The costs of weight control: what do young women pay?

Ball, Kylie; Andajani-Sutjahjo, Sari; Crawford, David

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05705.x

Topics

To the Editor: We read with interest Abraham’s recent article on bodyweight issues facing young women.1 Abraham notes that this group is at risk of extreme weight-loss behaviours, including excessive exercise and use of slimming tablets. However, recent data from our studies show young women’s high risk of substantial weight gain and obesity.2,3

Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC.

Correspondence:

Acknowledgements:

Kylie Ball is supported by a Public Health Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), ID 136925. David Crawford is supported by a Career Development Award funded by the NHMRC and National Heart Foundation of Australia.

1. Abrahams SF. Dieting, body weight, body image and self-esteem in young women: doctors’ dilemmas. Med J Aust 2003; 178: 607-611. <MJA full text>
2. Ball K, Brown W, Crawford D. Who does not gain weight? Prevalence and predictors of weight maintenance in young women. Int J Obesity 2002; 26: 1570-1578.
3. Ball K, Crawford D, Ireland P, Hodge A. Patterns and demographic predictors of five-year weight change in a multi-ethnic cohort of men and women in Australia. Public Health Nutr 2003; 6: 269-280.
4. National Health and Medical Research Council. Acting on Australia’s weight: a strategic plan for the prevention of overweight and obesity. Canberra: AGPS, 1997. Available at: www.health.gov.au/nhmrc/publications/pdf/n21.pdf (accessed Oct 2003).
5. Reidpath D, Crawford D, Tilgner L, Gibbons C. Relationship between body mass index and the use of healthcare services in Australia. Obesity Res 2002; 10: 526-531.
6. The Consumer Advocacy and Financial Counselling Association of Australia. Tipping the scales. Melbourne: CAFCA, 1992.

Online responses are no longer available. Please refer to our instructions for authors page for more information.