Journal List > Korean J Nutr > v.43(3) > 1043823

Kang and Choue: Relationships of Body Image, Body Stress and Eating Attitude, and Dietary Quality in Middle School Girls Based on Their BMI

Abstract

This study investigated the body image, body stress, eating attitude, and dietary quality in middle school girls. Questionnaires were administered to one hundred fifty seven middle school girls in Seoul area. The subjects were categorized into the five groups according to their body mass index (BMI); 1) severely under-weight (BMI < 16.5 kg/m2), 2) under-weight (16.5 ≤ BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), 3) normal weight (18.5 ≤ BM I < 23.0 kg/m2), 4) overweight (23.0 ≤ BMI < 25.0 kg/m2), and 5) obese (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). 7.0%, 14.6%, 58.9%, 10.2%, and 10.2% of the subjects were classified as severely under-weight, under-weight, normal weight, overweight and obese groups, respectively. Regardless of the BMI, the subjects had disturbed body image, body stress, and poor eating attitude. The actual BMIs of the normal weight, overweight and obese subjects were significantly different from their desired BMI and perceived BMI, representing these subjects dissatisfied their body shape. Almost all subjects tried to lose their body weight even in the severely under-weight and under-weight groups. There were significant correlations of BMI with body image disturbance (p < 0.05), body stress (p < 0.01) and eating attitude (p < 0.05). These results indicated that middle school girls who have higher BMI seemed to have more body image distortion, body stress and risk of eating disorder. However, any significant difference in dietary quality among the five groups was not observed even though their dietary patterns were not balanced. As a conclusion, it is required that middle school girls should correct their distorted body image and body stress. Also, efforts to improve eating attitude, dietary pattern and nutritional status in the middle school girls are needed.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Proportions of the subjects not consuming specific food group.
*: Significantly different among the groups at, *: p < 0.001 by χ2-test.
kjn-43-285-g001
Table 1
Mean ages and anthropometric measurements of the subjects according to their BMI (kg/m2)
kjn-43-285-i001

1) Values are mean ± SD.

Means with different alphabetic letters within a raw are significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test after ANOVA at *: p < 0.01, **: p < 0.001.

2) BMI: Body mass index (kg/m2), 3) LBM: Lean body mass

4) Desired BMI: Calculated BMI of the self reported desired height and weight.

5) Perceived BMI: Converted BMI of the self perceived current figure rating.

Table 2
Characteristics of the weight management according to the subjects' BMI (kg/m2) ([%])
kjn-43-285-i002

*: Significantly different among the groups at, *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01 by χ2-test

1) Body mass index (kg/m2)

Table 3
Average scores of BIDQ, BAQ, EAT, and food behavior of the subjects according to their BMI (kg/m2)
kjn-43-285-i003

1) Values are mean ± SD.

Means with different letters within a raw are significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test after ANOVA at *: p < 0.01

2) Body mass index (kg/m2)

3) BIDQ: Body image disturbance questionnaire: The higher score represents the higher degree of negative body image.

4) BAQ: Body attitude questionnaire: The higher score represents the higher degree of body (obese) stress.

5) EAT: Eating attitude test: The higher score represents the higher degree of eating disorder.

6) Food behavior: The higher score represents the negative food behavior.

Table 4
Correlations among the BMI, BIDQ, BAQ, EAT and Food behaviors
kjn-43-285-i004

*: Significant correlation between two variables at, *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01.

1) BMI: Body mass index (kg/m2)

2) Body image was evaluated by the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire.

3) Body stress was evaluated by the Body Attitude Questionnaire.

4) Eating attitude was evaluated by the Eating Attitude Test.

5) Food behavior was evaluated by the regularity of meals, speed of eating and frequency of overeating and snacking.

Table 5
Dietary quality of the subjects according to their BMI (kg/m2)
kjn-43-285-i005

All values are not significantly different by Duncan's multiple range test after ANOVA.

