HEALTHY WEIGHT REGULATION CURRICULUM

OVERVIEW

A curriculum was developed to modify the eating attitudes and unhealthful weight regulation practices of young adolescent girls.  Girls aged 11 to 13 were randomly assigned by classroom to receive the curriculum.  Girls were followed for two years.  At the 18-week follow-up, girls assigned to the treatment group scored significantly higher than girls assigned to the control group on a test of healthy weight regulation knowledge.  However, researchers considered the intervention to have failed in achieving its objectives; because, at no follow-up did treatment girls differ from control girls on the Eating Disorder Inventory, on measures of eating attitudes, or on a restraint scale.

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM

Target population: Young adolescent girls

A curriculum was developed to modify the eating attitudes and unhealthful weight regulation practices of young adolescent girls.  The curriculum included instruction on the harmful effects of unhealthful weight regulation and taught girls to consume nutritious foods, to participate in regular aerobic activity, and to resist social messages about the importance of thinness and dieting.

The curriculum included 18 lessons.  In these lessons, girls were taught that weight gain is a natural and necessary part of pubertal growth in females and were reminded that every girl passes through puberty at her own pace, making comparisons to same-age peers misleading.  Girls were also taught that excessive caloric restriction is not an effective long-term weight control strategy.  Girls were familiarized with the symptoms and consequences of bulimia and anorexia and were shown how simple dieting techniques can easily lead to binge/purge cycles.  More healthful means of regulating one’s weight were presented and girls were assisted in developing, evaluating, and adopting personalized long-term nutritional and physical activity plans.

EVALUATION(S) OF PROGRAM

Killen, J. D., Taylor, C. B., Hammer, L. D., Litt, I., Wilson, D. M., Rich, T., Hayward, C., Simmonds, B., Kraemer, H., & Varady, A.  (1993).  An Attempt to Modify Unhealthful Eating Attitudes and Weight Regulation Practices of Young Adolescent Girls.  International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(4), 369-384.

Evaluated population: 931 sixth and seventh grade girls from four middle schools in northern California served as the study sample for this investigation.  Girls ranged in age from 11 to 13.  41% of girls were white, 23% were Hispanic, 20% were Asian, 4% were black, 3% were Pacific Islander, 3% were Native American, and 8% were of other ethnicities.

Approach: Girls were randomly assigned, by class, either to the treatment group or to the control group.  Treatment classes received the healthy weight regulation curriculum.  Control classes did not receive the curriculum.  All girls underwent assessment at baseline.  Assessment included the measurement of height and weight as well as the completion of a test of healthy weight regulation knowledge and numerous self-report measures, including a restraint scale, the Eating Disorder Inventory, and a questionnaire about eating disorder symptoms.  Follow-up assessments occurred 3.5, 7, 14, and 24 months later (thought not all measures were collected at each assessment).

Results: At the 18-week follow-up, girls assigned to the treatment group scored significantly higher than girls assigned to the control group on the test of knowledge.  Treatment girls’ scores still averaged less than 50% correct, however. 

On no other measure did treatment girls differ significantly from control girls at any follow-up.  The intervention was unsuccessful at positively impacting weight regulation and preventing eating disorders.  A tiny impact on BMI among a high-risk subgroup leads the authors to suggest targeting high-risk adolescents rather than all students.

Note: Analyses were not designed to adjust for the effect of clustering within schools.

SOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION

Curriculum materials unavailable for purchase.

References:

Killen, J. D., Taylor, C. B., Hammer, L. D., Litt, I., Wilson, D. M., Rich, T., Hayward, C., Simmonds, B., Kraemer, H., & Varady, A.  (1993).  An Attempt to Modify Unhealthful Eating Attitudes and Weight Regulation Practices of Young Adolescent Girls.  International Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(4), 369-384.

Program categorized in this guide according to the following:

Evaluated participant ages: 11-13

Evaluated participant grades: 6^th-7^th

Program age ranges in the guide: Middle Childhood, Adolescence

Program components: School-Based

Measured outcomes: Physical Health

Program information last updated on 10/5/07.