Skip to main content
American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 1995 May;85(5):714–717. doi: 10.2105/ajph.85.5.714

Women dieters of normal weight: their motives, goals, and risks.

L Biener 1, A Heaton 1
PMCID: PMC1615412  PMID: 7733435

Abstract

Using data from a national survey of weight loss practices, this study examined those dieters who were of normal weight. Forty-seven percent of White women, 25% of Black women, and 16% of men currently trying to lose weight had a body mass index under 25. Women's primary motive was health improvement. Among normal-weight female dieters, 12% of Whites and 27% of Blacks were using risky strategies. Dieters were less likely than nondieters to smoke and reported better nutritional practices; however, they were not more likely to exercise, and their maximum weight fluctuation was 50% greater. Additional research on the consequences of dieting among normal-weight individuals is of high priority.

Full text

PDF
715

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Brownell K. D., Rodin J. The dieting maelstrom. Is it possible and advisable to lose weight? Am Psychol. 1994 Sep;49(9):781–791. doi: 10.1037//0003-066x.49.9.781. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Dawson D. A. Ethnic differences in female overweight: data from the 1985 National Health Interview Survey. Am J Public Health. 1988 Oct;78(10):1326–1329. doi: 10.2105/ajph.78.10.1326. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Forman H. P., Levin S., Stewart B., Patel M., Feinstein S. Cerebral vasculitis and hemorrhage in an adolescent taking diet pills containing phenylpropanolamine: case report and review of literature. Pediatrics. 1989 May;83(5):737–741. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. French S. A., Jeffery R. W. Consequences of dieting to lose weight: effects on physical and mental health. Health Psychol. 1994 May;13(3):195–212. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.13.3.195. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Herman C. P., Polivy J., Pliner P., Threlkeld J., Munic D. Distractibility in dieters and nondieters: an alternative view of "externality". J Pers Soc Psychol. 1978 May;36(5):536–548. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.36.5.536. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Jeffery R. W., Folsom A. R., Luepker R. V., Jacobs D. R., Jr, Gillum R. F., Taylor H. L., Blackburn H. Prevalence of overweight and weight loss behavior in a metropolitan adult population: the Minnesota Heart Survey experience. Am J Public Health. 1984 Apr;74(4):349–352. doi: 10.2105/ajph.74.4.349. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kuczmarski R. J. Prevalence of overweight and weight gain in the United States. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992 Feb;55(2 Suppl):495S–502S. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/55.2.495s. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Levy A. S., Heaton A. W. Weight control practices of U.S. adults trying to lose weight. Ann Intern Med. 1993 Oct 1;119(7 Pt 2):661–666. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-119-7_part_2-199310011-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Polivy J., Herman C. P. Dieting and binging. A causal analysis. Am Psychol. 1985 Feb;40(2):193–201. doi: 10.1037//0003-066x.40.2.193. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Rogers P. J., Green M. W. Dieting, dietary restraint and cognitive performance. Br J Clin Psychol. 1993 Feb;32(Pt 1):113–116. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1993.tb01034.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Stephenson M. G., Levy A. S., Sass N. L., McGarvey W. E. 1985 NHIS findings: nutrition knowledge and baseline data for the weight-loss objectives. Public Health Rep. 1987 Jan-Feb;102(1):61–67. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Stunkard A. J., Penick S. B. Behavior modification in the treatment of obesity. The problem of maintaining weight loss. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1979 Jul;36(7):801–806. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1979.01780070079009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Williamson D. F., Serdula M. K., Anda R. F., Levy A., Byers T. Weight loss attempts in adults: goals, duration, and rate of weight loss. Am J Public Health. 1992 Sep;82(9):1251–1257. doi: 10.2105/ajph.82.9.1251. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Wilson G. T. Relation of dieting and voluntary weight loss to psychological functioning and binge eating. Ann Intern Med. 1993 Oct 1;119(7 Pt 2):727–730. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-119-7_part_2-199310011-00020. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of American Public Health Association

RESOURCES