• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.499-506
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• 2010

The study aimed to analyze the lifestyles, weight control behavior, dietary habits, and depression of female university students. The subjects were 532 students from 8 universities located in 4 provinces in Korea. According to percent ideal body weight, 33 (6.4%), 181 (34.0%), 283 (53.2%), 22 (4.1%) and 13 (2.5%) were severely underweight, underweight, normal, overweight and obese, respectively, based on self-reported height and weight. As much as 64.1 % and only 2.4%, respectively, overestimated and underestimated their body weight status. Six overweight subjects were excluded from overestimation group for the purpose of this study, resulting in overestimation group consisting of only underweight and normal weight subjects. Compared to those from the normal perception group, significantly more subjects from the overestimation group were currently smoking (P=0.017) and drank more often than once a week (P=0.015), without any significant differences in dietary habits. Despite similar BMIs, subjects who overestimated their own weight statuses had significantly higher weight dissatisfaction (P= 0.000), obesity stress (P= 0.000), obsession to lose weight (P = 0.007) and depression (P = 0.018). Also, more of them wanted to lose weight (P = 0.000), checked their body weights more often than once a week (P=0.025) and had dieting experiences using 'reducing meal size' (P=0.012), 'reducing snacks' (P=0.042) and 'taking prescribed pills' (P = 0.032), and presented 'for a wider range of clothes selection' as the reason for weight loss (P = 0.039), although none was actually overweight or obese. Unlike the case with overestimating one's own weight, being overweight was associated with less drinking 0.035) and exercising more often (P=0.001) and for longer (P=0.001) and healthier reasons for weight control (P=0.002), despite no differences in frequency of weighing and depression. The results showed that weight overestimation, independent of weight status, is associated with risky lifestyles, weight control behaviors, and mental conditions. Preventive interventions should focus not only on obesity, but also on body weight overestimation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.218-223
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• 2007

This study investigated: 1) what weight-related behaviors college students practiced; 2) if the behaviors were performed for weight-related reasons; and 3) whether the behavioral practices differed by gender, race, and body weight status. This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire to collect information from a non-probability sample of undergraduate students (n=379; 48% men) recruited from large introductory psychology classes. Chi-square tests were conducted to examine simple comparisons, and multiple logistic regression analyses assessed differences. Male students reported adopting significantly fewer weight-related behaviors than females. Most frequently males increased exercise (69.2%), increased fruit and vegetable consumption (50%), skipped meals (46%), cut out sweets and junk foods (40%), and cut out between-meal snacks (35%). Female students most frequently increased exercise (67.4%), skipped meals (63%), increased fruit and vegetable consumption (62%), reduced the amount of food eaten (60%), and cut out between-meal snacks (51%). Negative behaviors were engaged in by only a few participants. Weight-related reasons were a significant factor for weight-related behavior adoption. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that gender was consistently and significantly associated with the adoption of weight-related behaviors, while race and weight status were less consistently associated. Findings of this study will be helpful to dietitians who counsel college students. Results of this study may support effects to bring more comprehensive behaviorally-focused health md nutrition interventions to college campuses.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.607-619
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to identify the concepts of body image, weight control and food behavior in 520 Korean high school seniors from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate body image, concern of weight control, experience of weight control, the first time to try weight control, plan for weight control, reasons of weight control and food behaviors related with weight control. Anthropometric parameters such as weight and height were measured. Finally, data from 497 high school seniors were used for statistical analysis. The results were as follows. Many subjects had misperceptions. Among the subjects who perceived themselves as 'fat', 57.8% were normal weight and 0.5% underweight. Among the subjects who perceived themselves as 'thin', 59.5% were normal weight, 0.9% overweight and 0.9% obese. Girls were more concerned about weight control than boys (4.20 vs. 3.66). Weight loss had been experienced by 61.5% of the subjects and weight gain by 12.8%. First weight control was attempted by 71.3% of the subject at high school and by 28.7% at middle school. The majority of subjects planned for weight control before their freshman year. The boys choose 'health' as the primary reason for weight control, whereas the girls chose 'good appearance'. The total score of food behaviors varied significantly according to BMI. Overweight and obese subjects had more desirable food behaviors than normal weight and underweight subjects (24.00, 24.06 vs. 21.92, 21.52). However, total scores of food behaviors showed no variation according to sex, weight control attempt and body image. In conclusion, the high school seniors had misconceptions about body image and weight control. They were exposed to a high risk of inappropriate weight control and food behaviors. Therefore, proper nutritional education programs need to be developed for high school seniors to prevent nutrition problems related to weight control and to maintain desirable food behaviors.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.249-257
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the body weight perception of adolescents and to investigate the difference between mental health and weight control behavior according to body weight perception. Methods: Study data on 12-18 years old adolescents with normal BMI was obtained from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015). Rao-Scott Chi-square test and ANOVA were used for the analysis. Results: The percentage of adolescents with a misperception of body weight was 43.3%, and their subjective health status (p=.013), stress perception (p=.001), and depression (p=.001) were worse than for adolescents who had the correct perception of their body weight. The percentage of adolescents who were trying to lose weight while perceiving their body weight as normal was 36.9%. Body weight control behavior had significant differences according to dietary intake (frequency of eating dinner (p=.015)), energy intake (p=.004), and carbohydrate intake (p<.001), but there was no significant difference according to exercise. Conclusion: Parents, school teachers, and nurses should make efforts to ensure that Korean adolescents perceive their body weight correctly, and prevent unhealthy weight control behaviors.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.69-80
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship among body image Perception, eating behavior and health status in young females. The survey was carried out by self-questionnaires for 293 female high school students(HS) and 164 female college students(CS) living in Daegu and suburbs of Daegu. For the perception of body image, 9-grade body figure drawings were used based on average Korean body size. EAT-26 and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used to measure the tendency of eating disorder and self-esteem. It appeared that 40.5% of the subjects were off the normal range of body weight; especially 34.2% of the subject were underweight. The subjects' perception about current body image was within normal range. Almost of all the subjects believed that the ideal body image was thinner than their own current body image, and they wanted to be thinner than their current body image. The change of eating behaviors related to weight control of CS was significantly higher than that of HS students. EAT-26 score, self-esteem score, and subjective health status score were no difference between groups. The cut-off point of the eating disorder in this study was equal to or greater than 20 in EAT-26 score. The rates of the eating disorder were very high as 9.6% of HS and 8.5% of CS. Eating disorder was positively correlated with BMI, current body image, dissatisfaction of body image and the change score of eating behavior. But eating disorder was negatively correlated with health status. From the results of this study, we suggested that one of causes related to the eating disorder behaviors in adolescent females was resulted from misperception about ideal body image. There is a great need to provide nutrition educations concerning appropriate perception of body image and weight control among adolescent females.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1334-1345
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• 1997

