Alfabetización en medios para promover la satisfacción corporal y la alimentación saludable en adolescentes / Media literacy to promote body satisfaction and healthy eating in adolescents

Resumen Este estudio evaluó la eficacia de un programa de alfabetización en medios (AM) para promover la satisfacción corporal y la alimentación saludable en adolescentes de 12 a 15 años de edad. Es un estudio cuantitativo, cuasiexperimental y longitudinal, con preprueba y postprueba. Participaron 30 mujeres adolescentes de 12-15 años de edad, asignadas aleatoriamente a una de dos condiciones: programa de AM (n = 16) y grupo control en lista de espera (n = 14). Las participantes completaron, en preprueba y postprueba, el Cuestionario de Actitudes hacia la Apariencia Física (SATAQ-3), el Cuestionario de Evitación de la Imagen Corporal (BIAQ) y el Cuestionario de Comportamiento Alimentario (CCA). Hubo una disminución en las puntuaciones obtenidas por el grupo con intervención. Las participantes reportaron comparar menos su cuerpo con relación al cuerpo de las personas que son atléticas (F = 4.17, p = .05), las participantes también consideraron, al finalizar la intervención, que las personas famosas no son una fuente importante de información sobre la moda y sobre cómo ser atractiva (F = 6.87, p = .01). Los programas de AM son herramientas socioeducativas útiles para prevenir la insatisfacción corporal y los comportamientos alimentarios de riesgo, así como para promover conductas saludables.

Abstract This study evaluated the effectiveness of a media literacy (ML) program to promote body satisfaction and healthy eating in adolescents from 12 to 15 years old. The study is quantitative, quasi-experimental and longitudinal study, with pre-test and final post-test. Participated 30 female adolescents aged from 12 to 15 years old, randomly assigned to one of two conditions: ML program (n = 16) and control group on the waiting list (n = 14), who answered the Attitudes to the Physical Appearance Questionnaire (SATAQ-3), the Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIAQ) and the Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CCA). The participants reported comparing their body less with respect to the body of people who are athletic (F = 4.17, p = .05), the participants also considered, at the end of the intervention, that famous people are not an important source of information about fashion and how to be attractive (F = 6.87, p = .01). ML programs are useful socio-educational tools to prevent problems such as dissatisfaction with body image and risky eating behaviors, or to promote healthy behaviors.

Body image in children and adolescents diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus: a systematic review

ABSTRACT CONTEXT: The relationship with body image, which is the way the body presents itself to each subject, can be aggravated in children and adolescents diagnosed with an human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, since these patients use antiretroviral therapy and may suffer from the adverse effects of the treatment due to continuous use of medication. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction, to describe the assessment methods, and to identify associated factors in children and adolescents diagnosed with HIV. DESIGN AND SETTING: This is a systematic review. Department of Physical Education, Florianópolis - Brazil METHODS: We followed the procedures of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) and the Cochrane recommendations in the selection of articles through a search performed in eight databases. RESULTS: Prevalence of body image dissatisfaction due to thinness was between 36.7-52.0% in males and 28.1-36.4% in females, and body image dissatisfaction due to overweight was between 8.0-31.2% in males and 21.9-50.0% in females. Factors associated with body image dissatisfaction were as follows: female sex, older age, low levels of physical activity, low self-esteem, higher body fat, higher body weight, greater arm muscle area, triceps skinfold thickness, and higher body mass index. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents of both sexes diagnosed with HIV infection are dissatisfied by thinness and overweight of their body image. REGISTRATION: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ (CRD42021257676).

Use of instagram, body image satisfaction and self-esteem in young women

The aim was to assess the impact of Instagram's usage on young women's satisfaction with their body image and self-esteem. This is a quantitative cross-sectional study. A total of 329 women using Instagram, aged 18-24, answered this online survey. The data collection was through the RedCap platform. The research was published on social networks and was requested that other people would share on theirs. The method used was a non-probabilistic sample in order to reach as many participants as possible. The results showed that those who reported access to inspirational fitness content most frequently and compared themselves to other users showed decreased body satisfaction and self-esteem. Those who spend more than 2 hours per day on Instagram increased subjective feelings of salience and body fat perception.

