Study on Differences in Perception of Weight Management, Balanced Food Intake, Knowledge of Obesity, and Nutrition Knowledge in Male and Female University Students

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in perception of weight management, balanced food intake, knowledge of obesity, and nutrition knowledge in university students. The average weight and height of male subjects were $175.0{\pm}5.7cm$ and $69.1{\pm}11.8kg$, whereas those of female subjects were $161.7{\pm}5.0cm$ and $51.7{\pm}6.9kg$, respectively. Average scores for balanced food intake were not significantly different between male and female students. The total number of correct answers for obesity knowledge was not significantly different according to gender, but four responses related with losing weight showed higher perception scores in females compared to males (p<0.05). The total number of correct answers for nutrition knowledge was not significantly different between males and females. The average BMI of male and female subjects were $22.5{\pm}3.44$ and $19.7{\pm}2.21$, respectively, ranged in normality. Self-evaluation of body shape was mostly in the normal or standard range in both males and females, but females showed a higher perception rate of chubby or fat than males. The percentages of interest in weight management was 36.0% in males and 50.8% in females, with higher interest in female subjects (p<0.01).

남녀 대학생의 체중관리, 식품섭취 균형성, 비만지식, 영양지식 인지차이에 관한 연구