engleski

Adolescent Dieting Behavior, Body Image, and Psychological Well-Being

Adolescent dieting behavior may result in inadequate nutrient intake during critical periods of development and growth. This study focuses on the middle school students in the Croatian region of Dalmatia. The survey was designed to examine adolescent dieting behaviors as it relates to body image and psychological well-being (self-esteem, life-satisfaction and stress) as well as physical factors (body mass index ; BMI). Psychological factors and body image have been found to be highly associated with dieting among adolescents of both genders. The girls who where dieting reported significantly lower self-esteem, life satisfaction and lower body-image, higher rate of stress and higher body mass index (BMI) as compared with non-dieters. For boys differences were found only in body mass index (BMI) and life satisfaction scores. This study confirms other studies conducted recently which indicate that a rather large percentage of adolescents engage in dieting when trying to lose weight, which may seriously damage their psychological condition and developmental growth.

adolescents; anthropology; nutritional habits

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