The My Diet Study is the first longitudinal, observational investigation of self-directed dieting patterns in young people aged 16-25, combining in-depth psychological and biological data to understand factors impacting dieting experiences. By examining natural dieting habits before eating disorders emerge, the research aims to identify biomarkers for risk, inform safety frameworks for young people's dieting, and establish evidence-based guidance for diet-based lifestyle interventions.
Aims
The My Diet Study aims to investigate the natural dieting patterns and habits for young people, and to understand and identify what factors (biological and psychological) impact a person’s experience of dieting. It will be the first longitudinal, observational study of dieting in young people combining in-depth psychological and biological data, with findings anticipated to yield psychological and biological information about the impacts and effectiveness of self-directed dieting in this group.
Background
Dieting that is not supervised by a healthcare professional is a potent eating disorder risk factor and is normative in late adolescence, when eating disorders typically emerge. Yet, dieting has almost no direct research. The My Diet Study will inform a framework for advice on safety in dieting among young people. It will also help to establish potential biomarkers for risk management and improvement of diet-based lifestyle interventions.
My Diet Study: protocol for a two-part observational, longitudinal, psycho-biological study of dieting in Australian youth
Okada M, Pehlivan MJ, Miskovic-Wheatley J, Barakat S, Griffiths KR, Touyz SW, Simpson SJ, Maguire S, Holmes AJ.
Frontiers in Public Health.
11: 1281855.
Eating Disorder Risk Among Australian Youth Starting a Diet in the Community
Pehlivan, M. J., Okada, M., Miskovic-Wheatley, J., Barakat, S., Touyz, S., Simpson, S. J., Griffiths, K., Holmes, A., & Maguire, S.
Appetite.
203, 107685.
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