• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1223-1234
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of body weight, perception of body shape and satisfaction with body shape on obesity stress and self-esteem among middle school students. The participants in this study were 446 middle school students in K-city. The major results of this study are as follows. First, male students demonstrated higher obesity rates than female students, and female students considered themselves to be fatter and less satisfied with their body shape than male students. Female students had significantly more obesity-related stress than male students. Second, there were significant differences in physical obesity stress according to body weight status among male and female students, and there was statistically significant difference in psychological obesity stress according to body weight status among male students. Male and female students who considered themselves to be fatter and less satisfied with their body shape suffered from high obesity stress. Third, there was no significant difference in self-esteem according to body weight status, but self-esteem was affected by perception and satisfaction of body shape; male and female students who considered themselves to be fatter and less satisfied with their body shape showed low levels of self-esteem. As the result of regression analysis, psychological obesity stress was the strongest factor in explaining self-esteem among all students, and satisfaction of body shape was also found to be a significant variable among female students.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.286-292
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• 2009

This study was conducted to examine the effects of an 8-week weight loss program, on body composition, body shape satisfaction, body shape esteem in 15 obese children. This program included nutritional education and regular physical fitness. After completion of this program, height and body weight increased slightly but body compositions changed. BMI, degree of obesity, and body fat levels dropped slightly, however these differences were not significant. After the 8-week program body weight increased from $63.61{\pm}8.80\;kg$ to $64.07{\pm}9.11\;kg$, degree of obesity and BMI decreased from $151.73{\pm}13.62%$, and $29.08{\pm}2.35$ to $146.60{\pm}12.92%$, and $28.57{\pm}2.26$, respectively, and the percentage of body fat decreased slightly from $42.70{\pm}4.87%$ to $41.46{\pm}4.88%$. There were slight changes in weight of body muscle and lean body mass from $19.62{\pm}3.48\;kg$ and $36.17{\pm}5.78\;kg$ to $20.30{\pm}3.64\;kg$ and $37.16{\pm}6.18\;kg$, respectively. LBM and amount of muscle were higher after this weight loss program. The body shape esteem score increased from $7.60{\pm}4.01$ to $9.00{\pm}6.20$. There was no significant difference in body shape satisfaction before and after the program, and the participants also wanted to be leaner. Finally, body weight, BMI, and body fat showed negative correlations to body shape esteem.

• 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.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.54-59
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• 2008

Purpose: To investigate self-esteem according to differences between real and ideal Body Mass Index (BMI) in female college students. Methods: Subjects were 587 female students in Korea. Data was collected by using a developed questionnaire through pretesting. Results: Actual number (46.7%) and actual number (5.1%) of participants were defined as being underweight and overweight, respectively. Nearly all participants expression high dissatisfaction with their body shape. Averages of 1.02, 2.97, 7.81 were revealed for underweight, normal weight and overweight group differences between real and ideal BMI. Those who were defined as overweight exhibited significantly self-esteem than those who were defined as underweight. Conclusions: The belief that body shape is heavier than actually the case may be prevalent among female college students in Korea. This difference between the real and ideal BMI negatively influences self-esteem. Programs aimed at improving body image awareness an self-esteem among female college students are needed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.501-511
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate BMI, self-esteem and attitude toward body shape perceived by obese adults. Method: The subjects were 129 adults selected from visitors to the obesity clinics of three university hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Results: 1) Of the subjects. 26.3% appeared normal. 2) The mean BMI was 27.38. 3) The degree of self-esteem showed above average as 29.1 on the average. 4) The degree of attitude toward body shape showed above average as 27.2 on the average. 5) There were significant differences in BMI according to educational level (F=4.102, p=.019), in self-esteem according to sex (t=2.484, p=.014), educational level (F=2.781, p=.044), and medication or not (t=2.003, p=.048) and in attitude toward body shape according to age (F=3.059, p=.019), sex(t=-5.281, p=.000), diet or not(t=-3.286, p=001), exercise or not (t=-3.286, p=.001), and medication or not(t=-3.659, p=.000). 6) There were significant correlations between BMI and attitude toward body shape (r=.353, p=.000) and between self-esteem and attitude toward body shape (r=-.310, p=.000). Conclusion: The results of his study suggest that nurses need to help their patients have correct information about obesity.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.115-123
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the obesity index, body shape satisfaction and body shape esteem according to weight perception in elementary school students. Method: The data were collected by using a questionnaire and physical examination records. The subjects were comprised of 669 children, all 12-years old, obtained from five (5) different elementary schools located in Jechoen. Data were analyzed with frequency, percentages, Chi-square test, ANOVA using the SPSS program. Results: 12.5% of male students, 11.1% of female students perceived themselves obese. There were significant differences in obesity index according to weight perception in male students ($x^2$=140.47, p= .000), in female students ($x^2$=130.99, p= .000). The percentages corresponding to normal body weight were highest with students who thought themselves thin in male students and self-perceived normal in female students. But in female students, 23.3% of self-perceived thin students, 37.8% of students who thought themselves obese corresponded to normal body weight actually. There were significant differences in body shape satisfaction according to weight perception in male students($x^2$=140.47, p= .000), and in female students($x^2$=130.99, p= .000). The percentages of body shape satisfaction were highest with students who thought themselves normal in male students while and in female students, the students who thought themselves thin were highest. There were significant differences in body shape esteem according to weight perception for male students (F=17.67, p= .000), and in female students (F=13.95, p= .000). The mean scores of body shape esteem were highest with students who thought themselves normal in male students and thin in female students. The students who thought themselves obese were lowest. There were significant differences in weight perception according to father's body shape ($x^2$=13.72, p= .008) in male students and father's educational level ($x^2$=14.90, p= .021), mother's educational level ($x^2$=17.73, p= .007), mother's body shape ($x^2$=13.07, p= .011) in female students.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.362-369
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate factors that influence university women with eating problems. Methods: Study participants were 307 women from two universities. Self-report questionnaires which included items on eating problems, satisfaction with body shape, self-esteem, body mass index, and weight control methods were used. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, ${\chi}^2$ tests, and a multiple binary logistic regression. Results: About 20% of the undergraduate women were experiencing eating problems. The problematic eating group showed more dissatisfaction with body shape than the normal eating group, and used more diets, fasting, diet-products, and uretics/laxatives to control body weight. Significant predictors for the problematic eating group were diets, diet-products, BMI, self-esteem and dissatisfaction with body shape. The strongest predictors were diets; risk for women university students who had been on a diet was 15 times higher than their counterparts. Conclusion: It is pertinent for health professionals to start intervention programs to educate university women with eating problems. The contents should include information on healthy weight control methods, improving satisfaction with body shape and self esteem, as well as creating social atmosphere about healthy body shape for women.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.713-721
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• 2013