O objetivo foi avaliar o impacto do uso do Instagram e a satisfação com sua imagem corporal e autoestima em mulheres jovens. Este é um estudo transversal quantitativo. Um total de 329 mulheres que usam o Instagram, com idades entre 18 e 24 anos, responderam a esta pesquisa online. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio da plataforma RedCap. O método utilizado foi uma amostra não probabilística para atingir o maior número de participantes possível. Os resultados mostraram que aquelas que relataram acesso a conteúdos inspiracional fitness com maior frequência e se compararam a outras usuárias apresentaram diminuição da satisfação corporal e da autoestima. Aqueles que passam mais de 2 horas por dia no Instagram aumentaram a sensação subjetiva de saliência e a percepção da gordura corporal.

Satisfaction with body weight among adolescents with excess weight: findings from a cross-sectional population-based study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Individuals who are overweight or obese often underestimate their size, and they are less likely to consider their weight status to be a health problem and consequently to make lifestyle changes. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the proportion of satisfaction with weight among adolescents classified as overweight/obese, according to sociodemographic factors, morbidities and health-related behaviors. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional population-based study conducted among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years in the city of Campinas (SP), Brazil. METHODS: The sample (n = 217) included participants with self-reported weight and height who were classified as overweight or obese, based on body mass index (BMI) according to age-specific cutoff points recommended by the World Health Organization. Participants whose answer to the question: "Would you like to gain or lose weight?" was "no" (i.e. no change) were deemed to be satisfied with their body weight. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS: The proportions of the respondents who were satisfied with their weight were 75.8% (95% CI: 65.3-83.9) among the overweight adolescents and 24.2% (95% CI: 16.1-34.7) among the obese adolescents (P < 0.01). Satisfaction was lower among individuals aged 15 to 19 years (versus 10 to 14 years), those born outside of Campinas (versus in Campinas), those with ≥ 8 household appliances (versus < 8), and those reporting ≥ two health complaints (versus none). CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the overweight adolescents and almost a quarter of the obese adolescents were satisfied with their weight. These results support the need for strategies for healthy weight management among Brazilian adolescents.

Construção e evidências de validade da Escala de Satisfação Corporal e Satisfação Sexual para Lésbicas (ESCSS-Lésbicas) / Construction and validity evidence of the Bodily Satisfaction and Sexual Satisfaction for Lesbians (LESBIAN-ESCSS) / Construcción y evidencias de validez de la Escala de Satisfacción Corporal Y Satisfacción Sexual Para Lésbicas (ESCSS-Lésbicas)

Este estudo apresenta as etapas de construção de um instrumento psicométrico específico para a população lésbica e a descrição de suas evidências de validação. Os dados quantitativos foram coletados no aplicativo online Google Forms, do Google Drive, por meio da amostra de 1.231 mulheres lésbicas brasileiras (M = 27,87; DP = 9,10). Para a construção e validação do instrumento foram realizadas cinco etapas: 1) Avaliação qualitativa dos instrumentos pelo grupo focal com experts; 2) Avaliação dos instrumentos pelas informantes-chave; 3) Análise por juízes-pares; 4) Análise Fatorial Exploratória (AFE); e 5) Análise Fatorial Confirmatória (AFC). Os resultados da AFE e da AFC foram conduzidos no software Mplus versão 7.11. Os resultados descrevem a criação e as evidências de validade da ESCSSLésbicas, escala tipo Likert de 0 a 6, composta por 30 itens, e confiabilidade interna de 0,907. O instrumento mostrou-se adequado para a mensuração dos aspectos relativos à satisfação corporal e sexual de mulheres lésbicas.