1) Values are mean ± SD, 2) Body mass index (kg/m2), 3) DDS: Dietary diversity score, 4) MAR: Mean adequacy ratio

5) DQI: Dietary quality index scores are summed across the eight recommendations to develop a diet quality from 0 (excellent diet) to 16 (poor diet)

References

1. Hyun WJ, Lee JW. Seasonal and regional variations in nutrient intakes of Korean adolescents as assessed by 3-day dietary records. Korean J Community Nutr. 2001. 6(4):592–603.
2. Park JW, Ahn SJ. Dietary behaviors and food perception of Koreans living in Seoul by age and gender. Korean J Food Cookery Sci. 2001. 17(5):441–455.
3. Ahn SJ. A study on nutrition knowledge, meal management and dietary intake of self boarding high school students. 1995. Seoul national university of education.
4. Yoon GA. Contribution of food Behavior and psychological factor to perceived tiredness in Adolescents. Korean J Nutr. 2001. 34(1):89–87.
5. Lee JE, Lee IH. Classification of eating disorder patterns of female middle school students and their association with self-body image, weight control behavior, and eating behavior. Korean J Community Living Sci. 2006. 17(2):89–103.
6. Ryu HK, Yoon JS, Park DH. A study of factors influencing weight control behavior in adolescent females. Korean J Community Nutr. 1999. 4(4):561–567.
7. Wardle J, Marsland L. Adolescent concerns about weight and eating. J Psychosom Res. 1990. 34(4):377–391.
8. Soh HK, Lee EJ, Choi BS. The development of nutrition education program for improvement of body perception of middle school girls (II); development of nutrition education program. Korean J Food Cult. 2008. 23(1):130–137.
9. Cho SJ, Lim CK. Influence on a stress caused by obesity degree and weight control from of undergraduette. J Korean Public Health Assoc. 1997. 14(2):1–15.
10. Thompson JK, Coovert MD, Richards KJ, Johnson S, Cattarin J. Development of body image, eating disturbance, and general psychological functioning in female adolescents: covariance structure modeling and longitudinal investigations. Int J Eat Disord. 1995. 18(3):221–236.
crossref
11. Yoo WS, Kim YN. A study in eating disorders and it's related factors in high school girls. Korean J Community Nutr. 2004. 9(3):274–284.
12. Park MY, Park EJ, Chung YJ. Evaluation of diet quality of Korean adolescents based on nutrient and food and food group intake. Korean J Community Living Sci. 2005. 18(1):95–110.
13. Park MY, Um JS, Hyun HJ, Park HR, Chung YJ. Comparison of indices for diet quality evaluation of Korean adolescents by residence area and body size. Korean J Community Nutr. 2006. 11(2):180–190.
14. Kim YJ, Park HR. Development of Healthy Eating Index (HEI) for Korean adolescents. Proceedings of the Korean Society of Community Nutrition. 2004. 105.
15. Jang HS. The assessment of diet quality according to exercise practices of middle school students. Korean J Exerc Nutr. 2004. 8(3):295–301.
16. Jung SH, Sung HI, Kim SK, Kim KH, Cho MH, Chang KJ. Eating behaviors, perception of body image, hematological indices and nutrient intake of adolescent female athletes in Incheon. Korean J Community Nutr. 2003. 8(6):951–963.
17. Bulik C, Wade TD, Heath AC, Martin NG, Stunkard AJ, Eaves LJ. Relating body mass index to figural stimuli: population-based normative data for Caucasians. Intr J Obes. 2001. 25:1517–1524.
crossref
18. Ministry of Health and Welfare. Health survey for adolescents. 2009.
19. Phillips KA. The broken mirror: Understanding and treating body dysmorphic disorder. 1996. New York: Oxford University Press.
20. Thomas FC, Phillipsb Katharine A, Santosc Melanie T, Joshua IH. Measuring "negative body image": validation of the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire in a nonclinical population. Body Image. 2004. 1:363–372.
crossref
21. Ben-Tovim DI, Walker MK. The development of the Ben-Tovim Walker Body Attitudes Questionnaire (BAQ), a new measure of women's attitudes towards their own bodies. Psychol Med. 1991. 21(3):775–784.
crossref
22. Kwon YS. A study on obesity stress and related factors among female college students. J Korean Community Nurs. 2008. 19(3):431–442.
23. Choi JH, Nam JH, Cho YG, Choi BY, Ahn DH. Reliability testing of eating attitude test for Korean adolescents. J Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 1998. 9(1):91–97.
