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At least 1,081 records · Page 60Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

Food provision as a strategy to promote weight loss.

Intervention strategies used in weight-control programs typically rely on participants to make behavior changes on their own. Better results might be achieved if more direct approaches were taken to make environmental changes by providing food to participants and paying them for weight loss. Two studies on food provision for improving weight loss were conducted. The first study used a five-group design contrasting no treatment, standard behavior therapy (SBT), SBT plus food provision, SBT plus financial incentives, and SBT plus food provision and incentives. At 6, 12, and 18 months, weight losses in the two groups receiving food provision were significantly greater than in the two groups without food provision. The incentives did not affect weight loss. To better understand the reasons for the success of food provision a second study was conducted comparing SBT, SBT plus menus, SBT plus food provision with a copay, and SBT plus free food. Groups 2, 3, and 4 all had better weight losses than SBT and did not differ from each other at the end of the 6-month treatment and at the 18-month follow-up. Food provision and menus were associated with increased behavior compliance, increased nutrition knowledge, more regular meals and fewer snacks, reduced barriers to weight loss, and improved quality of foods in participants' homes. Food provision seems to be a useful strategy for promoting weight loss.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Dietary patterns and their associations with obesity in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dietary patterns of adults living in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and their associations with body mass index (BMI). RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A survey was conducted in 1996 in a probabilistic sample of 2040 households. Weight and height were measured and food intake was based on an 80-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were identified through factor analysis. RESULTS: More than one-third of the adult population (20 to 60 years old) was overweight (BMI = 25 to 29.9 kg/m(2)), and 12% were obese (BMI >or= 30 kg/m(2)). Three major dietary patterns were identified: mixed pattern when all food groups and items had about the same factor loading, except for rice and beans; one pattern that relies mainly on rice and beans, which was called a traditional diet; and a third pattern, termed a Western diet, where fat (butter and margarine) and added sugar (sodas) showed the highest positive loading and rice and beans were strong negative components. Among men, the Western diet also included deep-fried snacks and milk products with high positive values. The traditional diet was associated with lower risk of overweight/obesity in logistic models adjusted for dieting, age, leisure physical activity, and occupation (13% reduction in men and 14% reduction in women comparing the traditional and Western diets). DISCUSSION: Factors contributing to the effects of the Brazilian traditional diet may include low-energy density, high-dietary fiber content, incorporation of low glycemic index foods such as beans, or a relatively low food variety.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Energy intake and meal portions: associations with BMI percentile in U.S. children.

OBJECTIVE: We examined relationships of eating patterns and reported energy intake (rEI) with BMI percentile in U.S. children. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Two 24-hour dietary recalls from the Continuing Surveys of Food Intakes by Individuals 1994 to 1996 and 1998 (1005 boys, 990 girls) were averaged, and children were categorized into three age groups: 3 to 5 years (n = 1077), 6 to 11 years (n = 537), and 12 to 19 years (n = 381). Physiologically implausible reports due to reporting bias or abnormal intake (rEI outside +/-18% to 23% of predicted energy requirements; pER) were identified. RESULTS: rEI averaged 109 +/- 34% and 100 +/- 10% of pER in the total and plausible samples, respectively. EI was overreported more in younger children and underreported more in overweight older children. Children with plausible rEI (45.3% of sample) averaged 4.7 eating occasions/d, 589 kcal/meal, 223 kcal/snack, and 2038 kcal/d. rEI was not associated with BMI percentile in the total sample. In the plausible sample, rEI, meal portion size, and meal energy were positively associated with BMI percentile in boys 6 to 11 years and in children 12 to 19 years. No relationships were found in children 3 to 5 years and girls 6 to 11 years. Relationships were more consistent and stronger in the plausible compared with the total sample. DISCUSSION: Excluding implausible dietary reports may be necessary for discerning dietary associations with BMI percentile. EI and meal, but not snack, patterns may play a quantitatively greater role in weight regulation as children age.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Profile of overweight and obese people in a Mediterranean region.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of excess weight (obesity and overweight) and the related environmental risk factors in a Mediterranean population. Self-perception of body weight, attitudes toward weight-control behaviors, and the associated factors were also examined. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A cross-sectional nutritional survey was carried out in the Balearic Islands between 1999 and 2000. A random sample (n = 1200) of the adult population (20 to 60 years old) was interviewed. Dietary questionnaires and a global questionnaire incorporating questions related to sociodemographic and lifestyle variables were utilized. Anthropometric measurements were also obtained. RESULTS: Nearly one-half of the population of the Balearic Islands is above the normal weight range (BMI > 25). The predictors of overweight and obesity in the Balearic Islands are to be over 40 years old, to be married, to form part of the lowest educational levels, and to have a sedentary lifestyle. A large percentage of excess-weight individuals tend to underestimate their BMI, are not concerned about their weight status, tend to snack more often, and have never dieted. DISCUSSION: Although the likely causes of the rise in obesity prevalence are difficult to elucidate from this study, we have identified the profile of individuals with excess weight in the Balearic Islands as well as their attitudes toward their body image.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Intentional weight loss in young adults: sex-specific genetic and environmental effects.