The study presents the stages of a psychometric instrument construction specific to lesbian population and the description of their validation evidences. The quantitative data were collected the Google Forms app on google drive through the sample 1231 Brazilian lesbian women (M = 27,87; SD = 9,10). 5 steps were taken to the construction and validation of the psychometric instrument: 1) Qualitative evaluation of the instruments by focus group of experts; 2) Evaluation of instruments by key informants; 3) Analysis by peer judges; 4) Exploratory Factorial Analysis (EFA); 5) Confirmatory Factorial Analysis (CFA). The results of the EFA and the CFA were conducted in Mplus software version 7.11. The results describe the creation and validation evidences of the BSSSS-Lesbian, scale Likert type from 0 to 6, composed by 30 items, and the internal reliability of the whole scale is 0.907. The instrument was specific and adequate to the measurement of aspects related to the body satisfaction and sexual in lesbian women.

Este estudio presenta las etapas de construcción de un instrumento psicométrico específico para la población lésbica y la descripción de sus evidencias de validación. Los datos cuantitativos fueron recolectados en la aplicación en línea Google Forms de Google Drive utilizando una muestra de 1.231 mujeres lesbianas brasileñas (M = 27,87; DE = 9,10). Para la construcción y validación del instrumento psicométrico específico para la población lésbica se realizaron 5 etapas: 1) Evaluación cualitativa de los instrumentos por el grupo focal expertos; 2) evaluación de los instrumentos por las informantes clave; 3) Análisis por jueces pares; 4) Análisis Factorial Exploratorio (AFE) y 5) Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC). Los resultados del análisis factorial exploratorio y del análisis factorial confirmatorio fueron realizados en el software Mplus versión 7.11. Los resultados describen la creación y las evidencias de validez de la ESCSS-Lesbianas, escala compuesta por 30 ítems tipo Likert de 0 a 6, la confiabilidad interna (alfa de Cronbach) de la escala total es de 0,907. El instrumento se mostró específico y adecuado para la medición de los aspectos relativos a la satisfacción corporal y sexual de mujeres lesbianas.

Social representations of anorexia among university students and risk factors: possible relations / Representações sociais da anorexia entre estudantes universitárias e fatores de risco: possíveis relações / Representaciones sociales de la anorexia entre estudiantes universitarios y factores de riesgo: posibles relaciones

Anorexia is a serious disease, characterized by a distorted body image that leads to extreme behavior. It mainly affects young women. This study sought to identify the social representations of anorexia and the presence of risk factors for its development among female students from different university courses. It sought to establish relationships between anorexia risk factors, body mass index, study area, body satisfaction and social representations. A questionnaire composed by the EAT-26, scale of body silhouettes and open questions about what students knew about anorexia was applied. The data were subjected to statistical and lexicographic analysis. 29% of the students presented risk factors for anorexia. Increased BMI and body dissatisfaction are related to the presence of risk factors. Social representations of anorexia demonstrate the characterization of the disease, very close to scientific knowledge.

A anorexia é uma doença grave, caracterizada por uma imagem corporal distorcida que leva a comportamentos extremos. Acomete principalmente jovens mulheres. Este estudo procurou identificar as representações sociais da anorexia e a presença de fator de risco para seu desenvolvimento entre 100 estudantes do sexo feminino de diferentes cursos superiores. Buscou estabelecer relações e entre fator de risco para anorexia, índice de massa corporal, curso superior e satisfação corporal e representações sociais. Foi aplicado um questionário composto pelo EAT-26, escala de silhuetas corporais e questões abertas sobre o que as estudantes sabiam sobre a anorexia. Os dados foram alvo de análises estatísticas e lexicográficas. 29% das estudantes apresentaram fator de risco para anorexia. IMC aumentado e insatisfação corporal estão relacionados à presença de fator de risco. As representações sociais da anorexia demonstram a caracterização da doença, muito próxima do conhecimento científico.

