Healthy Eating Index-C is compromised among adolescents with body weight concerns, weight loss dieting, and meal skipping

Body Image. 2008 Dec;5(4):404-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2008.04.006. Epub 2008 Jul 21.

Abstract

The objective was to describe weight concerns, dieting, and meal skipping of adolescents and to determine associations with the Healthy Eating Index-C (HEI-C). Data, that were collected using the Food Behaviour Questionnaire, revealed that participants (male=810, female=1016) in grades 9/10 reported weight concerns (n=518), dieting (n=364), and skipping breakfast (n=498), lunch (n=252), and/or dinner (n=129). Of those dieting or weight concerned (n=602), 61% were healthy weight and of those not dieting or weight concerned (n=1224), 13% were overweight/obese. The ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that HEI-C was likely to be rated lower among those weight concerned and dieting (p<.001), and among those that skipped the breakfast meal (p<.001). The current study identified inappropriate weight concerns and dieting that compromised diet quality and has implications for future intervention and policy development.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alberta
  • Body Image*
  • Body Weight*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diet Surveys
  • Diet, Reducing / psychology*
  • Diet, Reducing / statistics & numerical data
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ontario
  • Students / psychology
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*