Los Angeles, CA (September 08, 2015) Though the belief that DNA determines weight is highly debated, it appears to be shaping people's lives. A new study finds that those who believe that weight is outside of their control have less healthy BMIs, make poorer food choices, and report lower levels of personal wellbeing than those who don't. This study was published today in Health Education and Behavior , a Society for Public Health Education journal published by SAGE.
"If an individual believes weight to be outside of the influence of diet and exercise, she or he may engage in more behaviors that are rewarding in the short term, such as eating unhealthful foods and avoiding exercise, rather than healthful behaviors with more long-term benefits for weight management," wrote study authors Dr. Mike C. Parent and Dr. Jessica L. Alquist. "By fighting the perception that weight is unchangeable, health care providers may be able to increase healthful behaviors among their patients."
Analyzing data from both medical and self-reported health measurements of 4,166 men and 4,655 women, the study authors found the following:
"Although previous research has found gender differences in weight as a motivation for exercise and healthful eating, we did not find evidence that gender affected the relationship between health beliefs and physical activity or healthful eating," wrote the study authors. "However, we found evidence that the relationship between belief in weight changeability and exercise, healthful eating, and unhealthful eating differs by age."
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Find out more by reading the full article, "Born Fat: The Relations Between Weight Changeability Beliefs and Health Behaviors and Physical Health." For an embargoed copy of the full text, please email camille.gamboa@sagepub.com .
SAGE Founded 50 years ago by Sara Miller McCune to support the dissemination of usable knowledge and educate a global community, SAGE publishes more than 850 journals and over 800 new books each year, spanning a wide range of subject areas. A growing selection of library products includes archives, data and video. SAGE remains majority owned by our founder and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company's continued independence. Principal offices are located in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore and Washington DC. http://www.sagepub.com
About Society for Public Health Education
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a non-profit professional organization founded in 1950 to provide global leadership to the profession of health education and health promotion and to promote the health of society. SOPHE's 4,000 international and chapter members work in various public and private organizations to advance health education theory and research, develop disease prevention and health promotion programs, and promote public policies conducive to health. For more information, see http://www.sophe.org
Health Education & Behavior is an official publication of Society for Public Health Education.
Contact: (US) Camille Gamboa Camille.gamboa@sagepub.co.uk / Tel: 805-410-7441
(UK) Katie Baker katie.baker@sagepub.co.uk / Tel: +44 (0)20 7324 8719
Health Education & Behavior