While there would seem to be a predisposition of body type that would influence the individual's ability to perform in an event, it may also be that the training procedures for those specific events are common to both men and women athletes.

This article reviews four strategies employed to remediate obesity: diet restriction, use of drugs, surgical treatment, and behavior modification. The conclusion is reached that behavior modification is the most effective strategy. (JD)

Presents statistics of a girl's age, height, and weight at menarche, and the possible effect on these variables of various factors such as her health, genetic inheritance, socioeconomic circumstances, and environment. The behavior of present day adolescents cannot be attributed to earlier physical and sexual development. (Author/IRT)

Compared self-concept of obese (N=28) and nonobese (N=58) female students in a junior nursing class. Found that obese students and students who considered themselves to be obese had lower self-esteem than did nonobese students. Revealed no relationships with regard to age of onset of obesity, and no significant relationships between social class…

Studied adolescent girls who were eating-disordered (N=41), athletes (N=87), or students (N=120) to determine their menstrual, dieting, and exercise patterns and their self-images. Found that eating-disordered subjects had extremely low scores on emotional tone and social relationships, suggesting that these dimensions may distinguish the…

Investigated relation of counselor ability to articulate salient client information to continuance in weight loss program. Counselors predicted client responses to questions regarding weight loss problems more accurately for clients who later completed program than for those who dropped out. Within one completer group, greater weight loss occurred…

This investigation surveyed 1268 high school females to identify and compare students for bulimic behavior. Approximately five percent of the students met rigorous criteria for the diagnosis of bulimia. Between-group comparisons indicated that body dissatifaction, drive for thinness, and chronicity of dieting differentiated the two groups.…

Several books for children that deal with some aspect of health are reviewed. Topics covered include care of the body; weight control; coping with illness; and alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. (PP)

Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, 1998?1999 Kindergarten Cohort, the study examines two research questions: What are the effects of participation in the National School Lunch Program on changes in children?s behavior, test scores, and body weight? Do these effects differ by gender? To address issues of selection, we use…

Longitudinal data from a study of child development in Guatemala City were used to describe the influence of socioeconomic status and sex on physical and cognitive growth status. The correlation between growth status variables was also analyzed. (Author/RH)

The importance of educating students about obesity is stressed. Desirable instructional goals include: (1) providing accurate information about obesity; (2) preventing obesity (if possible); (3) treating it; and (4) making students aware that much of the prejudice against fat people is irrational. (PP)