Dieting behaviors of young women post-college graduation

College Student Journal, Dec, 2007 by LuAnn Soliah, Janelle Walter, Deeanna Antosh

Most of the women in this study had dieted (77%) previously, and the diets tended to be short-term. This is a common observation among individuals who have attempted to change their weight by calorie reduction. More than 95% of people who diet to lose weight, regain it in less than five years. (24)

The young women in this study primarily attempted to lose weight for the purpose of improving their appearance. Similarly, in previous studies, appearance improvement was the main reason for dieting among these categories: middle school, junior high, high school, and college students. (21, 25-26) When the subjects were successful in losing weight, they felt good and had an enhanced self-image; when the weight was gained back they felt immense dissatisfaction and body contempt. (26) Likewise, some of the women in this study reported that their weight was scaring them and they felt unhealthy because of their size.

Cigarette smoking is often viewed as a method for weight controls Currently, 22% of adult women in the United States smoke cigarettes; among high school girls, the prevalence is even higher (27.7%). (28) According to the responses in this survey, only 5% of the women smoked. Perhaps the women were not being truthful, or, they truly were non-smokers.

The drinking habits of the women were also surveyed in this research study. The large majority of the women (86%) were nondrinkers, light drinkers, or occasional drinkers. Fourteen percent of the subjects were habitual drinkers (> 4 alcoholic drinks/week). Some of them were likely to be heavy drinkers; others were probably regular, but temperate drinkers.

Most of the women in this study, ate three meals or snacks each day. This represented a favorable trend compared to previous reports of frequent meal skipping among high school and college females. (29) The findings from previous studies, indicated that college women ate more frequently than high school females did. (29) Some possible reasons for this observation include greater access to restaurants and increased socialization associated with eating as we mature.

Frequent dining at fast-food restaurants is not conducive to good health. It is a well known fact that several menu options featured at fast-food restaurants include fried food, and abundant portions of food and beverages which are high in sugar, fat, and kilocalories. (30-33) A sizable portion of the college educated women in this study, ate at fast-food restaurants on a frequent basis (2-7 days per week). Another finding from this study was the significant and positive association between body mass index (actual weight) and fast food patronage.

In contrast, the women were much less likely to report frequent patronage of waiter style restaurants with printed menus. Two possible explanations for this observation were time constraints and the increased expense of waiter style restaurants. There was no association between weight status and restaurant patronage among the women in this study.

A troubling observation noted among the professional women in this study is the frequent occurrence of overeating that occurs when women eat away from home. Seventy-six percent of the women perceived that they always or sometimes overate when they ate out. This is a worrisome habit, considering the difficulty women have in maintaining caloric balance, without the added temptation of overeating. Unhealthful eating patterns (overeating), even on an occasional basis, are associated with significantly higher body weight measurements and distorted (higher) psychological scores for the affinity of food. Any form of overeating is an unhealthy pattern, and it is especially unhealthy in modern times because of the increased frequency of eating away from home.