24. Han MJ, Cho HA. The food habits and stress scores of high school students in Seoul area. Korean J Food Cookery Sci. 2000. 16(1):84–90.
25. Park JE, Kim SJ, Choue RY. Study on stress, depression, binge eating, and food behavior of high school girls based on their BMI. Korean J Community Nutr. 2009. 14(2):175–181.
26. Lim KS, Lee TY, Park HS. The development and validation of a food frequency questionnaire to assess diets of Korean adolescents. Korean J Community Nutr. 2003. 8(2):149–159.
27. Guthrie HA, Scheer JC. Validity of dietary score for assessing nutrient adequacy. J Am Diet Assoc. 1981. 78(3):240–245.
28. Ries CP, Daehler JL. Evaluation of the nutrient guide as a dietary assessment tool. J Am Diet Assoc. 1986. 86(2):228–233.
crossref
29. Kant AK, Block G, Schatzkin A, Ziegler RG, Nestle M. Dietary diversity in the US population, NHANES II, 1976-1980. J Am Diet Assoc. 1991. 91(12):1526–1531.
crossref
30. Patterson RE, Haines PS, Popkin BM. Diet quality index: capturing a multidemensional behavior. J Am Diet Assoc. 1994. 94(1):57–64.
31. The Korean Nutrition Society. Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. 2005. Seoul:
32. Korean society for lipid and atherosclerosis. Guidelines for treatment of hyperlipidemia. Committee for establishment of hyperlipidemia therapy. 2003. 2nd version.
33. Lim JY, Na HB. Nutrient intakes and physical Fitness by BMI among middle school students in Seoul. Korean J Community Nutr. 2005. 10(1):22–35.
34. Ryu HK, Yoon JS. A study of perception about body image in adolescent females: in Daegu city. Korean J Community Nutr. 1999. 4(4):554–560.
35. Schulken ED, Pinciaro PJ, Sawyer RG, Jensen J, Hoban MT. Sorority women's body size perceptions and their weight-related attitudes and behaviors. J Am Coll Health. 1997. 46(2):69–74.
crossref
36. Ryan YM, Gibney MJ, Flynn MA. The pursuit of thinness: a study of Dublin schoolgirls aged 15y. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1998. 22(5):485–487.
crossref
37. Ryu HK. A survey of adolescent's concern and perception about body image; at Miryang city. Korean J Community Nutr. 1997. 2(2):197–205.
38. Her ES, Kang HJ, Lee KH. The factors associated with weight control experiences among adolescents based on self-esteem, body-cathexis, attitudes toward the body, anthropometric characteristics and perceptions of body Shape. Korean J Community Nutr. 2003. 8(5):658–666.
39. Kim YK, Shin WS. A comparison study on perception of body image and dietary habits of high school students between urban and rural areas. Korean J Community Nutr. 2008. 13(2):153–163.
40. Bellisle F, Monneuse MO, Steptoe A, Wardle J. Weight concerns and eating pattern: a survey of university students in Europe. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1995. 19(10):723–730.
41. Lee HJ, Choi MR, Koo JO. A study body image, weight control and dietary habits with different BMI in female high school students. Korean J Community Nutr. 2005. 10(6):805–813.
42. Hong EK, Park SB, Shin YS, Park HS. Body image perception and self-reported weight control activities in adolescent girls. J Korean Acad Fam Med. 1997. 18(7):714–721.
43. Bae YJ, Kim ST, Sung BJ. Body dissatisfaction, eating attitude, obesity related stress, and exercise behavior according to body mass index in female teenagers. Korea Sports Res. 2004. 15(4):881–890.
44. Lee JW, Hyun WJ, Kwak CS, Kim CI, Lee HS. Relationship between the number of different food consumed and nutrient intakes. Korean J Community Nutr. 2000. 5:Suppl. 297–306.
45. Kim JY, Moon SJ. An ecological analysis of the relationship between diet diversity and nutrient intake. Korean J Nutr. 1990. 23(5):309–316.
46. Ro HK. Analysis of methods on dietary quality assessment. Korean J Community Nutr. 2000. 5:Suppl. 280–288.
47. Kim BR, Cho YE. A study on the evaluation of food intake of middle school students in Kangneung. J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr. 2001. 30(5):986–992.
48. Kim BR, Kim YM. Evaluation of food intake and diet quality in high school students. J Korean Home Econ Educ Assoc. 2005. 17(3):83–96.
TOOLS
Similar articles