OBJECTIVE: To explore eating styles associated with intentional weight loss (IWL) and to determine whether the genetic liability in IWL is entirely shared with genetic liability affecting BMI. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: As part of a longitudinal assessment of various health-related behaviors in a large population-based sample of twins, eating styles, BMI, and the number of times the study participants had intentionally lost > or = 5 kg were assessed by questionnaire from 4667 male and female twins (22 to 27 years of age). Associations of eating styles and IWL were explored using polytomous logistic regression models adjusted for BMI. Sex-specific bivariate structural equation modeling was used to explore genetic and environmental correlations of BMI and IWL. RESULTS: Individuals who had engaged in IWL exhibited markedly more restricting, overeating, and alternating restricting/overeating than those in the no-IWL group. Snacking and eating in the evening were characteristic of women with at least two IWL attempts. Eating in response to visual and emotional cues was very pronounced in women who had engaged in IWL but much less so in men. IWL was estimated to have a heritability of 38% [95% confidence interval (CI), 19% to 55%] in men and 66% (95% CI, 55% to 75%) in women. The genetic covariance of BMI and IWL was 0.38 (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.47) for men and 0.45 (95% CI, 0.41 to 0.52) for women. DISCUSSION: Distinct sex differences exist in eating styles associated with IWL and in the heritability of IWL. Most genetic factors affecting BMI are different from those affecting IWL.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

A family-based approach to preventing excessive weight gain.

OBJECTIVE: Preventing weight gain in adults and excessive weight gain in children is a high priority. We evaluated the ability of a family-based program aimed at increasing steps and cereal consumption (for breakfast and snacks) to reduce weight gain in children and adults. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Families (n = 105) with at least one 8- to 12-year-old child who was at-risk-for-overweight or overweight (designated as the target child) were recruited for the study. Eighty-two families were randomly assigned to receive the family-based intervention and 23 families to the control condition. The 13-week intervention consisted of specific increases in daily steps (an additional 2000 steps/d) and consumption of 2 servings/d of ready-to-eat cereal. RESULTS: The intervention was successful in increasing walking (steps) and cereal consumption. The intervention had positive, significant effects on percentage BMI-for-age and percentage body fat for target children and weight, BMI, and percentage body fat for parents. On further analysis, the positive effects of the intervention were seen largely in target girls and moms, rather than in target boys and dads. DISCUSSION: This family-based weight gain prevention program based on small changes holds promise for reducing excessive weight gain in families and especially in growing overweight children.

