Recently, the desire for low body weight, which is an abnormal weight construct along with obesity, has become an evident and serious problem in teenagers. In Korea, the desire for low weight is not perceived as an important problem, but it is rapidly expanding relative to the physical changes and developmental issues teenagers experience. The social atmosphere presented through mass media is the key influencer for the increasing low weight occurrence in teenagers. Because thoughts about beauty have changed among people, and since there is apparent blind interest in slim body shape and appearance, already low-weight individuals are attempting to lose weight along with obese persons. Thus, we consider it necessary to guide teenagers toward having correct perceptions with regard to weight and their own body shape, and that a healthy and appropriate weight is beautiful. Therefore, for this study, we investigated body perception, abnormal weight, attitude toward weight control, and factors related to eating behavior among teenage girls, who are considered the at risk group for overt body weight control behavior. Based on this, we have attempted to set in motion a systematic and active nutrition education program that will allow us to increase body satisfaction by educating on nutritional issues related to development, and ultimately, implant healthy body shape perceptions.

If we may practice the nutrition education planned on the basis which carefully grasped the inappropriate behavioral determinants of middle-school students, it might be an effective method achieving the change in perception and behavior improving the distorted perception about the ideal body shape, so we are to suggest the 8 week program of body shape perception improvement for successful nutrition education as follows. The body shape perception improvement program is a step-by-step group consulting program. At the introduction stage, we let them understand the meaning of true beauty and body change of teenage period and forming of sexual identity. At the stage of perception conversion, we let them have the opportunity to observe the status of body perception of the teenager and self-observation. At the stage of correction, we let them criticize the distorted body image in the society with mass media at the same time with the self-reflection. At the stage of maintenance and evaluation, we suggested the behavior guidance while preparing it. Setting this as the basis, we applied the contents such as the evaluations through cultural sharing events making somethings while directly participating. As the target groups to practice education were middle school students, we considered the learning level and behavioral features of the middle school students, and composed the programs including the methods such as role play, watching real things, media production, discussions and experiences. If the program of body shape perception improvement developed at this study could be utilized at the field of schools, the teenagers can change their ways of thought naturally avoiding the view about unified appearance rightly perceiving negative self-image that the teenagers can have and if the group consulting can be practiced regularly at each school, many students may experience the change in perception, so it might solicit the improvement of health of the families and local societies as well as that of the individual student.