A Study on Nutritional Status and Dietary Quality of University Students by Body Image / 대한지역사회영양학회지

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to investigate the satisfaction of body image, dietary habits, nutrition intake and dietary quality according to body image of university students (n = 290). The subjects (male = 178, female = 112) were classified to lean, normal and overweight/fat groups according to body image. The weight, body fat and body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in the students who recognized their body image as 'overweight/fat'. The satisfaction of body image, interest of weight control and experience of weight control were significantly higher in students who recognized their body image as 'normal' in both the male and female subjects. The intakes of nutrients, dietary habits and life styles were not different according to body image. In the male subjects, the niacin intake density, the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) of vitamin B1 and the dietary diversity score (DDS) in the students who recognized their body image as 'overweight/fat' were significantly lower than in students who recognized their body image as 'normal' and 'lean'. In female subjects, no significant differences in nutrient intakes, NAR, MAR and DDS were observed according to body image. Future studies with a larger sample size are needed for further assessment of the relationship between nutritional status/diet quality and body image in university students.