Objective: Youth attempting to lose weight may engage in a variety of weight control behaviors (WCBs), some of which are viewed as healthy WCBs (HWCBs), whereas others are viewed as unhealthy WCBs (UWCBs). This study sought to examine youth perceptions of which WCBs are safe versus unsafe ways to lose weight. Furthermore, youth safety perceptions of WCBs and body mass index (BMI) z-scores were examined in relation to how often youth engage in these WCBs.
Method: Participants were 219 youth (aged 10-17 years) attending a primary care clinic appointment. Participants completed questionnaires about the frequency of their own WCB use and whether they perceived each WCB as a safe way to lose weight.
Results: Results revealed differences in safety perceptions across weight status groups for certain HWCBs and UWCBs. Youth perception of WCBs as safe ways to lose weight was associated with more frequent engagement in WCBs. Furthermore, an interaction between youth safety perception of HWCBs and youth BMI z-scores was related to greater engagement in HWCBs, such that the relationship between safety perception and engagement was only significant for youth who are overweight/obese. The moderation model explained 36.95% of the variance in engagement in HWCBs. The moderation model was also significant for UWCBs (r = .35).
Conclusion: This study identifies youth safety perception of WCBs as a mechanism that may lead to increased youth engagement in WCBs. Health care providers should educate both youth and family members about safe versus unsafe WCBs.