Trying to Lose Weight and Alcohol Misuse Among High School Girls: Findings From the US National 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

摘要

Background: Trying to lose weight has been associated with alcohol use among college-aged females. Excessive drinking along with purging as a method for weight control has been documented in this population. However, little is known about the relationship between alcohol use and trying to lose weight among high school girls. Objectives: To examine the relationship between trying to lose weight and past 30-day (1) alcohol use and (2) binge drinking (separately). Methods: Using data from the National 2011 YRBS, we examined these relationships among 5,106 girls aged 14-18+ who reported ever using alcohol. Survey-weighted iterative logistic regression models were conducted. Results: 44.0% of girls reported current alcohol use with 27.8% reporting binge drinking. While a significant relationship was not found between trying to lose weight and current alcohol use in the final multivariable model, a significant relationship was found between trying to lose weight and binge drinking (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.02-1.52). Additional variables that were found to be associated with an increased odds of binge drinking included: being in 11th and 12th grades compared to being in 9th grade, screening positively for depression, and current cigarette use. Variables associated with a decreased odds included: talking to an adult/teacher about a problem, and identifying as Black/African American compared to White. Conclusions/Importance: Understanding the relationship between trying to lose weight and binge drinking among high school students is important, as these behaviors may be a precursor to risk behaviors later in life and need to be more fully examined.