Anorexia es una enfermedad grave, caracterizada por una imagen distorsionada del cuerpo que conduce a un comportamiento extremo. Afecta principalmente las mujeres jóvenes. Este estudio busco identificar las representaciones sociales de la anorexia y la presencia de factores de riesgo para su desarrollo entre 100 mujeres estudiantes de diferentes carreras universitarias. Y buscado establecer relaciones entre los factores de riesgo para la anorexia, el índice de masa corporal, área de estudio, la satisfacción del cuerpo y las representaciones sociales. Se aplicó el cuestionario compuesto de la escala EAT-26, de siluetas corporales y preguntas abiertas sobre lo que los estudiantes sabían sobre la anorexia. los datos fueron sometidos a análisis estadística y lexicográfica. 29% de los estudiantes presenta factores de riesgo para la anorexia. El aumento de IMC y la insatisfacción corporal se relaciona con la presencia de factores de riesgo. Representaciones sociales de la anorexia demuestra la caracterización de la enfermedad, muy cerca de los conocimientos científicos.

A Study on Dietary Habits, Body Satisfaction and Nutritional Knowledge by Body Image of Middle School Girl Students in Chungbuk Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was performed to investigate the dietary habits, body satisfaction and nutritional knowledge according to body image of middle school girl students (n = 284). The subjects were classified as lean, normal and fat groups according to body image. The weight, body mass index (BMI) and the score of body image were significantly higher in the students who recognized their body image as 'fat'. The satisfaction of present body image was significantly lower in students who recognized their body image as 'lean'. The interest in weight control and experience of weight control were significantly higher in students who recognized their body image as 'fat'. The necessity of nutrition education was higher in all groups (lean 67.2%, normal 59.0% and fat 52.8%). The products used to feel sweetened were sweetened ice (68.7%), processed milk (68.3%), confectionery (62.3%), carbonated beverage (55.3%), fermented milk (38.0%) and none (6.0%). The frequency of consumption of fruit juices and fried food was significantly higher in 'normal' compared to 'fat'. There was no significant difference in the frequency of consumption of snack and nutritional knowledge among the three groups. In the multiple regression analysis, the score of body image was negatively associated with the frequency of snack consumption in the 'lean'. The score of body image was positively associated with identification of nutrition labels and an interest in weight control but was negatively associated with satisfaction of present body image in the 'fat'. Based on these results, we conclude that, the middle school girl students need correct recognition of body image and continuous and practical nutrition education in order to maintain healthy dietary habits.

Autopercepção da imagem corporal em estudantes do curso de educação física / Self-perception of body image in the physical education course students

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a autopercepção da imagem corporal (IC) e associar a IC com indicadores sociodemográficos, estado nutricional e nível de atividade física de universitários. Realizou-se um estudo transversal com 294 universitários (136 homens e 158 mulheres), mensurou-se a percepção da IC por meio da escala de silhueta, indicando a silhueta atual (SA), silhueta ideal (SI) e a silhueta ideal do sexo oposto (SIO). Ainda foram coletadas variáveis demográficas (sexo, idade, turno de estudo, ocupação), nível socioeconõmico, estado nutricional (índice de massa corporal) e o nível de atividade física (IPAQ - versão curta). Utilizou-se a análise descritiva e o teste de associação do qui-quadrado para análise dos dados. A prevalência de insatisfação com a IC foi de 61,2 por cento (n = 180), sendo 61 por cento nos homens e 61,4 por cento nas mulheres. A silhueta 2 foi apontada por 57 por cento das mulheres como a SI, entre os homens 38,2 por cento e 39,7 por cento apontaram a silhueta 3 e 4 como a SI. Foi identificada como SIO à silhueta 3 (63,2 por cento masculino e 56,3 por cento feminino). As mulheres demonstraram uma maior percepção (67,6 por cento) em possuir uma silhueta menor que a atual. Já entre os homens houve a tendência (66,7 por cento) a desejarem uma silhueta maior do que a atual. Além do sexo a percepção com a IC foi associada com o estado nutricional (p < 0,05), onde se observou que 78,7 por cento dos indivíduos com excesso de peso desejam ter uma silhueta menor do que a atual. Concluísse que a autopercepção da IC esteve associada ao sexo e ao estado nutricional nos universitários.

