Comparisons of Body Image Perception, Health Related Lifestyle and Dietary Behavior Based on the Self-Rated Health of University Students in Seoul

Article information

Korean J Community Nutr. 2011;16(6):672-682

Publication date (electronic) : 2011 January 18

doi : https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2011.16.6.672

Ho-Kyung Kwak , Mi Young Lee ¹⁾, Mi Joung Kim^,

¹⁾

Department of Home Economics, Korea National Open University, Seoul, Korea

¹⁾Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, Korea

^†Corresponding author: Mi Joung Kim, Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul Women's University, #126 Kongneung 2-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul 139-774, Korea Tel: (02) 970-5644, Fax: (02) 976-4049 E-mail: kmjoung@swu.ac.kr

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the differences in perceived body weight and image and various lifestyles based on the self-rated health of university students when gender was adjusted. Five hundred fifty-five participants were asked their perceived health condition, and 58, 289, 160 and 48 students answered themselves as “very healthy”, “healthy”, “normal”, and “unhealthy”, respectively. As compared to the other 3 groups, “unhealthy” group showed higher proportions in dissatisfaction of body weight and negative perception of body image (P <0.01). As health related lifestyles, “very healthy” group reported longer sleeping time than “unhealthy” group (P< 0.05), and had a higher proportion of people with regular exercise. Among the dietary behaviors, the frequencies of followings significantly different among the groups: “Regularity of meal time” (P <0.01), “Eat protein foods more than twice a day” (P< 0.001), “Eat vegetables” (P <0.01), “Eat fruit and fruit juice” (P < 0.01), “Eat vegetable oil added foods” (P< 0.01), “Eat seaweed” (P < 0.01), “Eat breakfast” (P <0.01), “Modulation in animal fat and high in cholesterol intake” (P< 0.01). Particularly, higher proportion of subjects answered “very healthy” had higher frequencies (6-7 times/ week) of these dietary behaviors. Overall results suggest that healthy lifestyle including adequate sleeping time, regular exercise, and good dietary behaviors might be potential factors affecting positive perception of health. In addition, positive perception of body weight and image were related with positive perception of health. (Korean J Community Nutr 16(6): 672~682, 2011)

Keywords: self-rated health; body image; dietary behavior; exercise; sleeping time

Table 1.

Gender and age of subjects based on the self-rated health

Table 2.

General characteristics of subjects based on the self-rated health

Table 3.

Height, weight and BMI of subjects based on the self-rated health

Table 4.

BMI distribution of subjects based on the self-rated health

Table 5.

Self-perceptions of body weight, body image and body weight control of subjects based on the self-rated health

Table 6.

Health related life styles of subjects based on the self-rated health

Table 7.

Nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviors of subjects based on the self-rated health

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Table 1.

Gender and age of subjects based on the self-rated health

		Very healthy	Healthy	Normal	Unhealthy	Total	P-value³⁾
		58 (10.5)¹⁾	289 (52.1)	160 (28.8)	48 (58.7)	555 (100.0)
Gender	Male Female	50 (11.5) 8 (56.6)	244 (56.2) 45 (37.2)	112 (25.8) 48 (39.7)	28 (6.53) 20 (16.5)	434 (578.2) 121 (521.8)	p < 0.001
Age (years)		23.59 ± 0.28^2)NS	23.70 ± 0.13	23.56 ± 0.19	23.12 ± 0.36	23.60 ± 0.10

1) Number of subjects, (): % of subjects

2) Mean ± SE, NS: not significantly different among the groups

3) P-value is by chi-square test

Table 2.