Adiposity↗

PubMed2006

Self-reported eating behaviors of extremely obese persons seeking bariatric surgery: a factor analytic approach.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the self-reported eating behaviors of persons seeking bariatric surgery and to provide reliability data for a clinical instrument that assesses those eating behaviors. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Adults (552) with extreme obesity (mean +/- standard deviation BMI = 52.4 +/- 10.1 kg/m(2)) completed the Weight and Lifestyle Inventory (WALI) before undergoing bariatric surgery. The WALI is a self-report instrument that includes 24 items that assess the eating behaviors to which respondents attribute their excess weight. These items were entered into a principal components analysis with promax rotation. Relationships of factor scores to demographic and psychosocial variables were examined. Test-retest reliability data were obtained from a smaller sample (n = 58) of less obese participants (BMI = 34.4 +/- 4.0 kg/m(2)) who completed the WALI twice within 2 weeks, before beginning a non-surgical weight loss program. RESULTS: The principal components analysis yielded five factors with acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. These included: eating in response to negative affect, eating in response to positive affect and social cues, general overeating and impaired appetite regulation, overeating at early meals, and snacking. Each factor was related to symptoms of binge eating disorder, and every factor except the second one was associated with depressive symptoms. Factor scores were unrelated or weakly associated with demographic characteristics. DISCUSSION: The eating behaviors of persons seeking bariatric surgery can be assessed reliably and parsimoniously with the WALI. The predictive utility of the factors obtained in this study remains to be examined.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

The Look AHEAD study: a description of the lifestyle intervention and the evidence supporting it.

The Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial designed to determine whether intentional weight loss reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes. The study began in 2001 and is scheduled to conclude in 2012. A total of 5145 participants have been randomly assigned to a lifestyle intervention or to an enhanced usual care condition (i.e., diabetes support and education). This article describes the lifestyle intervention and the empirical evidence to support it. The two principal intervention goals are to induce a mean loss >or = 7% of initial weight and to increase participants' moderately intense physical activity to > or =175 min/wk. For the first 6 months, participants attend one individual and three group sessions per month and are encouraged to replace two meals and one snack a day with liquid shakes and meal bars. From months 7 to 12, they attend one individual and two group meetings per month and continue to replace one meal per day (which is recommended for the study's duration). Starting at month 7, more intensive behavioral interventions and weight loss medication are available from a toolbox, designed to help participants with limited weight loss. In Years 2 to 4, treatment is provided mainly on an individual basis and includes at least one on-site visit per month and a second contact by telephone, mail, or e-mail. After Year 4, participants are offered monthly individual visits. The intervention is delivered by a multidisciplinary team that includes medical staff who monitor participants at risk of hypoglycemic episodes.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed2006

Energy intake, diet composition, energy expenditure, and body fatness of adolescents in northern Greece.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine energy intake, energy expenditure, diet composition, and obesity of adolescents in Northern Greece. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Anthropometric measurements were taken for all participants. Height, weight, and skinfold thickness at two sites were measured. BMI and percentage body fat were calculated. Energy intake and macronutrient and micronutrient intakes were determined by a 3-day weighed dietary diary. Energy expenditure was calculated based on calculated resting metabolic rate (RMR) (1) multiplied by an activity factor based on reported physical activity. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of boys and 21% of girls had BMI corresponding to >/=25 kg/m(2) at 18 years and were classified as overweight. Both overweight boys and girls reported a lower energy intake compared with their non-overweight counterparts when expressed as kilocalories per kilogram body weight. Overweight children had a higher negative energy balance. Both overweight and non-overweight adolescents had higher than recommended fat intakes. Mean daily carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake, expressed as grams per kilogram body weight, of overweight adolescents were significantly lower compared with the non-overweight adolescents. Total daily carbohydrate intake, when expressed in grams, was found to be higher for non-overweight adolescents. Both overweight boys and girls had lower iron intakes than their non-overweight counterparts. Overweight boys had statistically lower fiber and niacin intakes than non-overweight boys. Both overweight and non-overweight adolescents had lower than recommended iron intakes. Furthermore, overweight adolescents consumed more snacks (potato chips, chocolate bars, pizza, cheese pie, and cream pie), more sugar, jam, and honey, and fewer legumes, vegetables, and fruits than their non-overweight counterparts. DISCUSSION: Reported energy intake of overweight adolescents was lower than their non-overweight counterparts. Regarding diet composition overweight subjects had significantly lower intakes of carbohydrates compared with non-overweight subjects. The food consumption pattern of overweight children showed less adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet.

Adiposity↗

PubMed2001

Milk, flavoured milk products and caries.