This study aimed at evaluating the self-perception of the body image (BI) and associating the BI to socio-demographic indicators, nutritional state and level of physical activities in university students. A cross-sectional study with 394 students was made (136 men and 158 women). The BI perception was measured by means of the silhouette scale, indicating the present silhouette (PS), the ideal silhouette (IS), and the ideal silhouette of the opposed gender (ISO). Demographic variables were also collected (gender, age, part of the day in which they study, occupation), socio-economical level, nutritional state (body mass index) and the level of physical activity (IPAQ - Short version). The descriptive analysis and the qui-square association test were used to analyze the data. The dissatisfaction prevalence with the BI was of 61.2 percent (n = 180), being 61 percent men and 61.4 percent women. The silhouette 2 was pointed by 57 percent and 38.2 percent of women and men as the IS, respectively. Silhouettes 3 and 4 were pointed as the IS by 38.2 percent of the women and 39.7 percent of the men. Silhouette 3 was identified as the ISO (63.2 percent male and 56.3 percent female). Women showed a higher prevalence (67.6 percent) of having a smaller silhouette than the present one. Men showed a tendency (66.7 percent) to prefer a bigger silhouette than the present one. Besides the gender, the BI perception was associated with the nutritional state (p < 0.05), in which it was observed that 78.7 percent of the overweight subjects to have a smaller silhouette than they have at present. The conclusion is that the BI self-perception was associated with gender and nutritional state of the university students.

Desenvolvimento e validação preliminar da Escala Situacional de Satisfação Corporal - ESSC / Development and preliminary validation of the Body Satisfaction Situational Scale - ESSC

O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver e validar um instrumento de satisfação corporal situacional numa amostra de estudantes universitários brasileiros. A escala inclui itens de avaliação de partes e do corpo como um todo. Análises fatoriais exploratórias revelaram uma estrutura com quatro fatores; “partes inferiores” (α=0,72), “satisfação e músculo” (α=0,82), “partes externas” (α=0,65) e “insatisfação e gordura” (α=0,82). Seus 28 itens obtiveram cargas fatoriais variando entre 0,32 e 0,82. Análises adicionais indicaram que a escala foi sensível a características da amostra, como Índice de Massa Corporal e gênero, corroborando a literatura atual da área.

The aim of this study was the development and validation of a situational body satisfaction scale in a Brazilian college student sample. The scale includes 28 items ranging from parts to overall body evaluation. Four factors emerged from the exploratory factor analysis of the items. They were named “lower parts” (α=.72), “muscle and satisfaction”, (α=.82), “external parts” (α=.65) and “fat and dissatisfaction” (α=.82). The factor loadings of its 28 items ranged from .32 to .82. Further analysis has indicated the scale was sensitive to the sample’s characteristics, such as, Body Mass Index and gender, according to the current field’s literature.

