• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2014

Objectives: In this study, perception of body image, eating attitudes and weight control were examined by the degree of obesity using Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods: Out of 420 questionnaires distributed to the female middle school students (aged 12-16 years), 407 were returned (97% response rate) and 395 were analyzed (94% analysis rate). Female students were divided into two groups based on the BMI percentile using the 2007 Korean National Growth Charts. (1) normal weight ($5^{th}$ percentile ${\leq}$ BMI < $85^{th}$ percentile) (2) obese ($85^{th}$ percentile ${\leq}$ BMI) by 2007 Korean National Growth Charts. Satisfaction of self-body shape, risk of disturbed eating attitudes (Eating Attitude Test : EAT-26), and weight control behaviors were examined. Results: Distribution of the subjects by BMI was 74.5% of normal and 25.5% of obese. There were significant differences between self-perceived current body image and self-perceived ideal body image. The dissatisfaction of body image was higher in obese than in normal groups (p<0.001). 51.4% of female students were unsatisfied with their body image, while 2.6% were very satisfied. Among the students unsatisfied with their body image, 150 (52.1%) were of normal weight and 48 (49.4%) were obese. EAT-26 total scores were significantly higher in the obese group ($16.42{\pm}8.23$) compared with normal group ($13.72{\pm}8.10$) (p<0.01). Attempted to weight control were significantly different by the BMI (p<0.001). Conclusions: This study concludes that there was desire to become thinner than current status in female students, even those with normal BMI. Many female students were dissatisfied with their body image and attempted to lose weight. It is harmful to their health and nutritional status if they choose undesirable methods. These findings suggested that there are needs to encourage female students for maintaining healthy weight. A higher score of EAT-26 was associated with dissatisfaction of selfbody image and this may lead to unhealthy behaviors in obese female students.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2018

Objective : There is an increasing number of people are not satisfied with their appearance and shape. Therefore, assessment tools are needed to evaluate the appearance or body shape. This study investigated the reliability and validity of a Korean version of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Methods : Participants completed the BSQ, Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination-Self Report, Eating Disorder Inventory-2, Beck Depression Inventory, Self-Esteem Scale, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results : The Korean version of BSQ presented satisfactory test-retest reliability, internal consistency and validity. Exploratory factor analysis yielded four factors as follow: feeling fat, shame and inferiority about one's body shape, attitudes concerning body image perception, and purging behavior. Conclusion : These results show the Korean BSQ exhibits good psychometric properties and can accurately evaluate the body shape concerns among Korean adults.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.496-504
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary intake, obesity index and psychosocial factors influencing obesity among 200 high school girls in Seoul. The Social Cognitive Theory provided the Conceptual basis for this study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine factors related to obesity, including self-efficacy for controlling overeating, social support for eating behavior, perception of body image and weight control, nutrition knowledge, and attitudes toward obesity. The data were analyzed using t-test and multiple logistic regression. The results of this study are as follows : 1) The mean age of the girls was 16.4 years, and the rate of overweight and obesity(measured by obesity index) was 27.0$\%$. 2) The mean energy intake of subjects was 1832.3$\pm$384.0kcal. The energy derived from carbohydrates, proteins and fats was 62.7$\%$, 13.8$\%$, and 23.5$\%$, respectively. There was no significant difference between the obese and the comparison group in energy intake. 3) The result of multivariate analysis indicated that obesity had a significant relation to the perception of ideal body image, social support for eating behavior, and self-efficacy for controlling overeating(p〈0.01). As subjects preferred thinner body images(OR=0.39) and received less social support(OR=0.93), the odds of being classified as obese increased. The odds of being obese were also associated with self-efficacy, however, the relation was not strong(OR=1.04). 4) Specific social support was related to obesity among adolescent girls. As subjects received more support from family member, the odds of being obese decreased. The emotional support as well as family member's positive nutrition behavior plays a significant role. In addition, instrumental support from friends was associated with obesity. With repect to self-efficacy, the odds of being obese were increased as subjects felt less confident in controlling overeating when tempting food was placed in front of them or after an argument. In contrast, the obese group felt more confident in controlling overeating for the rest of the specific situations examined. These findings suggest that educational interventions for weight control should incorporate strategies to help participants realize their degree of obesity, to reduce the discrepancy between current and ideal body image, to elicit and maintain social support from friends and family, and to increase the self-efficacy for changing eating behaviors. (Korean J Community Nutrition 2(4) : 496-504, 1997)

• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1052-1057
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• 2008

Purpose : This study was to examine the relations of perception of physique with self-esteem, sociality and problematic behaviors in children. Methods: Four hundred sixty five (231 boys and 234 girls) children were divided into three groups according to their height or body mass index according to the physical growth standard table had been presented in 2007 by the Korean Pediatric Society. The group 1, 2, and 3 was short, borderline and normal or obese, overweight and normal, respectively. Their perception and satisfaction of height and weight were investigated, and their self esteem and behavior styles were examined with Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) and Korean Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL). We compared the numbers of appropriate perception, satisfaction, self-esteem and problematic behaviors in each group, and analyzed the relationship among perception of physique, self-esteem, sociality, and behavioral characteristics. The collected data were analyzed with chi-square test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient used with SPSS (ver. 12.0). Results : There were significant mismatches among their real physique perception and satisfaction (P<0.05). There were no significant differences of their self-esteem, sociality, and problematic behaviors according to their actual height and weight. There were significant differences of their self-esteem according to their perception or satisfaction of their height and weight (P<0.01). Conclusion : The children who considered themselves have short stature or obesity had problematic behaviors or low self-esteem. Therefore, children should be educated to have the appropriate perception of their own body image.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2017