General characteristics of subjects based on the self-rated health

	Very healthy	Healthy	Normal	Unhealthy	Total	P-value²⁾
Experience of nutrition education
Yes	7 (12.1)¹⁾	41 (14.2)	32 (20.0)	13 (27.1)	93 (16.8)	NS
No	51 (87.9)	248 (85.8)	128 (80.0)	35 (72.9)	462 (83.2)	NS
Type of residence
Home with parents	43 (74.1)	214 (74.1)	107 (66.9)	28 (58.3)	392 (70.6)	NS
Dormitory, boarding or relative house	4 (56.9)	17 (55.9)	12 (57.5)	6 (12.5)	39 (57.0)
Cooking for oneself or the others	11 (19.0)	58 (20.1)	41 (25.6)	14 (29.2)	124 (22.3)
Monthly money for personal use (ten thousands won)
≤ 20	12 (20.7)	35 (12.1)	22 (13.8)	7 (14.6)	76 (13.7)	NS
21 − 30	12 (20.7)	73 (25.3)	46 (28.8)	15 (31.3)	146 (26.3)
31 − 40	23 (39.7)	109 (37.7)	46 (28.8)	20 (41.7)	198 (35.7)
≥ 41	11 (19.0)	72 (24.9)	46 (28.8)	6 (12.5)	135 (24.3)

1) Number of subjects, (): % of subjects

2) P-values are by chi-square test, NS: not significantly different among the groups

Table 3.

Height, weight and BMI of subjects based on the self-rated health

	Very healthy	Healthy	Normal	Unhealthy	Total
Height (cm)	175.33 ± 0.82^1)a	173.73± 0.43^a	171.23± 0.63^b	169.50± 1.27^b	172.81± 0.52
Height (cm)	175.33 0.82 174.25 ± 0.69^2)a	173.73 0.43 172.88± 0.31^ab	171.23 0.63 172.33± 0.41^b	169.50 1.27 172.18± 0.76^b	172.81± 0.52
Weight (kg)	67.93 ± 1.14^1)a	66.46± 0.57^ab	64.39± 0.90^b	64.02± 2.00^b	65.80± 0.76
Weight (kg)	66.49 ± 1.00^2)NS	65.33± 0.45	65.87± 0.60	67.60± 1.11	65.80± 0.76
BMI (kg/m²)	22.04 ± 0.28^1)ab	21.95± 0.15^ab	21.81± 0.21^ab	22.08± 0.49^a	21.93± 0.11

1) Mean ± SE, a,b,ab : means with different superscript letter among group at p < 0.05 by Duncan's multiple range test

2) Mean ± SE(adjusted by gender),

a,b,ab: means with different superscript letter among group at p < 0.05 by ANCOVA, NS: not significantly different among the groups

Table 4.

BMI distribution of subjects based on the self-rated health

	Very healthy	Healthy	Normal	Unhealthy	Total	P-value²⁾
	58 (10.5)¹⁾	289 (52.1)	160 (28.8)	48 (58.7)	555 (100.0)	P-value²⁾
BMI(kg/m²) Underweight	1 (51.7)	15 (55.2)	14 (58.8)	6 (12.5)	36 (556.5)	NS
Normal	38 (65.5)	190 (65.7)	99 (61.9)	25 (52.1)	352 (563.4)
Overweight	13 (22.4)	64 (22.2)	28 (17.5)	10 (20.8)	115 (520.7)
Obesity	6 (10.3)	20 (56.9)	19 (11.9)	7 (14.6)	52 (559.4)

1) Number of subjects, (): % of subjects

2) P-value is by chi-square test, NS: not significantly different among the groups

Table 5.

Self-perceptions of body weight, body image and body weight control of subjects based on the self-rated health

	Very healthy	Healthy	Normal	Unhealthy	Total	P-value²⁾
Satisfaction of body weight
Very satisfied or satisfied	17 (29.3)¹⁾	77 (26.6)	34 (21.3)	6 (12.5)	134 (24.1)	< 0.01
Normal	20 (34.5)	113 (39.1)	52 (32.5)	9 (18.8)	194 (35.0)
Dissatisfied or very dissatisfied	21 (36.2)	99 (34.3)	74 (46.3)	33 (68.8)	227 (40.9)
Perception of body image
Very slim or slim	22 (37.9)	80 (27.7)	33 (20.6)	11 (22.9)	146 (26.3)	< 0.01
Normal	24 (41.4)	131 (45.3)	72 (45.0)	15 (31.3)	242 (43.6)
Fatty or very fatty	12 (20.7)	78 (27.0)	55 (34.4)	22 (45.8)	167 (30.1)
Concern for body weight control
Very concerned or concerned	45 (77.6)	223 (77.2)	115 (71.9)	37 (77.1)	420 (75.7)	NS
Normal	9 (15.5)	54 (18.7)	36 (22.5)	9 (18.8)	108 (19.5)
Unconcerned or very unconcerned	4 (56.9)	12 (54.2)	9 (55.6)	2 (54.2)	27 (54.8)

1) Number of subjects, () : % of subjects

2) P-values are by cumulative logistic test(adjusted by gender), NS: not significantly different among the groups

Table 6.

