• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2004

This study investigated the influence of weight perception on weight management strategies including diet and exercise in Korean female adolescents. Junior (J) and senior (S) high school girls were divided in two groups; those who had $\leq$100% (BI) and > 100% (AI) of ideal weight (J-BI, n=376, 14.8 yr, 46.1 kg; J-AI, 11=128, 15.0 yr, 57.4 kg; S-BI, n=325, 17.4 yr, 50.1 kg; and S-AI, n=133, 17.5 yr, 58.2 kg, mean values). Questionnaires to assess weight perception, desire to lose weight, body image, eating behavior, weight control strategies and physical activity (PPA) were administered J-AI(9.4 kg) and S-AI(9.8 kg) desired to lose weight more than J-BI(2.5 kg) and S-BI(3.6 kg), respectively (p < 0.001). 85% of J-AI and 93% of S-AI perceived their weight being above average and 23% of J-BI and 34% of S-BI responded similarly (p < 0.001). Body dissatisfaction index (BDI) and eating attitude (EAT26) scores were lower in J-BI(9.7, 12.0) vs. J-AI(16.4, 14.7) and S-BI(12.4, 12.4) vs. S-AI(19.5, 15.4) (p < 0.001). However, PPA was not different for J-BI vs. J-AI, and S-BI vs. S-AL Only 17, 18, 9, and 15% of J.BI, J.AI, S-BI, and S-AI, respectively, exercised regularly. PPA and BDI were only slightly correlated in J-BI(r=0.194, p < 0.005) and S-BI(r=0.220, p < 0.005). Even that the majority of Korean female adolescents perceived they were heavy and desired to lose weight, appropriate exercise and physical activities were not practiced.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.672-682
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• 2011

This study was conducted to examine the differences in perceived body weight and image and various lifestyles based on the self-rated health of university students when gender was adjusted. Five hundred fifty-five participants were asked their perceived health condition, and 58, 289, 160 and 48 students answered themselves as "very healthy", "healthy", "normal", and "unhealthy", respectively. As compared to the other 3 groups, "unhealthy" group showed higher proportions in dissatisfaction of body weight and negative perception of body image (P < 0.01). As health related lifestyles, "very healthy" group reported longer sleeping time than "unhealthy" group (P < 0.05), and had a higher proportion of people with regular exercise. Among the dietary behaviors, the frequencies of followings significantly different among the groups: "Regularity of meal time" (P < 0.01), "Eat protein foods more than twice a day" (P < 0.001), "Eat vegetables" (P < 0.01), "Eat fruit and fruit juice" (P < 0.01), "Eat vegetable oil added foods" (P < 0.01), "Eat seaweed" (P < 0.01), "Eat breakfast" (P < 0.01), "Modulation in animal fat and high in cholesterol intake" (P < 0.01). Particularly, higher proportion of subjects answered "very healthy" had higher frequencies (6-7 times/week) of these dietary behaviors. Overall results suggest that healthy lifestyle including adequate sleeping time, regular exercise, and good dietary behaviors might be potential factors affecting positive perception of health. In addition, positive perception of body weight and image were related with positive perception of health.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2005

To examine the eating attitudes, weight concerns, dietary intake, and menstrual function of Korean female elite athletes, 109 subjects in seven sports disciplines (rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, badminton, volleyball, Taekwondo, field hockey, and soccer) responded to a questionnaire consisted of three parts; eating attitudes and behavior(Eating Attitude Test-26; EAT26), body weight perception (Body Dissatisfaction Index: BDI) and weight control behavior, and menstrual history and status. They also recorded three-day dietary intake. Body weight (43.6$\pm$4.3 kg) and body mass index (16.7$\pm$1.4 kg/$m^2$) in rhythmic gymnasts were lower than those in other athletes (P<0.05). EAT26 scores were not different among sport events (12.3$\pm$6.5 total), however, eating disturbances (EAT26 score$\geq$20) were highly prevalent in aesthetic athletes ($30\%$) than in others ($5\%$). More than half of the athletes perceived themselves overweight and four fifth of the athletes desired to reduce weight about 4.4 kg. The gymnasts consumed the lowest caloric intake (1028:t371) while the volleyball players did the highest (2995$\pm$342 kcal/d) (P<0.05). The BDI score was not different among sport events. Three fourth of the athletes experienced weight control, and the most frequently used weight reduction method was exercise followed by using robber suits, diet, and sauna. About $40\%$ of the subjects reported irregular menstrual cycles, but menstrual dysfunction ($\leq$6 menses/yr) was only $5\%$. Generally, the Korean female elite athletes desired to reduce weight from their current body weight. No differences in eating attitude and body dissatisfaction were noticed among athletic disciplines. However, eating disturbances were highly prevalent in aesthetic athletes who also reported much less energy intake than the recommend daily energy intake. It appeared that weight reduction methods were not properly practiced in these population. Menstrual dysfunction was minimally reported.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.151-160
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of type of body shape perception on health concern, depression, dietary restriction and exercise practice in university students. Methods: A descriptive design was used. Data were collected from 308 university students by using structured questionnaires. Results: The results showed that 65.6% of the students believe that they are overweight. There are no differences in health concern, depression, and exercise practice among the skinny perception group, satisfaction group, and obesity perception group. However, there was a significant difference in dietary restriction among the three groups (p<.001). The type of body shape perception was significantly associated with dietary restriction (p=.007). Conclusion: Integrated and effective interventions are necessary for university students to establish healthy body image and learn healthy weight control.

