Use of calorie information at fast food and chain restaurants among US youth aged 9-18 years, 2010.

BACKGROUND: To examine whether youth use calorie information when it is available at fast food/chain restaurants and what factors are associated with using this information to make their food selection. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on a sample of 721 youth (9-18 years) using the 2010 YouthStyles and HealthStyles surveys. The outcome measure was reported use of calorie information at fast food/chain restaurants. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the associations between sociodemographic variables and the use of calorie information at fast food/chain restaurants. RESULTS: Of those who visited fast food/chain restaurants, 42.4% reported using calorie information at least sometimes. Girls were more likely than boys (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-2.5) and youth who were obese were more likely than those at a healthy weight (aOR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.04-2.9) to use calorie information, and youth eating at a fast food/chain restaurant twice a week or more versus once a week or less were half as likely to report using calorie information (aOR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.4-0.8). CONCLUSION: Public health education efforts can benefit from research to determine how to increase usage among youth so that their food choices are appropriate for their caloric needs.

Body size dissatisfaction among male and female triathletes.

Body size dissatisfaction was assessed among 583 male and female triathletes residing in the USA. The males perceived themselves to be larger than their calculated body mass index (BMI discrepancy index: -1.92) and desired to be larger (BMI discrepancy index: -0.7), whereas the females perceived themselves to be smaller than their calculated BMI (BMI discrepancy index: 1.67) and desired to be much smaller (BMI discrepancy index: 3.61). The male triathletes categorised as underweight showed no discrepancy between their perceived and desired BMI, whereas 10% of the females in the underweight category desired to be larger than perceived and 13% desired to be smaller. Among the males whose BMI fell into the healthy range, 8.0% indicated a desire to be larger than perceived and 19.3% desired to be smaller; the majority of female triathletes in the healthy BMI category desired to be smaller, with only 2.4% desiring to be larger.

Sub-clinical eating disorder characteristics among male and female triathletes.

The characteristics of sub-clinical eating disorders were assessed in 583 male and female triathletes. We found that 28% of the females and 11% of the males scored below the mid-point of the range for the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) construct Preoccupation with Food and Weight, and respectively 39% and 23% scored below the mid-point of the range for the construct Calorie Control. All of the subjects indicated dissatisfaction with their actual body mass index (BMI). The study participants revealed attempts to reduce body weight by means of energy restriction, severe limitation of food groups and excessive exercise, in addition to controlling their food intake on the basis of strict dietary rules. The triathlon seems to be a sport that is susceptible to a higher prevalence of disordered eating. Further studies are needed to investigate its real prevalence and the factors contributing to it.