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January 2011Volume 48, Issue 1, Pages 109–112
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Disordered Weight Control Behaviors in Early Adolescent Boys and Girls of Color: An Under-Recognized Factor in the Epidemic of Childhood Overweight

S. Bryn Austin
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S. Bryn Austin
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Affiliations

  • Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

Correspondence

  • Address correspondence to: S. Bryn Austin, Sc.D., Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115
, Sc.D.a,b,low asterisk,'Correspondence information about the author Sc.D. S. Bryn Austin
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S. Bryn Austin
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Affiliations

  • Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts

Correspondence

  • Address correspondence to: S. Bryn Austin, Sc.D., Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115
,
Jennifer Spadano-Gasbarro
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Jennifer Spadano-Gasbarro
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Affiliations

  • Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
, Ph.D.c
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Mary L. Greaney
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Mary L. Greaney
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Affiliations

  • Center for Community-Based Research, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
, Ph.D.d
,
Tracy K. Richmond
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Tracy K. Richmond
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Affiliations

  • Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
, M.D., M.P.H.a
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Henry A. Feldman
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Henry A. Feldman
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Affiliations

  • Clinical Research Program, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
, Ph.D.e
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Stavroula K. Osganian
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Stavroula K. Osganian
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  • Clinical Research Program, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
, M.D., Sc.D.e
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Anne T. Hunt
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Anne T. Hunt
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Affiliations

  • Hunt Consulting Associates, Lyme, New Hampshire
, Sc.D.f
,
Solomon Mezgebu
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Solomon Mezgebu
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Affiliations

  • Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
, M.S.g
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Karen E. Peterson
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Karen E. Peterson
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Affiliations

  • Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Human Nutrition Program, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan
, Sc.D.c,h
Disordered Weight Control Behaviors in Early Adolescent Boys and Girls of Color: An Under-Recognized Factor in the Epidemic of Childhood Overweight
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.05.017

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Abstract

Objectives

Ethnic disparities in childhood overweight are well-documented. In addition, disordered weight control behaviors (DWCB) have been linked to overweight and weight gain in multiple ways, but little is known about DWCB in youth of color, especially boys. We examined the distribution and determinants of ethnic and gender disparities in DWCB in early adolescents.

Methods

In fall 2005, 47 Massachusetts middle schools participating in the Healthy Choices overweight prevention study administered a self-report baseline survey assessing student sociodemographics, height, weight, and DWCB (vomiting or use of laxatives or diet pills in the past month to control weight). Data from 16,978 girls and boys were used in multivariate logistic regression models to estimate the odds of DWCB in youth of color compared with their white peers, controlling for individual- and school-level factors.

Results

Among white youth, 2.7% of girls and 2.3% of boys reported DWCB. The odds of DWCB were elevated 2–10 times in most ethnic groups relative to whites. Disparities were attenuated but persisted after controlling for multiple individual- and school-level factors.

Conclusions

Ethnic disparities in DWCB must be considered in efforts to address the epidemic of childhood overweight.

Keywords:

Adolescence, Eating disorders, Overweight, Disparities

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© 2011 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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  • Erratum

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2011.01.001

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    January 2011Volume 48, Issue 1, Pages 109–112