Self-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sample
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Self-weighing is widespread among young adults and is sometimes recommended by healthcare providers for weight management. The present study aims to deepen our understanding of who is frequently self-weighing among young adults, and to examine for whom self-weighing impacts mood based on weighing frequency and other eating and weight-related characteristics. METHODS: Survey data were collected from a large population-based sample of young adults (31.1 ± 1.6y) participating in Project EAT-IV (n = 1719). Cross-sectional data were stratified across sex and analyzed with chi-square, t-tests, and linear and logistic regressions controlling for age, ethnicity/race, education level, and income. RESULTS: Self-weighing frequency was higher among male and female young adults with a current eating disorder, those trying to lose weight or who endorsed any disordered eating behaviors or cognition, and females with higher BMI. Young adult females were significantly more likely than males to report that self-weighing impacted their mood (53% vs 27%, p < 0.05). Among both male and female young adults, there was a higher probability of participants reporting that self-weighing impacted their mood among those who were self-weighing more frequently, had higher BMI, were trying to lose weight, and endorsed disordered eating behaviors or cognitions. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that for many young adults, particularly females and those with weight-related concerns, self-weighing is a behavior that comes with emotional valence. The emotional consequences of self-weighing should be considered when making public health and clinical recommendations regarding the usefulness of self-weighing.
Source: Journal of Eating Disorders
Institutions: University of Minnesota, University of Delaware
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,570
Funders: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Mental Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: Project EAT-IV: Eating and Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults, An exploration of the momentary mechanisms of controlling food-related parenting practices among mothers and fathers of preschool children, Minnesota Obesity Prevention Training (MnOPT), Eating, Activity, and Weight-Related Problems Across the Life Course in Diverse Populations, Cancer Related Health Disparities Training Program, Regional Postdoctoral Training Grant in Eating Disorders Research
OpenAlex ID: W3134852654