Changes of Obesity Indices, Body Satisfaction and Self-Esteem of Obese Children on Weight Control Program / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to investigate the changes of physical and psychological factors of obese children, obesity indices and blood serum levels, food habits and body and self-esteem after a weight control program. The results from this study were as follows: Participants of the study involved 20 boys (48.8%) and 21 girls (51.2%) totaling 41 children. Children's weight control experiences were 90.2% and parents' were 59.5%. Among methods of weight control, children and parents both used exercise and reduced amounts of meals. Sixty-one percent of the children had breakfast almost everyday. The reasons of skipping breakfast were having no time to eat by 44.4% and 50% of children watched TV while having a meal and they considered taste (55.3%) and nutrition value (21.1%) when choosing food. After the weight control program, the children's body fat percent (%) significantly decreased from 40.3% to 35.4% (p < 0.01). There was significant difference of boys and girls' hip circumferences (92.9 cm, 91.4 cm, p < 0.01) after the program but there was only a slight change in their WHR (0.91, 0.92). Girls' waist circumferences significantly decreased from 75.0 cm to 73.0 cm (p < 0.05) and there was a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol, 50.0 (mg/dL) to 55.2 (mg/dL), (p < 0.05). Knowledge levels of obesity significantly increased from 2.5 to 5.1 in the girls' cases (p < 0.001). Nonetheless, attitudes of weight control and food habits score had not changed a lot. After the program, both the boys and girls' body-esteem had significantly increased (p < 0.01) but self-esteem had not changed. These results suggest that a body weight control program must be included in nutrition education, exercise and psychotherapy to improve body and self-esteem of obese children.

Relation of obesity-related attitudes, knowledge, and eating behaviors with body weight and body shape satisfaction in 5th-grade Korean children

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic problem. The downward trend of an obesity onset age calls for research efforts on how to develop useful nutrition educational programs for children to maintain adequate body weight. Understanding the roles of objective and subjective body status in obesity-related attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors can provide important information. The current study aimed to examine obesity-related attitudes and knowledge and practices of eating behavior guidelines in relation to obesity and body shape satisfaction among children. The gender effect in the relations was also investigated. A self-administered survey was conducted with 260 fifth grade children at 2 public elementary schools in the suburbs of Seoul. Information on demographics, body size, body satisfaction, obesity-related attitudes and knowledge, and eating behaviors was collected. Study findings from one-way analysis of variance tests indicated no differences in mean scores of the attitudes, knowledge, and eating behaviors across the levels of obesity for both gender. The levels of body shape satisfaction was, however, found to be significantly related with the attitudes and eating behaviors in girls, while no such relation was seen in boys. Girls with lower body shape dissatisfaction had significantly more negative attitudes toward obesity which was not translated into practice of healthy eating behaviors. That is, contrary to general expectation, the level of practicing the eating behavior guidelines was significantly lower in those girls. While underlying reasons for this observation is not fully answered, gender-specific, body satisfaction-stratified, and behavior-focused approach in designing obesity prevention programs for elementary school girls is suggested efficient and useful.

Body Image, Body Satisfaction and Dieting Behavior in Japanese Preadolescents: The Toyama Birth Cohort Study

Objectives: To examine the relationships between body image, body satisfaction and dieting behavior in the context of pubertal changes in Japanese preadolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study of dieting behavior among 5,244 preadolescents (2,452 boys and 2,792 girls aged 12–13) born in Toyama prefecture. Results: The percentages of those who perceived themselves fat, wanted to be thinner, and had tried dieting, which increased with body mass index (BMI), were significantly higher in girls than in boys (34.2% vs. 20.0%, 58.0% vs. 26.0%, and 17.3% vs. 5.7%, respectively). Independent of sex and BMI, those who wanted to be thinner and those who had tried dieting were more frequently observed in those who perceived themselves fat, and those who had tried dieting were more frequently observed in those who wanted to be thinner. Pubertal changes were significantly associated with dieting behavior, but their relationships to body image and body satisfaction differed between sexes; for boys, those who perceived themselves fat were more frequently observed in those without pubertal changes; whereas for girls, those who wanted to be thinner were more frequently observed in those with pubertal changes. Conclusions: Dieting behavior of Japanese preadolescents was associated with whether they perceived themselves fat and wanted to be thinner, sometimes independent of whether they were actually overweight. Pubertal changes might induce a positive perspective of growing fat among boys and a desire to be thinner among girls, with the consequence that dieting behavior would be reinforced in those with pubertal changes.