• 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.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.167-176
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of body perception, obesity, and factors associated with stages of exercise and dietary habits change in university students. Methods: A descriptive design was used. Data were collected from 279 university students using structured questionnaires. Results: The body perception was significantly associated with self rated health (F=27.89. p<.001), weight satisfaction (F=137.74. p<.001) and weight control interest (F=39.19. p<.001). The BMI was significantly associated with weight satisfaction (F=34.08. p<.001) and weight control interest (F=19.59. p=.003). But the body perception and BMI were not significantly associated with depression (F=2.17, p=.073, F=0.86. p=.462), the change of exercise (F=25.91. p=.055, F=20.34. p=.061), and dietary habits (F=12.96. p=.677, F=11.29. p=.505). The related factors affecting the change of exercise behavior were counter conditioning, self efficacy, eating behavior, and helping relationship, including 30.4% R-square. The related factor affecting the change of dietary habit was only eating behavior, including 20.0% R-square. Conclusion: This study can provide useful information to develop effective programs for the change of exercise and dietary habits considering university students' stages of change according to the transtheoretical model.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.89-103
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• 2006

This study was performed to provide sources of nutrition education for female adolescents by identifying eating disorder patterns and their relationships with self-body image, weight control, and eating behavior. A total of 329 female middle school students were recruited and completed a general characteristics survey, the Eating Attitudes Test(EAT-26), a perception of self-body image survey, a concern for weight control survey, an eating behavior survey, and the Mini Dietary Assessment Index(MDA). Eating disorder patterns were identified to be obesity stress and weight control(OW), risk of binge eating(RB), and dietary restraint(DR) by factor analysis. OW pattern was related with stout body shape, body dissatisfaction, experience of weight control, skipping of dinner, and low MDA score. RB pattern was associated with lean body shape, body satisfaction, indiscreet snack behavior, and the eating time of snacks. The DR pattern was associated with normal body shape, regular meal times, desirable snack behavior, and high MDA scores. The results indicated that the eating patterns of adolescent were not identical to existing diagnostic categories. Furthermore, each eating pattern displayed different characteristics of perception on self-body image, concern for weight control, and eating behavior. In conclusion, nutrition education for female middle school students could reflect the different characteristics of each eating disorder pattern.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.444-451
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• 2011

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify weight control behavior according to body mass index and perception of body-image, and factors that affect weight control behavior in female college students. Methods: A convenience sample of 276 female college students agreed to complete a questionnaire. Data were collected from October 5 to October 15, 2009. The data were analyzed using SPSS win 18.0 program with descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and Logistic regression. Results: According to preferred body type, 86.9% of the students who preferred slim, 13.3% who preferred their own body type, and 4.2% who preferred chubby reported using weight control behavior. For weight control behavior according to satisfaction with body type, 82.9% of the students who were dissatisfied with their body type and 52.8% who were satisfied practiced weight control behavior. Variables influencing weight control behavior were body mass index (underweight OR 1.37, p=.050), cognition of the body (chubby/fat OR 2.68, p=.047), and preferred body type (slim OR 1.29, p=.006). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that, health providers need to educate female college students about appropriate body image and weight control behavior. Also, more studies are needed to identify other factor influencing weight control behaviors.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.169-176
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was performed to elucidate whether the obesity or body image is a barrier to breast screening compliance in Korean women. Methods: We included 54,017 women aged between 35 to 70 years from the Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS) 2014 dataset. To identify whether a mutual relationship exists between weight perceptions and breast cancer screening rates, the participants were divided into three groups according to the level of concordance between Body Mass Index (BMI) and a subjective body image. Descriptive analyses, a chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: After covariate adjustment, the screening rate of the overweight group was 1.09 times higher than the normal weight group (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; confidence interval [CI], 0.00-0.16; p= .038) and the severe obesity group was 1.20 times lower (OR, 0.83; CI, -0.36-0.00; p= .047). Weight misperception also had a significant influence on breast cancer screening. Especially, The overweight distortion group was less likely to undergo breast cancer screening (OR, 0.93; CI, -0.15-0.00; p= .037). Conclusion: Obesity and weight misperceptions are associated with lower compliance with breast cancer screening guidelines.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.61-72
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• 2008

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the relationships among body image, self-esteem and sociability according to perception of body shape and obesity level. Methods: The subjects in this study were 325 elementary school youngsters in their sixth year. A survey was conducted, and one-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation analysis and path analysis were used for data analysis. Results: Normal weight group accounted for 43.4%, under weight group 34.8% and obesity group 21.8%. In underweight group, 53.1% of the subjects perceived their body was normal or fatty while 17% of subjects in normal group perceived their body was fatty. There were significant differences in body image according to the perception of body shape by grade(F=15.90, p=.000) and to the level of obesity(F=6.18, p=.002). There was a significant difference in self-esteem according to the perception of body shape by grade(F=3.17, p=.430). There was a significant difference in sociability according to the level of obesity(F=3.48, p=.032). There was significantly strong positive correlation among their body image, self-esteem and sociability. A structural equation model was tested and fitted the data well. Conclusions: This study suggested that health education is needed to establish the correct body image from the elementary school periods by school health educators. The right body image is more important than anything else to improve self-esteem and sociability.