Body Image, Risk of Disturbed Eating Attitudes and Weight Control of Female Junior High School Students by the Body Mass Index in Seoul / 대한지역사회영양학회지

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 < or = BMI < 85th percentile) (2) obese (85th percentile < or = 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 +/- 8.23) compared with normal group (13.72 +/- 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.

The Development of Carbohydrate-Preference Rating Scale and Its Relation to the Eating Attitude Test / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a carbohydrate-preference rating scale (CPRS) and to investigate its validity and reliability. METHODS: A 10-item questionnaire was developed or selected by three psychiatrists. The questionnaire was administered to 157 female college students in Seoul. Construct validity was investigated by performing a principal component analysis, and reliability was assessed in terms of internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The principal component analysis revealed three factors underlying carbohydrate prefer-ences : habits of carbohydrate consumption, ability to control the consumption of carbohydrates and body weight, and the addition of sugar when drinking coffee. Taken together, these three factors accounted for 57.390% of the common variance. Cronbach's alpha was high, indicating the reliability of the questionnaire was satisfactory. When comparing the total score of the questionnaire by T test, the eating disorder group showed higher score than the control group. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the CPRS is a reliable and valid scale for assessing carbo-hydrate preferences. Although there are a lot of limitations, present study has significance as the basis of future research.