Body image, body satisfaction and dieting behavior in Japanese preadolescents: The Toyama birth cohort study

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To examine the relationships between body image, body satisfaction and dieting behavior in the context of pubertal changes in Japanese preadolescents.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional study of dieting behavior among 5,244 preadolescents (2,452 boys and 2,792 girls aged 12-13) born in Toyama prefecture.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentages of those who perceived themselves fat, wanted to be thinner, and had tried dieting, which increased with body mass index (BMI), were significantly higher in girls than in boys (34.2% vs. 20.0%, 58.0% vs. 26.0%, and 17.3% vs. 5.7%, respectively). Independent of sex and BMI, those who wanted to be thinner and those who had tried dieting were more frequently observed in those who perceived themselves fat, and those who had tried dieting were more frequently observed in those who wanted to be thinner. Pubertal changes were significantly associated with dieting behavior, but their relationships to body image and body satisfaction differed between sexes; for boys, those who perceived themselves fat were more frequently observed in those without pubertal changes; whereas for girls, those who wanted to be thinner were more frequently observed in those with pubertal changes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Dieting behavior of Japanese preadolescents was associated with whether they perceived themselves fat and wanted to be thinner, sometimes independent of whether they were actually overweight. Pubertal changes might induce a positive perspective of growing fat among boys and a desire to be thinner among girls, with the consequence that dieting behavior would be reinforced in those with pubertal changes.</p>

A Study on Eating Disorders and It's Related Factors in High School Girls / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of eating disorders and the dietary, and psychological factors that influence eating disorders in high school girls. Data was collected from 4 vocational and 4 general girls' high schools in Incheon. Among the total of 595 questionnaires collected, 581 were analyzed. For data analyses, frequency, percentage, average, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Duncan's Post-Hoc and regression were conducted using SPSS WIN ver 10.0 program. As a result, 25 out of 581 students (4.3%) are judged to have eating disorders. The mean BMI of the subjects is 20.2, but the BMI students think of as ideal is 17.6. Since the frequencies of diet trial, taking diet pills, and skipping dinner are higher, the average score of Eating Attitudes Test for Korean Adolescents (EAT-26KA) is higher, they are more likely to have eating disorders. The lower the degree of body satisfaction and self esteem are, the higher the average score of EAT-26KA is. It tells that the possibility of developing eating disorders is closely related to BMI and psychological factors specially body satisfaction.

A Study on Weight Control Attempt and Related Factors among College Female Students / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the weight control attempts and related factors among 220 female college students in Seoul. Factors examined included body image, body satisfaction, interest in weight control, beliefs related to weight control, social norms, social expectations regarding subjects' body size and weight change. Data were analyzed using t-test and chi-square test(at alpha=0.05). The average height and weight of subjects were 160.7 cm, 52.2 kg respectively. BMI and body fat(%) were 20.2 and 25.2%, respectively. One hundred seventy two students(78.2%) had attempted to control their weight, mainly to lose weight, and were categorized as the weight control attempt group. Subjects used diet modification as well as unhealthy method to control weight. 48.2% in the attempt group were underweight or normal weight(by BMI), suggesting that their weight control attempts were was unnecessary. Students in the attempt group described their own size as heavier than those in the no-attempt group(p<0.01) or other girls of their age(p<0.05) ; more dissatisfied with their body size(p<0.01), and showed more interest in weight control(p<0.01). Several differences in beliefs were also noted(p<0.001). The attempt group believed less strongly in the harmful effects or difficulties in weight control and believed more strongly in the advantages of weight control. With respect to social factors, the attempt group perceived that their family and friends wanted them to be smaller than they were(p<0.001), perceived that significant others felt that they should lose weight(p<0.05). These results suggest that educational programs for college female students should start focusing on the harmful effects of excessive dieting and information about desirable weight control methods. Students should be helped to have a correct body image. In addition, educational programs should incorporate strategies to change beliefs regarding weight control, as well as modifying social expectations from significant others.