Lifestyle Behaviors Associated with Weight Loss Intent in Adolescent Girls: Findings from the US 2021 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Background

External social influences on body image affect females differently than males, and adolescent girls are more likely to want to change their weight status. Understanding the healthy and unhealthy habits of adolescent girls is vital for developing effective and targeted health promotions and interventions.

Methods

Using data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS) survey, this cross-sectional study compares dietary habits, physical activity, vaping, alcohol use, sleep, and screen time in females (9th-12th grades) who intend to lose weight versus those who want to maintain their current weight.

Results

The sample consisted of 4362 females, of which 56.7% reported an intent to lose weight. The average BMI percentile was 64.1 compared to 75.4 among those trying to lose weight and 50.1 among those not trying to lose weight. Adolescent girls intending to lose weight also reported less frequent breakfast consumption (OR 0.52; 0.40-0.69), less sleep (OR 0.72; 0.59-0.89), more screen time (OR 1.27; 1.02-1.58), engaging in muscle toning exercises (OR 1.30; 1.07-1.57), vaping (OR 1.22; 1.01-1.47), and alcohol use (OR 1.61; 1.32-1.98) compared to those not intending to lose weight.

Conclusions

Adolescent girls trying to lose weight would likely benefit from interventions to help them improve sleep, reduce screen time, improve dietary and exercise habits, and monitor alcohol and vaping use.