• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.416-427
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• 2011

This study investigated the association among parental socioeconomic level, overweight, and eating habits with diet quality in Korean sixth grade school children. A 3-day dietary survey was conducted, and a questionnaire and anthropometric data were collected from the Korean child obesity cohort (320 boys and 345 girls). The children were classified into two groups (low or high level) based on monthly household income and paternal and maternal education status. Lower maternal education status was associated with a higher risk for overweight in girls (odd ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval 1.07-3.44), whereas belonging to a higher socioeconomic group in terms of parental income or parental education level resulted in the consumption of significantly more fruit. Boys did not show significant differences in the intake of most nutrients or diet quality regardless of socioeconomic status. However, girls in the lower socioeconomic group had a lower food habit score (higher frequency of breakfast skipping and ramen noodle consumption), diet quality, and intake of nutrients (carbohydrate, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber) than those in the higher socioeconomic group. Therefore future nutrition policies and interventions should support parents and children with lower socioeconomic status to develop health-related behaviors that may prevent childhood overweight.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 2016

Purpose: This cross-sectional study aimed to document the dietary behaviors, dietary changes, and health status of female marriage immigrants residing in Gwangju, Korea. Methods: The survey included 92 female immigrants attending Korean language class at a multi-cultural family support center. General characteristics, health status, anthropometric data, dietary behaviors, and dietary changes were collected. Results: Mean age of subjects was 31.3 years, and home countries of subjects were Vietnam (50.0%), China (26.0%), Philippines (12.0%), and others (12.0%). Frequently reported chronic diseases were digestive diseases (13.2%), anemia (12.1%), and neuropsychiatry disorder (8.9%). Seventeen percent of the subjects was obese ($BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$). Dietary score by Mini Dietary Assessment was 3.45 out of 5 points. Dietary scores for dairy foods, meat/fish/egg/bean intake, meal regularity, and food variety were low, and those for fried foods and high fat meat intake were also low. Thirty-three percent of subjects answered that they have changed their diet and increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables after immigration. Length of residence in Korea was positively associated with BMI and waist circumference. Length of residence tends to be positively associated with dietary changes and obesity as well as inversely associated with disease prevalence. Conclusion: The study shows that length of residence is inversely related to disease prevalence. However, this association is thought to be due to the relatively short period of residence in Korea and thus the transitional phase to adapting to dietary practices. As the length of residence increases, disease patterns related to obesity are subject to change. Healthy dietary behaviors and adaptation to dietary practices in Korea in female marriage immigrants will not only benefit individuals but also their families and social structure. Therefore, varied, long-term, and target-specific studies on female marriage immigrants are highly needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.735-744
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sweets preference, food frequency, dietary habits, and nutrition knowledge of middle school students who like sweets. A survey instrument consisted of a self-administered questionnaire, a food frequency questionnaire, and anthropometric measurements. Three hundreds thirty five students aged 13 to 15 years old were divided into two groups, Sweets Liking Group (SLG) and a control group based on the subjects' scores for dietary habits, sweets preference, and food frequency. For dietary habits, the score for meal regularity was significantly lower in the SLG group compared to the control (p<0.001). In addition, the SLG group was more likely to skip breakfast (p<0.001), eat inadequate amount of meals (p<0.001), and consume yellow-green vegetables less frequently (p<0.001) than the control. The subjects' nutrition knowledge was assessed using 20 questions representing five categories, including functions of nutrients, nutrition and health, food pyramid and food groups, healthful snacking and the right dietary attitude. The total scores for nutrition knowledge indicated that the SLG had a poorer nutrition knowledge for all five categories than the control (boys p<0.05, girls p<0.01). For food frequency, the SLG consumed more sweets but less grains, cereals, fishes, beans, vegetables, and milk and milk products than the control (p<0.001). Strong positive correlations appeared between sweets preference, sweets frequency, and sweets-related dietary habits; and all were negatively correlated to nutrition knowledge. Sweets frequency was negatively related to meal regularity, breakfast consumption, meal adequacy, and balanced meals. The findings suggest that nutrition education is necessary to improve the dietary pattern, especially sweets consumption, of Korean young adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.350-356
