Self-help dieting strategies in college males and females

Abstract

The present study sought to determine the self‐help dieting strategies used by college men and women. There were 204 adults (102 males, 102 females) asked (1) the degree of importance placed on achieving and maintaining their ideal weight, (2) the reasons (i. e., health, appearance, or psychological) for dieting, and (3) the specific types of food restriction and physical activity methods used. Results indicated that females were much more likely to have actively dieted during the past 6 months and were more likely to see a discrepancy between their real and ideal weight. Furthermore, females placed a much higher importance on the appearance benefits of maintaining an ideal weight. Females were much more likely to engage in physical activity strategies (both appropriate and inappropriate) primarily for weight reduction than males. Similarly, females were much more likely to engage in both dangerous and safe food restriction strategies than males. The results are discussed, and implications for future research are offered.

Dieting and smoking initiation in early adolescent girls and boys: a prospective study

“…[17][18][19] Studies also have found that girls are more likely than boys to report weight concerns, 6,20 so weight concerns may play a greater role in smoking initiation and maintenance for girls than for boys. Smokers, especially females, often report that they use cigarettes as a weight-control strategy, 17,[21][22][23] and dieters are more likely than nondieters to report retrospectively that they initiated smoking to lose weight or to prevent weight gain. 24 Another possible mechanism linking dieting and smoking suggests that dieting may itself be a psychologic or physiologic potentiating factor that heightens the risk for smoking.…”

Men and their bodies: a comparison of homosexual and heterosexual men.

“…We also hypothesized that the accentuated body dissatisfaction of gay men would influence their reasons for exercise. Recent research has found that college women more than men reported that their exercise was motivated by weight-related reasons (22,23).…”

Overweight, Obesity and Dieting Attitudes Among College Students in Romania

“…Klesges et al (18) reported that college females are more likely than male counterparts to engage in healthy and unhealthy physical activity and food restriction behaviors and place higher importance on appearance benefits of maintaining an ideal body weight.…”