NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
March 5, 1998
A North Dakota State University researcher has found that high school students are trying to conquer their real or perceived weight problems by engaging in some high-risk behaviors. Confusion and societal pressures are among the reasons why.
"They are very concerned that they be attractive, that they be what society says is attractive," says Harriett K. Light, a professor in NDSU's child development and family science department. "They're judging themselves against some very difficult standards."
Light analyzed the 1997 Youth Risk Behaviors Survey, containing responses of nearly 1,100 North Dakota high school students from 18 public schools. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction conducted the survey. A key finding is that 40 percent of the female students responding and 21 percent of the males described themselves as being overweight. Yet, 62 percent of the females and 25 percent of the males said they were trying to lose weight, says Light. In other words, 22 percent of the females and 4 percent of the male students sampled said they were dieting to lose weight, even though they didn't consider themselves to be overweight.
In contrast, 4 percent of the females and 29 percent of the males surveyed said they were trying to gain weight. Only 15 percent of the females and 26 percent of the males were trying neither to gain nor lose weight.
Teenagers are vulnerable to the ideals portrayed by advertising and the entertainment media, and some of their confusion can be attributed to advertisements for specific products such as diet sodas, fad diets and low-fat foods, says Light. When adolescents decide to lose weight and develop a more healthful lifestyle, their solutions often are odds with their objectives.
"We're a drug culture," says Light. "We believe there's a pill for everything."
For dieting teenagers, the drug culture plays itself out primarily in the form of laxatives and over-the-counter weight-loss products. In her research, Light says more females reported using laxatives and diet pills.
"Those are very high-risk behaviors and should be a red flag for professionals who work with adolescent health issues," Light stresses.
Other adolescents engage in the binge-purge ritual of bulimia or run the risk of developing anorexia nervosa. The average age is 17 for the onset of anorexia nervosa, and the relapse rate is high, Light says.
Research shows that up to 25 percent of anorexia nervosa sufferers who relapse end up as chronic invalids, and many die from heart disease. Anywhere from 2 percent to 10 percent of those who relapse die of starvation, suicide or electrolyte imbalances.
"In a lot of cases, it's dieting gone bad. They just keep losing and losing and losing," says Light.
Another danger comes when adolescents try to adhere to a fat-free diet. This behavior is especially risky for teenage girls, who need 17 percent body fat in order for their reproductive system to function. Fad diets can also deplete essential nutrients from a developing body. Research shows that many adolescents suffer from deficiencies of calcium, zinc and iron.
On the other hand, not dealing with a serious weight problem bears a price too. Light says, "Obese teenagers are likely to become obese adults."
Many adolescents attempt to lose unwanted body weight through strenuous exercise. Yet, it appears that many teenagers hold unrealistic concepts about physical activity, commitment and moderation, Light says. The result can be erratic work-out regimens, which involve too much physical activity followed by extended periods of inactivity—too much followed by too little.
So, what can adults do to help teenagers avoid or overcome these risky behaviors? For starters, parents can set a good example by eating a well-balanced diet and engaging in frequent, moderate levels of physical activity. Parents and other relatives can also support the efforts of teenagers who truly do need to lose weight by not tempting them with high-fat foods or coaxing them to overeat.
"Food is a social thing in our Midwestern culture," says Light. "For some, cooking is a way to say `I love you,' but at the same time, adolescents need to understand the concept of portion control."
Away from home, teachers and other caregivers can also serve as role models. Light concludes, "Teenagers are only going to eat so much, so if they fill up on empty calories, that food displaces the nutritious food their growing bodies need."
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Source: Harriett Light (701) 231-7099
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136