Health related life styles of subjects based on the self-rated health

		Very healthy	Healthy	Normal	Unhealthy	Total	P-value³⁾
Adequacy of sleeping time
Adequacy of sleeping time Very adequate or adequate		33 (56.9)¹⁾	136 (46.1)	43 (26.9)	10 (20.8)	222 (40.0)	< 0.001
Normal		19 (32.8)	111 (38.4)	81 (50.6)	20 (41.7)	231 (41.6)
Inadequate or very inadequate		6 (10.3)	42 (14.5)	36 (22.5)	18 (37.5)	102 (18.4)
Time of sleeping		6.86 ± 0.20^2)a	6.61 ± 0.07^a	6.54 ± 0.11^ab	6.12 ± 0.25^b	6.57 ± 0.06
Drinking	No	8 (13.8)¹⁾	45 (15.6)	28 (17.5)	8 (16.7)	89 (16.0)	NS
Drinking	Yes	50 (86.2)	244 (84.4)	132 (82.5)	40 (83.3)	466 (84.0)	NS
Exercise	No	29 (50.0)	211 (73.0)	127 (79.4)	42 (87.5)	409 (73.7)	< 0.001
Exercise	Yes	29 (50.0)	78 (27.0)	33 (20.6)	6 (12.5)	146 (26.3)	< 0.001
Intensity of exercise
Light		7 (24.1)	18 (23.7)	13 (39.4)	1 (16.7)	39 (27.1)	NS
Moderate		6 (20.7)	33 (43.4)	13 (39.4)	1 (16.7)	53 (36.8)
Heavy		16 (55.2)	25 (32.9)	7 (21.2)	4 (66.7)	52 (36.1)

1) Number of subjects, (): % of subjects

2) Mean ± SE (adjusted by gender), Means with the different superscripts are significantly different at p < 0.05 by ANCOVA

3) P-values are by cumulative logistic test(adjusted by gender), NS: not significantly different among the groups

Table 7.

Nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviors of subjects based on the self-rated health

