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Our new paper in @JAMAPediatrics . Over the past 30 years the prevalence of dieting/exercising for weight loss has increased in the UK among 14 years old. Thanks to amazing co-authors @pravpatalay @DrHelenSharpe @soozaphone @_JaneMaddock @GlynLewis9 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.4746?utm_campaign=articlePDF%26utm_medium=articlePDFlink%26utm_source=articlePDF%26utm_content=jamapediatrics.2020.4746
Although dieting was and is still more common in girls, prevalence has increased more in boys. Prevalence o exercising for weight loss has increased hugely in both boys and girls. Suggests exercise might be seen more as just a means to lose weight.
Dieting/exercise for weight loss is associated with higher depressive symptoms, particularly in girls. Girls who dieted, exercised to lose weight, described themselves as overweight in 2015 had higher depression than girls reporting these same behaviours in 2005 and 1986.
This has implications for how we talk about health and weight. Public health messaging should not focus on weight loss, as this is likely to be harmful for young people.
