Americans are obsessed with dieting but sadly few are actually slim. A study that followed over 3,300 high school girls in Ontario found some disturbing links to dieting. Amanda Raffoul, the lead researcher, said “Post-puberty changes often lead to weight gain among girls and there is incredible pressure from social media and elsewhere to obtain and maintain the ideal body.”
Over 70% of the girls in the study reported dieting over the 3 years they were followed. Girls who dieted were more likely to smoke, skip breakfast and engage in binge drinking. The researchers speculated that factors such as a poor body image were the drivers for dieting and engaging in risky health behaviors. Sadly, many teenage girls get skewed message about health and weight.
