Perception of Body Weight Control, Life Styles, and Dietary Habits according to the Obesity Index(OI) of Female College Students

Abstract

This study aims at examining perception of body weight control and lifestyles and food habits of under-weight, normal-weight and over-weight female college students. The data analysis were conducted by a body fat analyzer and questionnaires. The subjects were 368 female college students divided into three groups: the under-weight(UW), the normal-weight(NW), and the over-weight(OW), according to the guidelines of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity(2000). Among the subjects, 18.2% were under-weight, 63.6% normal-weight, and 18.2% over-weight. Mean of body weights were 45.4kg, 53.3kg, and 63.7kg, and BMIs were <TEX>$17.5kg/m^2$</TEX>, <TEX>$20.5kg/m^2$</TEX> and <TEX>$24.6kg/m^2$</TEX> in the UW, NW, and OW groups, respectively. 'Self assessment of body weight' was significant at the level of p<0.001 according to the Obesity Index. Of the UW group, 41.8% considered their weight to be normal and 4.5% believed they are over-weight. In the NW group, 43.2% thought they are over-weight, 1.5% believed they are under-weight. 57.1 % of the UW group and 98.6% of the NW group had ever tried to reduce their weight. Their 'exercise frequency and exercise time' were not significant by the 01. 'Regularity in the daily life' of the subjects was significant at the level of p<0.05. 43.3 % of the OW group answered that they don't live regular daily lives. 'Sleeping time' of the subjects was significant at the level of p<0.05 by the 01. 41.8% of the OW group reported that they sleep 'between 7 and 8 hours a day' which was the highest rate among the three groups. 'Frequency of meals per day' was not significant by the OI. 'The speed of eating meals' was significant at p<0.01, 23.9% of the UW group, 31.2% of NW group, and 38.8% of OW group reported that they have meals 'in a very fast speed'. Concludingly, most of female college students conceive themselves as having inappropriate body image, which means that they need to be given additional education about nutrition and diet.