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to verify the relation among vegetarian diet, physical activity and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Two hundred and forty five buddhist nuns (age : 23~79 yrs) were selected as vegetarians. For control subjects, 235 healthy female adults (age : 23~79 yrs) were selected. Study period was from October 1996 to February 1997. The contents are consist of food consumption survey, anthropometric measurement, amount of energy expenditure, physical activity and clinical examination. Results were summarized as follows : The average ages of vegetarians were $44.2{\pm}17.3\;yrs$ and those of non-vegetarians were $40.5{\pm}18.4\;yrs$. Average body mass indices (BMI) of vegetarians and non-vegetarians were $22.5{\pm}2.7\;and\;21.1{\pm}2.5$, WHRs were $0.9{\pm}0.1\;and\;0.8{\pm}0.1$, and the average duration of vegetarian diet of the vegetarians was 13.1{\pm}12.9 years. All the nutrient intakes of both groups were over RDA's except calcium and vitamin A intakes of non-vegetarians that were below RDA's Fiber and vitamin C intakes of the vegetarians were significantly higher than those of non-vegetarians (p<0.01). Average energy intakes of vegetarians and non-vegetarians were $2177.1{\pm}420.6\;kcal/day\;and\;2103.2{\pm}534.9\;kcal/day$, total daily energy expenditure were $1789.9{\pm}325.8\;kcal/day\;and\;1703.8{\pm}344.8\;kcal/day$, those by physical activity were $507.8{\pm}360.9\;kcal/day\;and\;400.0{\pm}247.8\;kcal/day$. Serum lipid level, blood sugar, systolic blood pressure of vegetarians were significantly lower than those of non-vegetarians, but ratio of HDL-cholesterol/total-cholesterol was higher than those of non-vegetarians. Levels of total serum cholesterol of vegetarians and non-vegetarians were 161.4{\pm}33.3 mg/dL and 189.6{\pm}33.6mg/dL, HDL-cholesterol were $48.2{\pm}11.4\;mg/dL\;and\;50.8{\pm}12.2\;mg/dL$, LDL-cholesterol were $86.6{\pm}26.9\;mg/dL\;and\;111.1{\pm}17.0\;mg/dL$, atherogenic indice(AI) were $2.4{\pm}0.6\;and\;2.9{\pm}0.7$, fasting blood sugar were $90.8{\pm}14.3\;mg/dL\;and\;103.6{\pm}24.6\;mg/dL$, systolic blood pressure were $107.5{\pm}14.9\;mmHg\;and\;119.3{\pm}15.3\;mmHg$. Energy expenditure by physical activity was negatively correlated with levels of serum total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol and atherogenic indice(AI). Therefore, physical activity and vegetarian diet effectively helped reduce blood lipids related to cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.259-269
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to investigate the eating behavior, food preference and nutrition knowledge according to the body style of male college students. The subjects were 219 male students enrolled in University, Taegu. The data was collected by using a survey questionnaire and an anthropometric measurement. The results were summarized as follows: The mean height, weight and BMI of subjects were $173.8{\pm}8.7cm,\;65.8{\pm}7.9Kg,\;and\;21.9{\pm}2.4$, respectively. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the BMI: underweight group(<20); normal group(20-25); and overweight group(>25). One third of the subjects preferred to gain weight(33.8%); 47 subjects preferred to lose weight(21.5%); and the rest of the subjects satisfied their physique(44.7%). Most of subjects considered 'supper' as the most important meal during a day. Among the food items, the most frequently and evenly ingested item by subjects was 'Kimchi' : 'Ham and sausage' was the least preferred food among subjects. There was no significant difference in preference among three groups and almost half of the subjects had irregular meal time because of busy schedule. The preference for meat showed high score among underweight group; on the other hand, the preference for fruits and vegetables showed high score among overweight group. Usually subjects gained nutrition knowledge through media including newspaper, magazine and TV. There was no significant difference of the nutrition knowledge score among three groups. Based on these results, nutrition education program for the college student should be arranged in the classes.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.277-291
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• 2012

