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Lee, Won, Kwak, Kim, and Kwon: Perceptions of Body Shape and Weight Control in Individuals Consuming Weight-Control or Health Functional Foods
Research Article
Korean Journal of Nutrition

Korean Journal of Nutrition 2011; 44(3): 243-254.

Published online: 30 June 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2011.44.3.243

Perceptions of Body Shape and Weight Control in Individuals Consuming Weight-Control or Health Functional Foods

Hyo Jin Lee1, Hye Suk Won2, Jin Sook Kwak2, Mi Kyung Kim2, Oran Kwon2

1Ewha Graduate School of Clinical Health Sciences, Seoul 120-750, Korea.

2Department of Food & Nutritional Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea.

To whom correspondence should be addressed. (orank@ewha.ac.kr)

Received 25 May 2011       Revised 10 June 2011       Accepted 15 June 2011

© 2011 The Korean Nutrition Society

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the general characteristics, body shape, and perceptions of weight control in individuals consuming health functional foods and weight-control foods. The survey was conducted between April 15 and June 17, 2010 among 199 (57 males and 142 females; age range, 25-45 years) in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, who experienced eating health functional foods or weight control foods during the past year (June 2009 to June 2010). The subjects were divided into a weight-control food group (89 adults) and a health functional food group (110 adults). The subjects were comprised of a high proportion of aged (average age, 34.2 ± 5.9 years), graduates (71.9%), and married (65.8%) individuals. In the weight control food group, gender, age, and educational background were similar and the ratios of service/technical employees, college students, and normal-weight individuals [body mass index (BMI), < 23] were high. BMI was significantly different by gender (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.01), marital status (p < 0.001), and job type (p < 0.001). Self-perceived health status showed a higher response for "in good health" in the 35-44 year old group than that in the 25-34 year old group (p < 0.05). Male group satisfaction for body shape was significantly higher than that in the female group. The main reason for going on a diet was significantly different by gender (p < 0.05) and BMI (p < 0.01). The main motives for dieting were "because I am not at an ideal weight" and "because of the social atmosphere and the attention of others" in men, but "can't wear the clothes I want" in women (p < 0.01). The most preferable product type related to the two groups was significantly different by job (p < 0.001) and BMI (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed for questions about body shape perception and weight control. Consumers who had different general characteristics and used diet products perceived body shape and weight control differently. Additionally, no meaningful differences were observed when the results were categorized by product type, except job and BMI, but the distribution of consumer characteristics showed different tendencies. These results can be utilized as basic data for developing new diet products to help people control their weight more scientifically and appropriately in the future.

Keywords: body shape perception, weight control, health functional foods, weight control foods, BMI, body mass index

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Definition and categories
kjn-44-243-i001

1) The source: The Korea Food and Drug Administration website (http://hfoodi.kfda.go.kr), Present condition of approved functional components (2010. August. currently)

※ Examples of excluded products in the study: dietary fiber, Dried/raw ground grain, low calorie beverage, diet coffee, dietary fiber beverage, Promoting healthy bowel movements/defecation supplementary food (excepted laxative) etc.

Table 2
General characteristics of all respondents and characteristics according to product type
kjn-44-243-i002

1) N (%) 2) Service (Self-employed, Sales, Technical Engineer) 3) Office (public/educational official, professional/freelancer) 4) Student (undergraduate & graduate) 5) Body mass index = kg/m2, normal weight: BMI < 23.0, overweight & obese: BMI ≥ 23.0

*: p < 0.05, ***: p < 0.001 by χ2-test

Table 3
Self-perceived health status, body shape perception, body satisfaction and the BMI according to general characteristics
kjn-44-243-i003

1) N (%) 2) Fisher's Exact test 3) Service (Self-employed, Sales, Technical engineer) 4) Office (public/educational official, professional/freelancer) 5) Student (undergraduate & graduate) 6) BMI (Body mass index) = kg/m2, normal weight range: BMI < 23.0, overweight: 23.0 ≤ BMI < 25.0, obese: BMI ≥ 25.0

*: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01, ***: p < 0.001 by χ2-test

Table 4
Perception of weight control in individuals consuming health functional foods and weight control foods
kjn-44-243-i004

1) N (%) 2) Fisher's Exact test 3) Service (Self-employed, Sales, technical engineer) 4) Office (public/educational official, professional/freelancer) 5) Student (undergraduate & graduate) 6) BMI (Body mass index) = kg/m2, normal weight range: BMI < 23.0, overweight & obese: BMI ≥ 23.0 7) Doctor, nurse, nutritionist, etc 8) Size of meals (overeating, binge, high calorie foods, etc.) 9) Eating habits (late-night meal, snack, etc.) 10) Lifestyle (sedentary lifestyle, computer, television). N.S.: Not Significant by χ2-test

*: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01, ***: p < 0.001 by χ2-test

Table 5
Self-perceived health status, body shape perception, body satisfaction according to product type
kjn-44-243-i005

1) N (%) 2) χ2-test 3) Fisher's Exact test

Table 6
Perception of weight control in individuals consuming weight control or health functional foods
kjn-44-243-i006

1) N (%) 2) χ2-test 3) Fisher's Exact test 4) Size of meals (overeating, binge-eating, high-calorie die) 5) Eating habits (late-night meal, promiscuous meal, etc.) 6) Lifestyle (sedentary posture hatbit, playing a computer or watching TV in a long time) 7) Doctor, nurse, nutritionist, etc

Notes

This research was supported by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy for the Regional Innovation System program in 2010 (No. B0012328).

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