Table 1 Studies examining weight loss intention and strategies in youth observational studies (N = 19)

Calderon et al. (2004) [18]

10th grade

64

27 (M^b)

8% Caucasian

27% Asian-American

4% African-American

48% Hispanic

0% Native-American

12% Other

California

CS^c

Eating smaller portions

Skipping meals, fad or crash diet

Diet aids

Childress et al. (1993) [24]

5th to 8th grade

51

N/A

64% Caucasian

21% African-American

7% Other

8% N/A

South Carolina

CS

Exercise

Fasting

Vomiting, diuretics, diet pills, laxatives

Davis & Lambert (2000) [25]

5th grade

51

34 (M)

100% Native-American

New Mexico

CS

Exercise, “eating a little less”

Strict diet

N/A

French et al. (1995) [46]

7th to 10th grade

100

N/A

89% Caucasian

4% Mixed Race

3%Asian-American

< 1%Native-American

< 1%African-American

< 1% Hispanic

Minnesota

L^d

Low-calorie diet

N/A

Vomiting, diet pills, laxatives, enemas

Kilpatrick et al. (1999) [19]

7th to 12th grade

53

22 (M)

31 (P^e)

62% Caucasian

23% African-American

9% Hispanic

3% Asian-American

3% Native-American

USA^†

CS

Exercise

N/A

Vomiting, diet pills, laxatives

Koff & Rierdan (1991) [45]

6th grade

100

21 (P)

100% Caucasian

Massachusetts

CS

Exercise, avoid fattening foods

Skipping meals, fasting

N/A

Krowchuk et al. (1998) [23]

6th to 8th grade

49

24 (P)

64% Caucasian

28% African-American

2% Hispanic

1% Asian-American

2% Native-American

3% Other

North Carolina

CS

Exercise

N/A

Vomiting or using laxatives, diet pills

McVey et al. (2005) [20]

6th to 8th grade

54

19 (M)

28 (P)

38% Caucasian

26% South Asian

17% Asian-American

13% African-Canadian 14% Other

Ontario, CA

CS

Exercise

Skipping meals

Vomiting, diet pills, laxatives or diuretics

Page et al. (1993) [49]

10th to 12th grade

51

N/A

73% Caucasian

25% African-American

2% Other

Mississippi

CS

Exercise

Fasting, very restrictive diet, crash diet

Vomiting, diet pills, water pills, laxatives

Phelps et al. (1993) [40]

7th to 8th grade and 9th to 12th grade

100

N/A

N/A

New York

CS

N/A

N/A

Vomiting, diet pills, laxatives

Rafiroiu et al. (2000) [43]

3rd to 5th grade

52

N/A

55% Caucasian

South Carolina

CS

N/A

N/A

Vomiting, diet pills

Serdula et al. (1993) [39]

9th to 12th grade

51

25 (P)

55% Caucasian

20% African-American

20% Hispanic

6% Other

USA^‡

CS

Exercise

Skipping meals

Vomiting, diet pills

Shisslak et al. (1998) [48]

Elementary and middle school children

100

N/A

48% Caucasian

26% Hispanic

17% Asian-American

5% African-American

2% Native-American

2% Other

California, Arizona

CS

Exercise, eat less fat/sweets

Skipping meals, fasting

Vomiting, diet pills, laxatives

Shisslak et al. (2006) [44]

6th to 9th grade

100

19% overweight, 19% at risk overweight (M)

43% Caucasian

40% Hispanic

17% African-American

California, Arizona

CS

Exercise, cut back on food, eaten less sweets or fatty foods

Skipping meals, fasting

Vomiting, diet pills, laxatives

Stevens et al. (1999) [41]

4th grade

54

12 (P)

100% Native-American

Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota

CS

Exercise, change what/how ate

Skipping meals, fasting

N/A

Story et al. (1994) [47]

7th to 12th grade

N/A

31 (P)

100% Native-American

South Dakota, New Mexico, Alaska, Minnesota, Montana, Tennessee, Utah, Arizona

CS

N/A

N/A

Vomiting, diet pills, laxatives, diuretics

Story et al. (2001) [21]

2nd to 3rd grade

48

42 (M)

100% Native-American

Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota

CS

Exercise, changed what/how much ate

Skipping meals, fasting

N/A

Yost et al. (2010) [38]

Females aged 13–18

100

15.5% overweight, 11.8% obese (as per BMI percentile)

69% Caucasian

19% African-American

2% Native-American

3% Asian-American

12% Hispanic

USA^††

CS

Exercise

N/A

N/A

Zullig et al. (2006) [42]

9th to 12th grade

54

54 (P)

54% Caucasian

46% African-American

South Carolina

CS

N/A

Fasting

Vomiting or laxatives, diet pills