This study compares the perceived body image of female college students in Korea and Japan as well as explains the difference in the level of self-esteem, body cathexis, body image and fashion leadership based on nationality and body. The sense of fashion leadership affected by these factors was also analyzed. A high ratio of Korean and Japanese female students perceived themselves as obese compared to actual body physique. It was shown that body was highly distorted. They showed a comparatively low level of satisfaction with appearance in contrast to their high interest in their appearance and weight. Thin bodied individuals showed a high level of self-esteem and body cathexis; however, persons with an obese body showed a low level of body cathexis. They showed high interest in appearance regardless of body physique; however, they remain unsatisfied with their appearance. Individuals with an obese body and a standard somatotype showed a high concern with weight. A high fashion opinion leadership was reciprocal to a high interest in appearance and satisfaction with appearance. Korean female students showed an indirect positive effect on fashion opinion leadership through body cathexis, self-esteem, interest in appearance, and satisfaction with appearance. A thin body showed a positive effect on fashion opinion leadership and an obese body had a negative effect. Fashion innovativeness was directly influenced persons with a high degree of self-esteem and interest in appearance. Japanese female students were directly affected by fashion innovativeness; however, Korean female students were indirectly affected by fashion innovativeness through self-esteem and interest in appearance.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.390-399
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• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between eating disorders, and self esteem in female college students. Method: The survey was carried out on convenience sample of 388 college female students. The questionnaire consisted of each scale for eating disorder, self-esteem. The data was analyzed by the SPSS/PC using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation. ANOVA, and Spearman correlation. coefficient. Result: More than 43% of the subjects perceived their weight as overweight, while 1.5% of the women were obese as defined by BMI. About 57.4% of subjects were not satisfied with their body shape. Frequency of eating disorder was 5.93%. The score of eating disorder was high when the subjecto had negative perception and low satisfaction with their body shape. The high scores of self-esteem were shown among the group who had high satisfaction on body shape. There was negative correlation between eating disorder and self-esteem (r=-.194, p=.000). Conclusion: This study suggests that the nursing intervention was necessary for female college students to recognize healthier eating habits and increased their self-esteem.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.658-666
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate among adolescents (total=729) the relationship between their self-esteem, body-cathexis, their attitudes toward the importance of their bodies, their anthropometric characteristics, their perceptions of their body shapes and their experiences with weight control. The results are summarized as follows: The mean values for self-esteem and body-cathexis were generally low, but these values were significantly higher among boys than girls (p<0.01-0.001). However the mean values for their attitudes toward the importance of their bodies were relatively high and were significantly higher among girls than boys (p<0.01). The mean values for Percent Ideal Body Weight (PIBW) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were normal and no significant differences between the genders were observed. The distribution of the PIBW and the BMI values showed a higher rate for normal weights among the girls and a higher rate for underweightedness and obesity among the boys (p<0.01). With regard to their perception of their body image, among the boys, their current figures were almost identical with their idea of an ideal figure, but among the girls, their idea of an ideal figure was thinner than their current figure. The girls were more dissatisfied with their own body image than the boys (p<0.001). Fifty-four percent of the subjects had previous weight control experience, and the girls had significantly more experience than the boys (p<0.001). Their main reason for practising weight control was to lose weight (65.3%) Those who had more weight control experience had lower satisfaction with their body shapes, higher PIBW, higher BMIs or currently had fatter figures. Their standard image of their figures was influenced by TV (40.3%) and friends (36.9%). There was a weakly positive correlation between their self-esteem and their satisfaction with their body shapes, and a weakly negative correlation between their satisfaction with their body shapes and their attitudes toward the importance of their bodies. These results suggest the necessity for an educational program for adolescents as to foster a positive body image. Such a program should consider psychological factors such as self-esteem, satisfaction with body shape and attitudes toward the importance of the body.