The consumption of flavoured milk increased by 50% between 1992 and 1999 and dental health educators need to know if these and other sugar and fruit juice sweetened milk products, such as fruit yoghurts, are acceptable as snack items. Available evidence suggests that their cariogenicity is negligible to low and consumed in moderation they are a preferable alternative to similarly sweetened soft drinks.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Swedish obese subjects (SOS): an obesity intervention study with a nutritional perspective.

OBJECTIVES: Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) is a multidisciplinary project involving aspects of obesity ranging from description of the severely obese state to effects of surgical intervention on long-term mortality and morbidity. Dietary studies, which represent an integral part of SOS research activities, are the focus of this review. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Due to the large number of obese subjects included in the SOS data bases ( > 5000), an early priority of the project was to develop a dietary assessment method which: (i) described usual intake patterns; (ii) could be self-administered by subjects and rapidly processed; and (iii) was equally valid in obese and non-obese individuals. RESULTS: The SOS method has met these requirements and is now being completed by all subjects at baseline and during the intervention, and by a non-obese reference population. A number of dietary features distinguishing obese subjects have emerged, including: elevated intakes of energy and energy-percent fat; low consumption of alcohol, fruits and vegetables; high dietary disinhibition; frequent consumption of light meals and snacks; and night eating. In the surgical intervention group, a relatively high consumption of sweet foods was associated with better weight loss and maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: The SOS method appears to be less susceptible to obesity-related under-reporting than traditional dietary methods, and if the distribution of foods and nutrients can be assumed to be as unbiased as the energy intakes, this method should make it possible to capture associations between diet and obesity-related diseases in the future.

Energy Intake↗

PubMed1998

Cognitive function, iron status, and hemoglobin concentration in obese dieting women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationships between cognitive function and iron status in dieting obese women. DESIGN: Longitudinal weight loss study (repeated measures within-subject design) with 3 weeks of baseline, 15 weeks of 50% caloric restriction, and 3 weeks of weight stabilization. Dietary iron was fed at twice the US Recommended Dietary Allowance with half of the iron from food sources and half from an oral supplement. SETTING: This was a free-living study with the exception that subjects came to the research center for one meal per day and were provided all other meals and snacks to take home. SUBJECTS: Healthy, premenopausal, obese women (mean BMI=31.5) were recruited through local newspaper, poster and radio advertising. Twenty-four women volunteers were recruited and 14 completed the study. MEASUREMENTS: Cognitive function, iron and hematological status, height, body weights and body composition were measured at baseline; at weeks 5, 10, and 15 of the energy restriction period; and at the end of weight stabilization. Computerized cognitive tests included: Bakan vigilance task, two finger tapping, simple reaction time, immediate word recall, and a focused attention task. Iron status and hematological measures included: serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation, serum ferritin, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit, red cell count, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and RDW. RESULTS: A significant reduction in Hb, hematocrit, and red blood cell count occurred across the study. Hb at the end of the study was positively correlated (r=0.72, P < 0.01) with mean performance on a measure of sustained attention. Transferrin saturation also correlated positively to sustained attention task performance for those subjects whose Hb declined across the study (r=0.86, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dieting diminishes iron status in obese women, even when sufficient dietary iron is available, and that the inability to sustain attention may be an early sign of developing iron deficiency in dieting women.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Reducing ice cream energy density does not condition decreased acceptance or engender compensation following repeated exposure.

