Acquiring too much knowledge does not always yield good
consequences if you do not know how to use it.
When it comes to dieting and weight loss, reading
too many dieting articles in magazines could lead to risky dieting practices
later.
A new study led by Patricia van den Berg, PhD. from
University of Minnesota and colleagues found teenage girls who often read
magazine articles about dieting and weight loss were three time more likely to
practice extreme dieting and weight loss measures such as vomiting and using
laxatives compared with those who never read.
The study per se does not mean reading the magazine articles
definitively caused the unhealthy or extreme dietary behaviors, but there is a
possibility that the teen girls had been influenced by the measures introduced
in the articles.
Experts say parents might want to advise their children not
to read articles that promote thinness and not to pursue a body image that is possessed
by only a few people. And teens should not follow any dieting measure without
the potential risk.
The study, which appears in Pediatrics' January edition, started
with 2,516 teens aged 13 to 15 in
Minnesota
with nearly half teenage girls.
At the
beginning of the study, girls and boys were surveyed about dieting, body image
and self-esteem.
The participants were questioned how often they read article
on dieting and or weight loss.
Their
height and weight were also measured.
Five years later, the researchers repeated the survey.
At the end of the study, the researchers found that girls
who reported often reading magazine articles on dieting and weight loss five
years ago were most likely to report engaging in unhealthy or extreme dieting
practices compared with those who did not read at all.
Among these girls who read a lot, the risk of practicing unhealthy
dieting measures including fasting, skipping meals, and smoking was twice
higher than that found among those who did not.
Among the same girls, the rate of practicing extreme
weight-control measures including vomiting and using laxatives was three times
higher than that found among those who did not read.
No association between dieting articles and unhealthy or
extreme dieting behaviors was found in the teen boys though.
A scientist associated with foodconsumer.org suggests that
people should focus on overall health, not on weight alone.
Many dieting and weight loss measures are
unhealthy from the viewpoint of nutrition.
He also suggests that people should know what they learn
from news media.
It is a risk to
practice something without knowing the consequences.
Never let a three-year-old hold a knife in his
hands.
