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Abstract
This study attempted to determine whether dieters differ from nondieters in how and
where they obtain nutrition and health information and whether choice of weight-loss
practices is related to use of different information sources. A national telephone
survey of a probability sample of 1649 adults provided detailed information on the
weight-loss practices of 1431 dieters and comparable background information on 218
nondieters. Dieters were more active readers of nutrition information than were nondieters.
However, their choices about type of regimen and about specific products and services
were more heavily dependent on word of mouth, commercial sources, and physicians than
on written information. Dieters relying on written materials were more likely to engage
in healthy weight-loss regimens and less likely to engage in questionable weight-loss
practices than were those relying on other sources. The pattern of information-seeking
behavior observed for dieters, which indicated greater motivation to seek out written
information but reliance on oral sources to inform them of specific weight-loss practices,
suggests that if authoritative written information about specific weight-loss practices
was available, it would be used and would likely be effective.
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© 1995 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