The purpose of this study were 1) to identify the effects of age and sex of Korean adolescents on the psychological variables(body attitudes, public/private self-consciousness, self-esteem), weight control practices, and clothing behaviors, and 2) to identify the relation- ships between psychological variables and weight control practices, and the effects of the variables on clothing behaviors in the adolescent' groups classified by sex and age. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Two factors of body attitudes were identified: Body-shape consciousness and Physical attractiveness. Four factors of clothing attitudes were identified: Clothing interest/dressing for others, Clothing exhibition, Dressing for self, and Psychological clothing-dependerlce. 2) There were significant effects of sex on all of the research variables. Age was found to have effects on Physical attractiveness, self-esteem, public/private self-consciousness, Clothing exhibition, and Psychological clothing- dependence. 3) In the relationships between psychological variables and weight control practices, Body-shape consciousness was negatively correlated with Physical attractiveness in all groups. Also, Body-shape consciousness had effects on weight control practice in all subject groups. 4) Public self-consciousness had direct/indirect effects on the Clothing interest/dressing for others in all subject groups. Private self-consciousness had direct/ indirect effects on dressing for self in high school boys and girls. Body-shape consciousness had indirect effects on Preference for up-to date style in male college students group, whereas weight control practices had effects on the Preference for up-to date style in female college students group. Self-esteem was found to have the effects on clothing behavior in college students groups. Among clothing attitude factors, Clothing exhibition had distinct effects on the Preference for up-to date style in all subject groups, and Clothing interest/dressing for others had effects on Clothing exhibition and Psychological clothing-dependence in high school boys and girs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.354-363
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• 2011

