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Teens try to lose weight the wrong way

Media Outlet: 

CNN

A new study by Temple researchers found that obese students have great interest in weight loss, but this intent can mean increased smoking and soda drinking. Temple's Clare Lenhart presented data from a survey of 44,000 students that showed that about 75.7% of the obese students attending Philadelphia public high schools sought to lose weight. "What I was expecting to see was increased intake of salad or healthy foods," Lenhart said. "In fact, what I found was persistent unhealthy behaviors contrary to weight loss." Those teenagers who tried to lose weight had increased use of tobacco and soda.