OBJECTIVES: The preferences for high-fat foods are believed to be based on their sensory attributes and energy density; however less is known about how such preferences might be weakened, other than in response to deterioration in flavor or textural quality. The aim of the present study was to see whether acceptability of reduced fat/energy foods would wane as the original post-ingestive nutritional benefits are reduced when palatability remains essentially constant. DESIGN: Repeated measures, within-subjects design conducted in two counterbalanced three week trials. SETTING/SUBJECTS: Sixteen normal-weight males (mean age 25.8 +/- 1.2 y) came to our laboratory at the Hôpital Hotel Dieu in Paris to eat an afternoon snack on 13 consecutive days (excluding weekends). INTERVENTION/OUTCOME MEASURES: Intake was recorded following repeated exposure to two flavors of standard (10% fat as a percentage of total solids weight), and low (3%) fat ice cream. One group received standard vanilla or low-fat strawberry ice cream on alternate days for two consecutive weeks; these flavor associations were reversed for a second group. The two flavors were rated as equipalatable at the beginning of the experiment at all energy levels. RESULTS: Subjects consumed the same quantity of ice cream throughout the experimental period, independent of energy density or flavor. Consequently, aggregate (summed) energy intake for subjects consuming low-fat ice cream was significantly lower (by 581 kJ (139 kcal), 15.4 g fat). Food intake records for the 24 h period immediately following the test sessions revealed no compensation for fat or energy. Despite the 28% reduction in energy density for the low-fat version, acceptance for the flavors associated with the reduced-energy versions had not declined by the end of the experimental period. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that acceptance of reduced-fat foods may not be critically dependent on the post-ingestive metabolic effects when the reductions in energy density are small. Further tests with more severe reductions, and perhaps over more prolonged time periods, will be necessary to determine at what level of substitution acceptance might begin to deteriorate.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Multivariate analysis of diet among three-year-old children and associations with socio-demographic characteristics. The Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ALSPAC) Study Team.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The study of the whole diet in combination rather than the consumption of individual food items or the intake of specific nutrients could be enlightening. This has been previously performed using principal components analysis (PCA) on adult diets but not on those of children. DESIGN: The frequency of consumption of a range of food items was recorded for 10,139 3-y-old children by their mothers using self-completion postal questionnaires. These children form part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ALSPAC). METHODS: PCA was performed to identify individual dietary types which were then related to various socio-economic and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Four distinct dietary components were obtained explaining 23.5% of the total variation in the sample, and the socio-demographic characteristics of the sample were related to them. The first represented a diet based on convenience foods and was associated with younger, less educated mothers and the presence of older siblings. The second was associated with a high consumption of foods currently considered to be healthy and was particularly related to vegetarian mothers and higher education levels. The third component described the established British 'meat and two veg' diet and was associated with girls and children with no older siblings, while the fourth had high loadings for snack and finger foods and was related to socially advantaged conditions and the presence of older siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Identifiable groups of mothers were associated with feeding their child each of the four dietary types, supporting the hypothesis that social, demographic and lifestyle factors relating to the mother have an influence on the early eating patterns of children. This analysis will form a basis for the future study of various childhood outcomes including growth, health and development. SPONSORSHIP: University of Bristol European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 73-80

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Food habits and sport activity during adolescence: differences between athletic and non-athletic teenagers in Switzerland.

OBJECTIVE: To describe food habits and dietary intakes of athletic and non-athletic adolescents in Switzerland. SETTING: College, high schools and professional centers in the Swiss canton of Vaud. METHOD: A total of 3,540 subjects aged 9-19 y answered a self-reported anonymous questionnaire to assess lifestyles, physical plus sports activity and food habits. Within this sample, a subgroup of 246 subjects aged 11-15 also participated in an in-depth ancillary study including a 3 day dietary record completed by an interview with a dietician. RESULTS: More boys than girls reported engaging in regular sports activities (P<0.001). Adolescent food habits are quite traditional: up to 15 y, most of the respondents have a breakfast and eat at least two hot meals a day, the percentages decreasing thereafter. Snacking is widespread among adolescents (60-80% in the morning, 80-90% in the afternoon). Food habits among athletic adolescents are healthier and also are perceived as such in a higher proportion. Among athletic adolescents, consumption frequency is higher for dairy products and ready to eat (RTE) cereals, for fruit, fruit juices and salad (P<0.05 at least). Thus the athletic adolescent's food brings more micronutrients than the diet of their non-athletic counterparts. Within the subgroup (ancillary study), mean energy intake corresponds to requirements for age/gender group. CONCLUSIONS: Athletic adolescents display healthier food habits than non-athletic adolescents: this result supports the idea that healthy behavior tends to cluster and suggests that prevention programs among this age group should target simultaneously both sports activity and food habits.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Dietary habits and nutritional status in adolescents over Europe. An overview of current studies in the Nordic countries.

