Weight-loss diets among female Korean adolescents: a pilot study based on a social media platform

Abstract

Purpose The study aimed to analyse the nutritional quality of self-proposed or prescribed weight-loss diets shared by female Korean adolescents through a social media platform and identified potential dietary problems. Design/methodology/approach A total of 317 weight-loss diets, shared by 107 female adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 in April 2019, were collected from three Kakao Open Chat rooms of which the main topic was “weight-loss diet”. The weight-loss diets were converted to daily energy and nutrient intake. Findings Approximately two-thirds of the subjects were normal or underweight, and more than half of them were limiting energy intake to less than half of the recommended daily amounts. The average daily intake of energy and most nutrients did not meet the standard intake levels. Approximately 20% of the subjects were breakfast skippers, while 8 and 5% were dinner and lunch skippers, respectively. Notably, meal skippers tended to fast longer and have an uneven distribution of daily energy intake per meal. The percentages of energy contribution from macronutrients, particularly carbohydrates, also deviated more from the acceptable range in the meal skippers. The weight-loss diets of the subjects with particularly low daily energy intake were categorised into simplified, unbalanced and nutrient-poor, energy-dense meals. Overall, the nutritional quality of the self-proposed or prescribed weight-loss diets was poor. More effective and proactive educational interventions in school environments should be developed to promote positive eating behaviours in adolescents and free them from their obsession with body image. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first attempt to analyse the nutritional quality of female adolescents' self-proposed or prescribed weight-loss diets.

Comparative analysis of indicators of physical fitness and physical activity in girls 12-13 years old with different body weights

“…Занепокоєння зовнішнім виглядом надзвичайно поширене в підлітковому віці. Окрім реальних ризиків для здоров'я, пов'язаних із ожирінням і неправильним харчуванням, підлітки стикаються з ідеалом нереально худорлявої краси [16]. На жаль, цей надмірний акцент на важливості худорлявості сприймається молоддю як шлях до краси, успіху та здоров'я.…”

Factors influencing perceived usefulness of a branded weight-loss app

“…Previous research has shown that when social support is combined with weight-loss techniques in online settings, patients with obesity have better weight-loss outcomes as well as coping better emotionally with their condition (Hwang et al ., 2010; Yan, 2018). It is worth noting that digital environments need to be controlled as advocating the free sharing of self-imposed or prescribed diets on social media can promote unhealthy eating habits (Kim and Kim, 2022). Similarly, another component that positively influences obesity treatment is perceived self-efficacy, which is a belief in one's ability to take control over the self and external factors (Bandura, 1997).…”

The impact of weight loss diet programs on anemia, nutrient deficiencies, and organ dysfunction markers among university female students: A cross-sectional study

“…For overweight and obese individuals, it is highly recommended to decrease their body weight through adopting lifestyle modification including lowering calories intake concomitant with increase physical activities [9]. However, many young people, especially females, with normal BMI misperceive their body weight due to dissatisfaction with body image in addition to psychological and socio-cultural factors [6,10,11]. Those people usually desire to be thinner by practicing unhealthy diet regimens that cause inappropriate weight reduction and nutritional disorders [12][13][14].…”