This study aimed to find the differences in weight control status and eating behavior of satisfied and dissatisfied female high school students regarding their own body shape. The participants consisted of 238 students at two female high schools in Nonsan-si, Chungnam-do in May of 2008. Self-assessment evaluated present body shape and ideal body shape they would like to have by providing silhouette drawings. The subjects were divided into two groups, 'satisfied' and 'dissatisfied', according to the differences between present body shape and ideal body shape. In the distribution of subjects according to body mass index, 100% of overweight, 97.0% of normal weight and 48.7% of underweight belonged to the dissatisfied group. There were significant differences in weight control and eating behavior between dissatisfied and satisfied groups in terms of frequency and reasons of conducting weight control behavior, body weight return after weight reduction, skipping breakfast and consuming fast food. The satisfied group was two times more likely to not conduct weight control behaviors compared to the dissatisfied group. The main reason for trying to control weight differed according to the group; the reason was feeling fat in the dissatisfied group and desiring to be healthy in the satisfied group. The percentage of subjects that returned to their original weights after weight reduction was 5 times higher in the dissatisfied group. The percentages of subjects that regularly skip breakfast and consume fast food were both higher in the dissatisfied group than in the satisfied group. The dissatisfied group responded 'eating alone' more frequently among nine binge eating behaviors compared to the satisfied group. Both groups, however, did not show any difference in overeating of meals, eating speed, intake frequency of regular meals, food preference, preferred cooking method, carbonated beverage intake and snack eating behavior. In summary, the dissatisfied group tried more unnecessary body weight reduction and had poor eating behavior. Accordingly, to correct the biased perception of body shape by the majority of female high school students, the values of our society should change toward the pursuit of beauty of health.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.6
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• pp.49-63
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the weight control behaviors, the degree of fatness and dance major on behalf of finding the effects of eating disorders. 779 female high school students, 283 dance major students and 496 general major students, were participated in the study. A self-reporting type of questionnaire survey was conducted during the period from $6^{th}$ May to $18^{th}$ April of 2005. Collected data were processed using SPSSW in 12.0; they were analysed through frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. The results of this study are as follows : 1. With regard to the level of eating disorders(EAT-26), 33.9% of risk group of eating disorder female dance students, and 13.7% of risk group of eating disorder female general major students. Weight-control behaviors in this research were 1) weight control concerns, 2) weight control trial, 3) weight control methods (prescription of M.D., ways of weight control), 4) eating habits. First, 56.6% of subjects had high concerns about weight control, and 92% of subjects had tried weight control. Second, only 5.1% of subjects were prescribed by M.D. Third, subjects had been using wrong methods(25.7%) of weigh control such as fasting, using drugs, vomiting, wearing laps etc. Fourth, 42.7% of the subjects had bad eating habits. The degree of fatness was as follows: 1) BMI(Body Mass Index), 2) self report about weight 3) distorted body image. Depending upon the BMI, the subjects with obesity were not found in female dance students; Comparatively, 36.9% of dance students were fat and 1.4% of the students were very fat. In terms of distorted body image, only 14.9% of all subjects were the same between the subjective degree of fatness and the objective degree of fatness. 2. As a result of multiple regression, six variables were found significant($R^2=11.6%$, P < 0.01). Concerns about the weight control significantly influenced on eating disorders(EAT-26). At the same time, major(dance), wrong methods of weight control, distorted body image, prescription of M.D, and eating habits had significantly influenced on eating disorders. This results indicates that the risk of eating disorders among female dancer students was very high. Therefore, professional intervention is needed for female dance students to prevent the eating disorders.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.323-330
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the mediating function of body weight perception (BWP) on the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCB: e.g., fasting, or taking diet pills or laxatives) and between BMI and depressed mood, and to explore the effect of distorted BWP on UWCB and depressed mood among adult women. Methods : A regionally representative sample of 8,581 women aged 20-64 years residing in Seoul, the capital of Korea, completed the 2001 Seoul Citizens Health Indicator Survey which provides self-reported information about height, weight, BWP, UWCB, depressed mood, demo graphic/socioeconomic characteristics, and health-related behaviors. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results : BMI was significantly associated both with UWCB and depressed mood, even controlling for all covariates. However, the magnitude and significance of each association was considerably attenuated when BWP was taken into account, indicating that BWP functioned, in part, as a mediator between BMI and UWCB and between BMI and depressed mood, respectively. Among the combinations of BMI and BWP, women who perceived themselves to be heavier than their actual BMls appeared more likely to use UWCB, whereas women who had a distorted BWP, either underestimation or overestimation as compared with their BMIs, tended to be at greater risk for depressed mood than those who had an undistorted BWP. Conclusions : These findings suggest that how women perceive their body weight may be an important predictor and/or mediator of UWCB and depressed mood among adult Korean women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2008

This study investigated the association between the weight status of middle school students and the various weight-related characteristics including desired weight, weight perception, weight-related practice, physical activity, and overeating behavior. Questionnaires were administered to 473 middle school students (178 boys and 295 girls) in Daejeon. Boys and girls were divided into three groups respectively; (1) underweight (BMI<$5^{th}$ percentile) (2) normal weight ($5^{th}$ percentile$\leq$BMI<$85^{th}$ percentile) (3) overweight (BMI$\leq85^{th}$ percentile). Using BMI calculated from measured height and weight, 14.0% of boys and 6.8% of girls were underweight, and 16.3% of boys and 14.2% of girls were overweight. However, among this sample of students, 38.4% of boys and 13.6% of girls perceived themselves as underweight and 29.4% of boys and 44.9% of girls perceived themselves as overweight. We found that overweight students reported their body weights lower and their heights higher compared to non-overweight students, resulting in an underestimation of BMI. Based on desired BMI, 79.9% of the girls desired to be underweight and 73.0% of the boys desired to be normal weight. Overweight or normal weight students were less satisfied with their body weights than underweight students. Girls had more weight control experience and concern compared to boys. Overweight girls spent longer times in watching TV compared to non-overweight girls (p < 0.001) and had more overeating behaviors (p < 0.05). Overweight students reported that they ate snacks less frequently than non-overweight students, which may be due to their tendency to report less eating. In conclusion, significant gender differences and weight status differences existed in weight perception, weight satisfaction, and weight control experience and concern. Because perception of overweight is likely to lead to unhealthy eating behaviors and weight control, efforts for adolescents to improve accuracy of weight perceptions and to understand the benefits of being healthier are needed.