OBJECTIVE: To give an overview of the dietary habits among adolescents in the Nordic countries and to present results from studies showing the relationship between dietary habits and other lifestyle factors, nutritional status and socio-economic conditions. DESIGN: A number of nutritional studies among adolescents performed during recent decades using recalls, dietary records and food frequency questionnaire. SETTING: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. SUBJECTS: Adolescents aged 13-18 y. RESULTS: Food habits are characterized by an irregular meal pattern; many adolescents skip breakfast and also the school lunch, whereas most of them have dinner. However, snacking and light meals are very common, contributing 25-35% of the daily energy intake. Smoking is linked to their dietary habits as well as socio-economic conditions. Dietary intakes of vitamins and minerals are adequate for normal health and growth. Dietary calcium intake is high, whereas the intake of fibre, vitamin D, zinc and selenium and, in girls, iron is below the Nordic recommendations. Relatively low prevalence figures of iron deficiency were found. Many studies show a decrease over time in physical activity. The time spent in sedentary activities, such as television and video watching and computer games has increased during recent decades. CONCLUSION: Overweight and obesity are becoming more prevalent in all the Nordic countries, even though the prevalence figures are far below those in the USA. On the other hand, dieting girls are common, which might be a factor behind their irregular meal pattern and food choice. In a perspective, overweight and diseases attributable to obesity will be an immense challenge in the coming decades for both the individuals and the society as well.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Dietary habits and nutritional status in adolescents over Europe--Southern Europe.

A literature review of the data on dietary habits, food consumption and nutritional status of adolescents of Southern European countries was performed. Snacking seems to be less frequent and the frequency of eating out in fast food restaurants is much lower than in the USA and in some Nordic Countries. A nutrient pattern rich in total fat (around 40% of the energy intake), in saturated fatty acids (around 13% of the energy intake) and mainly in monounsaturated fatty acids (17-19% of the energy intake), due to a high consumption of olive oil, is often observed in Spanish and Greek adolescents. In Portugal, the percentage of the energy provided by fat is relatively low (31-33% of the energy intake) and in Italy the situation is intermediate regarding total fat, but the intake of olive oil is also high. This means that two important characteristics of the Mediterranean diet, a low consumption of saturated fatty acids and a high intake of carbohydrates have been lost. Regarding micronutrients, there seems to exist a risk of deficiency, particularly for calcium, iron and zinc. The prevalence of overweight/obesity is high, around 15-25%, being higher than in the Nordic countries but lower than in the USA. There is no clear indication of trends, due to the different methods and criteria used to define obesity. The serum cholesterol levels of adolescents has increased during the last two decades in Spain, Greece and Italy, and nowadays are similar to those in the USA, but still lower than in the Nordic countries. In Portuguese adolescents, the cholesterol levels seem to be lower, but the situation is not well known.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Body perceptions and slimming attitudes reported by Spanish adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the desire to lose weight, body parts wanted to be reduced and weight-loss practices. DESIGN: A standardized questionnaire was self-completed by the participants. Anthropometric measurements were obtained by a research assistant. SUBJECTS: Forty males and 105 females from 12 to 18 y old randomly selected from education centers in Madrid, Spain. RESULTS: Body dissatisfaction in 56% of the females and the 27% of the males was observed. In spite of the low prevalence of overweight (10% males and 6% females), many adolescents reported themselves to be overweight: more girls (27%) than boys (12.5%) (P < 0.05) by Q2 (6.26) were cognitively inclined to weight loss even though they were not overweight (body mass index, BMI > 25 kg/m2). Adolescents desired a slimming of the abdomen (82% males and 52% females), thighs (18% boys and 39% girls), hips (6% and 18% males and females, respectively) and buttocks (23% males and 42% females). Methods selected to lose weight were: physical activity or sport (73% boys and 68% girls), not to have snacks (66% girls and 23% boys), select foods with low energy content (42% boys and 37% girls), follow own diet (31% girls and 23% boys), follow medical advice (31% boys and 17% girls) and trying to be amused to forget foods (13% girls and 11% boys).

Adolescent↗