Weight Reduction Behaviors Among European Adolescents—Changes From 2001/2002 to 2017/2018

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in the prevalence of weight reduction behaviors (WRBs) among European adolescents from 26 countries between 2001/2002 and 2017/ 2018. The impact of the perception of body weight on WLB was also analyzed, with particular attention being paid to overestimation. Methods: The data of 639,194 European adolescents aged 11, 13, and 15 years who participated in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey were analyzed. Age-standardized prevalence rates of WRB were estimated separately by survey round and gender for each country, using the overall 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study population as the standard. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess WRB trends over time, adjusted for survey year, body mass index, body weight misperception, and family affluence and stratified by gender and age. Results: In the 26 countries examined, the overall age-adjusted prevalence rates of WRB were 10.2% among boys and 18.0% among girls. The prevalence of WRB was higher for girls, but in the more recent surveys, gender differences in WRB decreased. There was a significant increase in the percentage of WRB among boys in most countries. Among girls, most countries did not experience IMPLICATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONConflicts of interest: There are no potential conflicts, real or perceived, for any author. Disclosure: This supplement was supported by the World Health Organization European Office and the University of Glasgow. The articles have been peer-reviewed and edited by the editorial staff of the Journal of Adolescent Health. The opinions or views expressed in this supplement are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the funder.

Baltic Adolescents’ Health Behaviour: An International Comparison

“…First, all responses in the HBSC study are self-reported, leading to potential recall bias. As regards the differences in self-reported versus the direct height and weight, physical activity measurements noted, self-reported values tend to be typically greater than objectively measured values [ 29 ], while the self-reported weight tends to be lower when measured for girls and higher for boys [ 30 ]. This suggests that the rates provided in this study may not estimate the true magnitude of the level of overweight and obesity together with physical activity, even though the behavioural trends within the Baltic countries are noted and kept throughout the year.…”

Understanding the Health and Well-Being of Early Adolescents Throughout the World: Findings From the 2017–2018 Survey of Health Behavior in School-Aged Children

“…Two other papers in this supplement examine weight reduction and sleep patterns, which are strongly related to mental health and well-being [8,9]. Gariepy et al, using HBSC data across two cohorts (2014, 2018) from 24 countries, examine sleep patterns of adolescents, and the findings confirm the universality of insufficient sleep for adolescents: most adolescents (32%e86%) do not meet sleep recommendations for young people [8].…”

New Findings From the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Survey: Social Media, Social Determinants, and Mental Health

“…Articles in this supplement also examine specific issues related to mental health and well-being such as weight reduction behaviors and sleep patterns. Dzielska et al [9] examine weight reduction behaviors among European adolescents in the 2001e 2002 and 2017e2018 HBSC surveys. Overall, 18.0% of girls and 10.2% of boys reported weight reduction behaviors; however, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of weight reduction behaviors among boys but not girls in most countries [9].…”

“…Dzielska et al [9] examine weight reduction behaviors among European adolescents in the 2001e 2002 and 2017e2018 HBSC surveys. Overall, 18.0% of girls and 10.2% of boys reported weight reduction behaviors; however, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of weight reduction behaviors among boys but not girls in most countries [9]. Gariepy et al [10] examine sleep patterns of adolescents and find insufficient sleep on school days to be a cross-national phenomenon.…”