To compare satisfaction with school meals provided by two different types of school meal services, a survey was conducted with 252 high school students (male: 138, female: 114) consisting of 133 students offered by on-site school meal service and 114 ones by transporting school meal service in Daegu. Anthropometric measurements of the study subjects showed that 68.1% of male and 41.2% of female students had normal weight while 50.0% of female and 10.1% of male students were underweight on the basis of BMIs. 'Taste' was the most important factor when eating meals followed by 'nutrition', 'hygiene' and 'preference by the students'. (of the both schools). Eating habits of the subjects were influenced mostly by family. Female students (17.5%) skipped breakfast more frequently than the male students (8.0%). The students (68.4%) offered by on-site school meal service were more satisfied with meals than those (9.2%) by transporting school meal service. Top reason for not being satisfied was 'taste' in both schools but the second reason (36.3% of the subjects) was 'quantity of food' only in the school with transporting school meal service. In satisfaction with menu, temperature, quantity and hygienic condition of foods, higher dissatisfaction was shown in the students offered by transporting school meal service. Items needed for improvement in school meals suggested by the students were 'taste of food' (25.6% vs 62.2%), 'diversity of menu items' (21.1% vs 8.4%), 'hygienic conditions' (17.3% vs 8.4%), 'quantity of food' (10.5% vs 17.6%) and 'balanced nutrition' (8.4% vs 1.7%) for on-site service and transporting one. It is concluded from these results that transporting meal service for school meals has to be changed from the present condition to improve the quality of meals and that managing and supporting programs should be developed by public institutions such as office of education.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.306-314
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between vegetarian diet and the risk factors of cardiovascular disease. The subjects of the study were 127 Buddhist nuns (age: 23 ~79 yr) for vegetarians and 235 healthy female adults (age: 23 ~79 yr) for non-vegetarians. This study covers food consumption survey, anthropometric measurement, amount of energy expenditure, physical activity and clinical examination. Average body mass index (BMI) of vegetarians and non-vegetarians were 22.47 and 21.08, waist/hip ratio (WHR) was 0.85 and 0.84, percentage of body fat (%BF) was 28.79 and 26.55, respectively. Average duration of vegetarian diet of the vegetarians was 13.16 years. The triglyceride levee of the vegetarians was significantly lower for those who take nutrient tablet compared to those who either take vitamins or who do not take any nutrient supplement. Taking vitamins or nutrient tablet did not give any significant difference in total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol for vegetarians, while significantly high triglyceride was observed for the non-vegetarians taking nutrient tablet than the ether non-vegetarians. Taking vitamins or nutrient tablet did not affect the lever of HDL-cholesterol for either vegetarians or non-vegetarians. Athrogenic index (AI) was lower for the vegetarian group tailing nutrient tablet and for the non-vegetarian group not taking vitamins and nutrient tablet, than the other respective groups. Blood sugar of the vegetarians who take nutrient tablet was significantly lower than those tailing vitamins, while blood sugar of the non-vegetarians not taking any nutrient supplement was significantly lower than those taking nutrient tablet.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.38C no.9
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• pp.822-829
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• 2013

Hypertension is one of the most common clinical diseases, with an increasing prevalence globally. Hypertension triggers various harmful consequences and affects multiple organs. Life-long care may be required in some cases. According to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of hypertension is gradually increasing. A 2011 survey revealed that 28.9% of Korean adults had hypertension. The prevalence rates were slightly higher among men than women. Accurate measurement of blood pressure(BP) is crucial to classify patients, to identify BP-related risks, and to inform correct treatment. For accurate blood pressure measurement, the use of a cuff bladder size appropriate for the mid-upper arm circumference(MUAC) is essential. Incorrect sized cuff bladder is one of the main causes of equipment error affecting sphygmomanometer accuracy. When commercial sphygmomanometers were examined, the cuff bladders differed from the dimensions specified in the ISO 81060-1:2007 standards. Undercuffing is responsible for a spurious overestimation of BP in patients with large arms leading to overdiagnosis of hypertension, whereas overcuffing (that is, use of relatively large cuffs with small arms), may be responsible for an opposite problem, leading to erroneous underestimation of BP levels. The cuff bladder sizes recommended by the American Heart Association(AHA) are an arm circumference(AC) of 17-25 cm for small-sized adults, AC of 24-32 cm for adults, AC of 32-42 cm for normal-sized adults, and AC of 42-50 cm for obese adults. In contrast, the AC of Korean adults ranges from 23-31 cm, belonging to a single type of adult bladder. Three types of bladders are necessary for Korean adults with an AC of 23-31cm. Hospitals often use one or two differently-sized Western cuffs for adult patients, which can yield inaccurate BP determinations. Cuff bladders with dimensions based on anthropometric reference data obtained from Koreans will aid hospitals to measure BP more accurately.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-28