Purpose: To examine the correlation of depression with Internet use and body image perception, and to analyze the risk factors of depression in a total of 920 students in Seoul, Korea. Methods: Students were recruited by contacting school principals and teachers and were encouraged to fill out a self-report questionnaire designed specifically for this study in July of 2008. Results: Female participants had an increased risk for depression than did male participants (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.790; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.330-2.410, P<0.001). Older students were more susceptible to depression (aOR, 1.246; 95% CI, 1.115-1.392, P<0.001). Longer daily Internet use and more frequent Internet use were analyzed as risk factors for depression. No physical activity was a risk factor for depression (aOR, 0.392; 95% CI, 1.264-4.526, P=0.014). Dissatisfaction with one's body image increased the risk for depression (aOR, 1.373; 95% CI, 1.169-1.613; P<0.001). Obesity and perception of body image showed no significant relationship with increased risk for depression. Conclusion: Prevalence of depression was 13.8% in adolescents in Seoul, Korea, in July 2008. Female sex, age, daily Internet use duration, weekly Internet use frequency, physical activity, and dissatisfaction with one's body image independently increased risk of depression.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.135-148
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• 2008

This study examined the dieting behaviors and diet-influencing factors among college students in the Youngnam region. The data were collected by a self-administered questionnaires during May, 2007. One hundred-ninety samples were ultimately analyzed by SPSS Windows. The results were as follows. First, when comparing calculated BMI with perception of individual body image, many respondents regarded themselves as overweight although they were within normal BMI. Second, over four-fifths of the respondents indicated they were concerned with diet, and many respondents answered that they needed education and information on dieting. In terms of diet knowledge, the mean for correct answers was 77.9%. Mass media were very important sources for acquiring diet information, and the most popular dieting method was fasting therapy. The results of regression analyses to determine the factors affecting several dieting practices showed that grade, monthly allowances, diet awareness, diet knowledge, perception of individual body image, and BMI were significant.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate self-perception of health and body image, blood lipid profiles and nutrient intake of adolescents. The subjects were 686 adolescent boys (379 middle school students, 307 high school students) and 613 adolescent girls (272 middle school students, 341 high school students) in Incheon. This cross-sectional survey was conducted by a self-administered questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were obtained and analyzed for triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL- and HDL-cholesterol. Nutrient intakes collected from 3 day-recalls were analyzed by the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis Program. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 10.0 program. Average age, height and weight of male middle school students were 13.8 years, 163.5cm, 56.0kg and those of male high school students were 16.5 years, 171.7cm, 64.3kg. In female, average age, height and weight of middle school students were 13.7 years, 157.1cm, 51.5kg and those of high school students were 16.6 years, 159.7cm, 56.8kg. Female middle school students perceived their health status significantly better compared to female high school students (p < 0.001). Female high school students perceived themselves significantly fatter compared to female middle school students (p < 0.05). Average TG level of female middle school students was significantly higher compared to female high school students (p < 0.01). Nutrient intakes of the male and female students except phosphorus were lower than the Korean RDA. Especially, calcium and iron intakes of male and female students were under the 65% of the Korean RDA. Therefore, proper nutrition education is required for Korean adolescents to encourage desirable food habits and maintain nutritional lipids status. (J Community Nutrition 5(1) : 3∼12, 2003)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.153-164
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• 2016

Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of the body shape discordance, the difference between true body type based on body mass index (BMI) and self-recognized body image, on nutrient intake, weight control attempt, and mental health in Korean adults. Methods: Subjects were persons aged 19~64 years (4,382 men and 6,226 women) who participated in the 2010~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Subjects were categorized as RL (Group recognized as lighter than BMI criteria), RA (Group with agreement between BMI criteria and self-recognized body image), and RH (Group recognized as heavier than BMI criteria) according to the difference between actual body type based on BMI and self-recognized body image. Results: Means of BMI in RH groups were lower than or equal to that of RA groups in all groups. No significant differences in total energy intake were observed among the three groups in men, but total energy intake was higher in the RL group than in the RH group in 30~49 year old women. Proportion of carbohydrate was the highest in the RL group among 30~49 year old women. RH groups paid more attention to weight control and had less weight gain than other groups. Higher proportions of depressive symptoms were reported in the RH group in 19~29 year old men, while a higher proportion of depressive symptoms were reported in the RL group in 50~64 year old men. Conclusion: The current findings suggest an association of perceiving body shape with energy intake, weight control attempt, or depressed mood in some age groups. Body image perception can influence eating, weight control attempt, and depressed mood, therefore proper body image perception should be established in Korean adults.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.175-175
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• 2002