Self-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sample
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00391-y |
| _version_ | 1797714273817853952 |
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| author | Samantha L. Hahn Carly R. Pacanowski Katie A. Loth Jonathan Miller Marla E. Eisenberg Dianne Neumark-Sztainer |
| author_facet | Samantha L. Hahn Carly R. Pacanowski Katie A. Loth Jonathan Miller Marla E. Eisenberg Dianne Neumark-Sztainer |
| author_sort | Samantha L. Hahn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:49:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-16ef78a44d5246f5ad58826a8c373f3d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T07:49:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-16ef78a44d5246f5ad58826a8c373f3d2023-09-02T20:42:42ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742021-03-019111210.1186/s40337-021-00391-ySelf-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sampleSamantha L. Hahn0Carly R. Pacanowski1Katie A. Loth2Jonathan Miller3Marla E. Eisenberg4Dianne Neumark-Sztainer5Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of MinnesotaDepartment of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of DelawareDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Health, Medical School, University of MinnesotaDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Health, Medical School, University of MinnesotaDepartment of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of MinnesotaDivision of Epidemiology & Community Health, School of Public Health, University of MinnesotaAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00391-ySelf-weighingSelf-monitoringMoodYoung adultsWeight managementEating disorders |
| spellingShingle | Samantha L. Hahn Carly R. Pacanowski Katie A. Loth Jonathan Miller Marla E. Eisenberg Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Self-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sample Journal of Eating Disorders Self-weighing Self-monitoring Mood Young adults Weight management Eating disorders |
| title | Self-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sample |
| title_full | Self-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sample |
| title_fullStr | Self-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sample |
| title_full_unstemmed | Self-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sample |
| title_short | Self-weighing among young adults: who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood? A cross-sectional study of a population-based sample |
| title_sort | self weighing among young adults who weighs themselves and for whom does weighing affect mood a cross sectional study of a population based sample |
| topic | Self-weighing Self-monitoring Mood Young adults Weight management Eating disorders |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00391-y |
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