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• 1974

The writers have conducted the investigation to assess the nutritional status of young rural Korean children aged from 0 to 4 years old in August 1971. The survey areas were Kaejong-myon. Daeya-myon, Okku-gun, Jeonra-bukdo, Korea. These survey areas were typical agricultural plain areas. The total numbers of children examined were 2,706 comprising 1,394 male and 1,312 female. The weight, height, and chest circumference of children were measured and means and standard deviations. were calculated for each measurement. In addition, the nutritional status of each child was classified by the four levels of malnutrition and the Gomez classification, The examination of red blood cell count, haematocrit value, and intestinal parasite infection were carried out at the same time. In general, recent work tend to suggest that environmental influences, especially nutrition, are of great importance than genetic background or other biological factors for physical growth and development. Certainly the physical dimensions of the body are much influenced by nutrition, particularly in the rapidly growing period of early childhood. Selected body measurements can therefore give valuable information concerning protein-calory malnutrition. Growth can also be affected by bacterial, viral, and parasitic infection. For the field workers in a developing country, therefore, nutritional anthropometry appears to be of greatest value in the assessment of growth failure and undernutrition, principally from lack of protein and calories. In order to compare and evaluate the data obtained, the optimal data of growth from the off-spring of the true well-fed, medically and socially protected are needed. So-called 'Standards' that have been compiled for preschool children in Korea, however, are based on measurement of children from middle or lower socio-economic groups, who are, in fact, usually undernourished from six months of age onwards and continuously exposed to a succession of infective and parasitic diseases. So that, the Harvard Standards which is one of the international reference standards was used as the reference standards in this study. Findings of the survey were as follows: A. Anthropometric data: 1) Comparing the mean values for body weight obtained with the Korean standard weight of the same age, the rural Korean children were slightly haevier than the Korean standard values in both sexes. Comparing with the Japanese children values, the rural Korean children were slightly haevier in male and in the infant period of female but lighter in female of the period of 1 to 4 years old than Japanese children. 2) Comparing the mean values for height obtained with the Korean standard height of the same age, the rural Korean children were taller than the Korean standard values except the second half of infatn period in both sexes. Comparing with the Japanese children, the rural Korean children were slightly smaller than Japanese children except the first half of infant peroid in both sexes. 3) Mear values of chest circumference of rural Korean children obtained were less than the Korean standard values of the same ages in both sexes. B. Prevalence of Protein-Calory Malnutrition: Children examined were devided into two groups, i. e., infant(up to the first birthday) and toddler (1 to 4 fears old). 1) Percentages of four levels of malnutrition: a) When the nutrtional status of each child was classified (1) by body weight value, the percentages for male and female of children attained standard growth were 52.8%(infant 83.3%, toddler 44.4%) and 39.7% (infant 74.5%. toddler 30.5%), the first level of malnutrition were 31.9%(infant 13.7%, toddler 36.9%) and 31.7%(infant 15.3%, toddler 36,0%), the second level of malnutrition were 12.3%(infant 1.7%, toddler 15.3%) and 23.3% (infant 7.7%, fodder 27.5%), the third level of malnutrition were 2.7%(infant 0.7%, toddler 3.2%) and 4.6%(infant 1.8%, toddler 5.3%) the fourth level of malnutrition were 0.3% (infant 0.7%, toddler 0.2%) and 0.7% (0.7% for infant and toddler) respectively. (2) by height value, the percentages for male and female of children attained standard growth were 80.3% (infant 97.3%, toddler 75.6%) and 75.1% (infant 96.4%, toddler 69.5), the first level of malnutrition were 17.9% (infant 2.0%, toddler 22.3%) and 23.6% (infants 3.6%, toddler 28.8%), the second level of malnutrition were 1.2% (infant 0.3%, toddler 1.5%) and 1.1% (infant 0%, toddler 1.4%), the third level of malnutrition were 0.4%(infant 0.3%, toddler 0.5%) and 0.2%(infant 0%, toddler 0.3%), the fourth level of malnutrition were 0.1%(infant 0%, toddler 0.1%) and 0% respectively. (3) by body weight in relation to height, the percentages for male and female of children attained standard growth were 87.9% (infant 77.6%, toddler 87.9%) and 78.2% (infant 77.4%, toddler 78.2%), the first level of malnutrition were 12.2% (infant 18.4%, toddler 10.6%) and 18.2% (infant 17.9%, toddler 18.3%), the second level of malnutrition were 1.9%(infant 