Dieting patterns of college-age women

Abstract

Only a small portion of existing research on dieting behavior focuses on college-age women. The author hypothesizes that most college-age women are currently dieting to lose weight and are using unhealthy methods to do so. A dieting behavior survey of 83 women ranging in age from 18 to 26 years old confirmed this hypothesis. Almost half of the women who were currently dieting were of normal weight or were underweight and most resorted to unhealthy, and often dangerous, weight-loss methods.