A Study of the Body Mass Index and Body Image among Female College Students

여자대학생의 비만지수와 신체상에 관한 연구

This study aims at examining relationships between body mass index and perceived body shape and image. Using a purposive sampling method, 404 female college students were recruited from three universities located in Busan from April 2000 to June 2000. To classify the levels of obesity, Broca's method was used. Secord & Jourard's Body Cathexis Scale(1953) modified by Kim mi ok(1997) was also used to measure body image. The collected data were analyzed with the percentages, Mean, Standard deviation, T-test, and Pearson correlation Coefficient. The results of this study were as follows. 1. 56.4 % of subjects were under weight, and 42.1% were normal for BMI. 2. 55.9% of subjects were very satisfied with their body shape and 15.1% were satisfied. 3. The mean values of perceived body shape according to the BMI were 3.0 for the overweight group, 2.65 for the normal weight group, and 2.21 for the low weight group, the mean differences among three groups were significantly satisfied (F= 21.42, P= .000). 4. The mean scores of body image according to the BMI was 160.21 for low weight group, 155.57 for the normal weight group, and 140.0 for overweight group. The mean differences among the three groups were not significantly satisfied. 5. The mean scores of body image according to perceived body shape were 17819 for the satisfaction group, 161.08 for the moderate group and 150.82 for dissatisfied group. The mean differences among the three groups were significantly satisfied (F= 35.72, P=. 000). 6. There were high positive correlations between BMI and perceived body shape(r= .317) and between perceived body shape and body image (r=- .415).