from reporting ,drinking rarely or never' to ,drinking every week' and ,everyday'. Conclusion: Because UNWCB are associated with both medical and psychological health risks, routine screening is warranted. Special attention needs to be directed towards youth at greatest risk for disordered eating, including overweight youth. [source]