3.3%, toddler 1.5%) and 3.0%(infant 3.3%, toddler 2.9%), the third level of malnutrition were 0.1%(infant 0%. toddler 0.1%) and 0.5% (infant 0%, toddler 0.6%), the fourth level of malnutrition were 0.1%(infant 0.7%, toddler 0%) and 0.3% (infant 1.5%, toddler 0%) respectively. b) When the nutritional status of each child according to the mother's age at perturition, i. e., young aged mother (up to 30 years old), middle aged mother (31 to 40 years old) and old aged mother (41 years or above) was classified (1) by body weight, among infants and toddlers, at each year of age, with increasing the mother's age, there was an increase in percentage of subjects underweight. This tendency of increasing percentage of underweight was more significant in the infant period than the toddler period. (2) by height value, no significant differences between each mother's age group were found. c) When the nutritional status of each child according to the birth rank, i. e., lower birth rank (first to third) and higher birth rank (fourth or above) was classified (1) by weight value, children of higher birth rank were slightly more often underweight than those of lower birth rank, but not significant. (2) by height value, no differences were found between children of lower and higher birth rank. 2) Gomez Classification: When the nutritional status of each child was classified a) by body weight value, the percentages for male and female of children. attained standard growth were 53.1% (infant 82.6%, toddler 44.9%) and 39.2% (infant 73.4%, toddler 30.1%), the first degree of malnutrition were 39.4% (infant 14.7%, toddler 46.2%) and 47.1% (infant 21.9%, toddler 53.8%), the second degree of malnutrition were 7.3%(infant 2.3%, toddler 8.6%) and 12.9% (infant 4.0%, toddler 15.2%). and the third degree of malnutrition were 0.2%. (infant 0.3%, toddler 0.2%) and 0.8% (infant 0.7%, toddler 0.9%) respectively. b) by height value, the percentages for male and female of children attained standard growth were 80.8% (infant 97.0%, toddler 76.3%) and 73.8%(infant 95.6%, toddler 68.0%), the first degree of malnutrition were 18.5% (infant 2.7%, toddler 22.9%) and 24.6% (infant 4.4%, toddler 30.0%), the second degree of malnutrition were 0.6%(infant 0.3%, toddler 0.7%) and 0.5% (infant 0.1%, toddler 0.7%), and the third degree of malnutrition were 0.1%(infant 0%, toddler 0.1%) and 1.1% (infant 0%, toddler 1.3%) respectively. C. Results of clinical laboratory examination: 1) Red blood cells: The ranges of mean red blood cell counts for male and female were $3,538,000/mm^3\;to\;4,403,000/mm^3\;and\;3,576,000/mm^3\;to\;4,483,000/mm^3$ respectively. The lowest red cell counts were seen at the age of 0-3 months for male and 1-2 months for female. 2) Haematocrit value : The ranges of haematocrit value of male and female were 35.1% to 38.8% and 34.7% to 38.8% respectively. The lowest haematocrit values were seen at the age of 2-3 months for male and 1-2, months for female. 3) The prevalence rates of intestinal parasites for male and female children with Ascaris lumbricoides were 34.1% (infant 18.8%, toddler 38.1%) and 36.0%(infant 18.4%, toddler 40.7%), with Trichocephalus trichiuris were 6.8% (infant 2.9%, toddler 7.9%) and 9.0% (infant 3.0%, toddler 10.6%), with Hookworm were 0.3% (infant 0.5%, toddler 0.2%) and 0.3% (infant 0.5%, toddler 0.3%), with Clonorchis sinensis were 0.4%(infant 0%, toddler 0.5%) and 0.1%(infant 0%, toddler 0.1%) respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.435-442
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate misconception for physique and desire for physique of college women in Taegu(412 subjects) and Fukuoka(423 subjects). The data was collected by questionnaire interview and anthropometric measurement. The results were as follows : The mean age, height, weight, and BMI of Taegu subjects were $19.9{\pm}1.2$ years old, $159.6{\pm}4.9cm,\;51.2{\pm}6.0kg\;and\;20.1{\pm}2.2$, respectively. The mean age, height , weight, and BMI of Fukuoka subjects were $18.3{\pm}0.6$ year old, $157.5{\pm}5.0cm,\;53.3{\pm}6.9kg\;and\;21.5{\pm}2.5$, respectively. The average ideal height desired by subjects in Taegu was higher than their real mean height by 5.1cm ; while the average ideal weight desired by subjects was lower than real mean weight by 2.6kg. The average ideal height desired by subjects in Fukuoka was higher than their real mean height by 3.2cm ; while the average ideal weight desired by subjects was lower than real mean weight by 5.4kg. The percentage of Taegu subjects who desired to be slender, be fatty and maintain weight were 70.1%, 7.3%, and 22.6% respectively. The percentage of Fukuoka subjects who desired to be slender, be fatty and maintain weight were 85.3%,2.6% and 12.1% respectively. The rate of misconception for the actual physique was 56.5% in Taegu subjects, and 57.2% In fukuoka subjects. The over estimation rate was higher in subjects desired for slenderness than in others. The adolescent females having a fatty body image in self-consciousness indicated that they felt high social physique anxiousness. Finally, the rate of misconception and the degree of social physique anxiousness were higher in those who had a desire for slenderness.