	Very healthy	Healthy	Normal	Unhealthy	Total	P-value³⁾
Nutrition knowledge score	14.52 ± 0.67^1)N	^S 14.86 ± 0.25	14.22 ± 0.35	15.25 ± 0.51	14.67 ± 0.18
Dietary behavior score	24.65 ± 0.56^a	22.81 ± 0.25^b	21.69 ± 0.34^c	21.21 ± 0.62^c	22.54 ± 0.43
Regularity of meal time
0 − 2 times a week	22 (37.9)²⁾	99 (34.3)	68 (42.5)	29 (60.4)	218 (39.3)	< 0.01
3 − 5 times a week	18 (31.0)	123 (42.6)	61 (38.1)	11 (22.9)	213 (38.4)
6 − 7 times a week	18 (31.0)	67 (23.2)	31 (19.4)	8 (16.7)	124 (22.3)
Eat in moderate
0 − 2 times a week	10 (17.2)	61 (21.1)	31 (19.4)	13 (27.1)	115 (20.7)	NS
3 − 5 times a week	28 (48.3)	165 (57.1)	92 (57.5)	22 (45.8)	307 (55.3)
6 − 7 times a week	20 (34.5)	63 (21.8)	37 (23.1)	13 (27.1)	133 (24.0)
Eat protein foods more than twice a day
0 − 2 times a week	9 (15.5)	69 (23.9)	52 (32.5)	17 (35.4)	147 (26.5)	< 0.001
3 − 5 times a week	24 (41.4)	162 (56.1)	85 (53.1)	27 (56.3)	298 (53.7)
6 − 7 times a week	25 (43.1)	58 (20.1)	23 (14.4)	4 (58.3)	110 (19.8)
Eat vegetables
0 − 2 times a week	10 (17.2)	50 (17.3)	42 (26.3)	11 (22.9)	113 (20.4)	< 0.01
3 − 5 times a week	27 (46.6)	165 (57.1)	93 (58.1)	26 (54.2)	311 (56.0)
6 − 7 times a week	21 (36.2)	74 (25.6)	25 (15.6)	11 (22.9)	131 (23.6)
Eat vegetable oil added foods
0 − 2 times a week	11 (19.0)	73 (25.3)	50 (31.3)	17 (35.4)	151 (27.2)	< 0.01
3 − 5 times a week	33 (56.9)	165 (57.1)	98 (61.3)	24 (50.0)	320 (57.7)
6 − 7 times a week	14 (24.1)	51 (17.7)	12 (57.5)	7 (14.6)	84 (15.1)
Eat dairy products
0 − 2 times a week	11 (19.0)	87 (30.1)	50 (31.3)	21 (43.8)	169 (30.5)	< 0.01
3 − 5 times a week	34 (58.6)	133 (46.0)	71 (44.4)	13 (27.1)	251 (45.2)
6 − 7 times a week	13 (22.4)	69 (23.9)	39 (24.4)	14 (29.2)	135 (24.3)
Eat fruits and fruit juice
0 − 2 times a week	16 (27.6)	83 (28.7)	56 (35.0)	20 (41.7)	175 (31.5)	< 0.01
3 − 5 times a week	21 (36.2)	153 (52.9)	78 (48.8)	19 (39.6)	271 (48.8)
6 − 7 times a week	21 (36.2)	53 (18.3)	26 (16.3)	9 (18.8)	109 (19.6)
Eat seaweed
0 − 2 times a week	22 (37.9)	144 (49.8)	92 (57.5)	28 (58.3)	286 (51.5)	< 0.01
3 − 5 times a week	24 (41.4)	125 (43.3)	59 (36.9)	16 (33.3)	224 (40.4)
6 − 7 times a week	12 (20.7)	20 (56.9)	9 (55.6)	4 (58.3)	45 (58.1)
Eat meals slowly
Eat meals slowly 0 − 2 times a week	31 (53.5)	134 (46.4)	79 (49.4)	27 (56.3)	271 (48.8)	NS
3 − 5 times a week	14 (24.1)	110 (38.1)	55 (34.4)	8 (16.7)	187 (33.7)
6 − 7 times a week	13 (22.4)	45 (15.6)	26 (16.3)	13 (27.1)	97 (17.5)
Eat breakfast
0 − 2 times a week	20 (34.5)	113 (39.1)	82 (51.3)	25 (52.1)	240 (43.2)	< 0.01
3 − 5 times a week	14 (24.1)	97 (33.6)	45 (28.1)	10 (20.8)	166 (29.9)
6 − 7 times a week	24 (41.4)	79 (27.3)	33 (20.6)	13 (27.1)	149 (26.9)
Modulation in animal fat and high in cholesterol intake
0 − 2 times a week	20 (34.5)	114 (39.5)	61 (38.1)	17 (35.4)	212 (38.2)	< 0.01
3 − 5 times a week	22 (37.9)	148 (51.2)	86 (53.8)	28 (58.3)	284 (51.2)
6 − 7 times a week	16 (27.6)	27 (59.3)	13 (58.1)	3 (56.3)	59 (10.6)
Eat processed foods or instant foods
0 − 2 times a week	24 (41.4)	101 (35.0)	48 (30.0)	14 (29.2)	187 (33.7)	NS
3 − 5 times a week	27 (46.6)	142 (49.1)	98 (61.3)	23 (47.9)	290 (52.3)
6 − 7 times a week	7 (12.1)	46 (15.9)	14 (58.8)	11 (22.9)	78 (14.1)

1) Mean ± SE (adjusted by gender), Means with the different superscripts are significantly different at p < 0.05 by ANCOVA

2) Number of subjects, (): % of subjects

3) P-values are by cumulative logistic test (adjusted by gender), NS: not significantly different among the groups