A Study on Body Image Perception and Eating Disorders by Birth-Place and the Length of Residence in USA in Korean American College Students

Article information

Korean J Community Nutr. 2011;16(1):113-125

Publication date (electronic) : 2011 February 28

doi : https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2011.16.1.113

Department of Food and Nutrition, Pusan National University, Pusan, Korea.

¹Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, USA.

Corresponding author: Ho Kyung Ryu, Department of Food and Nutrition, Pusan National University, Jangjun-dong, Geumjung-gu, Pusan 609-735, Korea. Tel: (051) 510-7397, Fax: (051) 583-3648, hokryu@pusan.ac.kr

Received 2011 January 10; Revised 2011 February 08; Accepted 2011 February 17.

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the body image perception, weight control experiences and the eating disorders according to where they were born, and the length of residence in USA among Korean-American college students. Three hundred college students participated in the study: 144 males and 156 females, 122 America-born (AB) and 171 Korea-born (KB) who live in New York City and New Jersey. Subjects responded to a self-administered questionnaire. The results showed that the ratio of overweight (23.2%) and obesity (26.8%) of males was higher than females' (16.1% and 6.3%, respectively). There were no significant differences according to born-place or the length of residence in USA of KB. People who had tried to control their weight were 58%. The ratio of weight control experiences of females (72.4%) was higher than males' (42.4%) as well as people who were normal or underweight than who were overweight or obesity. There were no significant differences according to born-place or the length of the residence in the USA of KB. In body image perception, the subjects who were normal and underweight overestimated their body figure, and the subjects who were overweight and obese underestimated their body figure. The desired and ideal figure of female students was significantly thinner than the current figure and also that of male students. There were no significant differences according to born-place or the length of the residence in USA of KB. The ratio of eating disorder was 8.7%, and females had higher percentage than males. And shorter they lived in USA, the percentage of eating disorder was higher.

Keywords: body image; eating disorder; Korean-American

Notes

This research was supported by the Financial Supporting Project of Long-term Overseas Dispatch of PNU's Tenure-track Faculty, 2006.

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