Study Shows Girls Fear Fat

Although few pre-adolescent girls are in danger of obesity, the fear of becoming fat causes many of them to diet, a practice that can lead to anorexia or bulimia, according to a San Francisco researcher.

Nearly three of every four pre-adolescent girls are on diets, according to Laurel Mellin, a registered dietitian with the University of California, San Francisco.

Sever Consequences Possible

“Disordered eating during childhood and adolescence can have severe consequences on growth and development,” Mellin said.

Mellin advocates teaching children positive attitudes about body weight at early ages and balancing food intake among meats, milk and dairy products, fruits and vegetables and breads and cereals, with adequate calories for growth.

In a recent study by Mellin, only 17% of the girls in the study--predominantly from white or Asian middle-income families--were above average in weight and height, but all report a fear of becoming fat at the onset of menstruation.