Study finds those who lost weight drank less soda, exercised more and watched less television
THURSDAY, Dec. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Overweight adolescents who shed pounds appear more likely to use healthy weight control behaviors than their counterparts who don't lose weight, according to research published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Kerri N. Boutelle, Ph.D., of the University of California in San Diego, and colleagues analyzed data from 62 overweight adolescents who lost weight in the previous two years and kept it off for at least three months, and 68 overweight adolescents who had not lost weight.
The researchers found that those who lost weight were significantly more likely to report behaviors such as exercising more and drinking less soda. The weight-loss group also reported watching four fewer hours of television or videos weekly. They were also more likely to report self-weighing and more frequent weighing than teens who did not lose weight. However, they weren't significantly more likely to report behaviors such as smoking, skipping meals or vomiting after eating.
"This study attests to the existence of adolescents who are able to lose weight, given that adolescents in the weight loss group reported losing an average of 10 kg and maintaining the weight loss for at least three months," the authors write. "Results from this study suggest that adolescents who lost weight in the past are more likely to report using healthful weight control behaviors such as increasing protein consumption and watching less television and videos per week."
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