Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Introduction: Lifestyle-based weight management strategies are essential to reduce the prevalence of obesity in children. About 50% of young people report having intention to lose weight and 20% of them are concerned about their weight. Weight-related intention may be a determinant of behavioral weight-related actions. Objectives: This study aims to assess the influence of a change in body image on weight-related intentions and the influence of weight-related intentions on lifestyle and adiposity. Methodology: The data for this study will be drawn from the MATCH study, a prospective study of 937 young people from New Brunswick followed 3 times a year for 8 years (aged 10 to 18) and the NDIT study, a longitudinal study of 1,293 young people from Montréal followed for 17 years (13 to 30 years old). Relevance: This doctoral project is unique in that it will provide a broad and longitudinal understanding of the influence of weight-related intentions on lifestyle and health of adolescents and young adults. More research is needed to improve interventions promoting healthy lifestyles and weight considering that current weight management strategies have modest long-term effects. There is an urgent need to act to decrease obesity in young people.