본 연구는 여대생의 체질량지수와 다이어트 인식 및 다이어트 행동에 관해 알아보기 위해 시행된 서술적 조사연구이다. 연구 대상자는 일 지역 여자대학교에 재학 중인 학생 165명으로 자료수집은 2018년 10월 29일부터 11월 9일까지 진행되었다. 수집된 자료의 분석은 SPSS/WIN 21.0 프로그램을 이용하여 기술통계, t 검정, 일원분산분석, 교차분석을 하였다. 전체 다이어트 인식은 3.44점이었고 요인별로는 ‘실행’이 4.00점으로 가장 높게 나타났고, 그 다음으로 ‘정보 및 교육’이 3.58점, ‘필요성’은 3.32점, ‘자가인식’은 2.84점으로 가장 낮게 나타났다. 다이어트 횟수는 ‘3회 미만’이 65명(43.0%)으로 가장 많았으며 방법은 ‘음식조절’이 65명(43.0%), ‘운동’이 62명(41.1%) 순이었다. 일주일간 운동시간은 3시간 미만이 99명(65.6%)으로 가장 많았고 ‘전혀 하지 않는다’가 32명(21.2%)으로 그 다음 순이었다. 다이어트로 인한 피해경험은 22명(14.6%)이 있다고 응답했고, 종류로는 위장병, 생리불순, 탈모 등이었다. BMI에 따른 다이어트 인식 전체 점수는 저체중군이 정상체중 및 과체중군보다 점수가 낮게 나타났다(p<.001). 하부 요인별로 보면 다이어트 ‘실행’은 저체중군이 정상체중 및 과체중군보다 점수가 낮게 나타났고(p<.05), 다이어트 ‘정보 및 교육’은 과체중군의 점수가 가장 높았고, 그 다음이 정상체중군, 저체중군 순이었다(p<.001). 다이어트 ‘필요성’과 ‘자가인식’은 저체중군이 정상체중 및 과체중군보다 점수가 낮게 나타났다(p<.001). 다이어트 인식에 따른 다이어트 행동은 다이어트 횟수와 방법에서 차이가 있었다(p<.001). 본 연구 결과를 토대로 여대생의 올바른 다이어트 인식 형성과 건강한 생활유지를 위한 관심과 교육이 필요하다고 사료된다.

The study aims to investigate the effects of media and self-image congruity of ideal body image on the dieting and exercising behaviors of Korean and U.S. female college students. This study focuses on the concept of self-image congruity in order to examine how respondents perceive actual and desired self-images compared to an ideal female body image selected by respondents. A self-administered survey was conducted, resulting in 331 total responses (194 from Korean students and 137 from U.S. students). The data were analyzed through descriptive analysis, t-test, exploratory factor analysis, and regression analysis using SPSS 23.0. The findings revealed significant differences between Korean and U.S. female college students. U.S. students were more exposed to body image ideals in the media than Korean students; however, Korean female students valued the information regarding ideal body image conveyed by the media more than U.S. respondents. Among Korean female students, exposure to media messages regarding ideal body image and media importance had significant effects on desired self-image congruity, while these factors were not significant among U.S. students. However, there was a negative effect of media exposure on actual self-image congruity among U.S. respondents only. Additionally, the study uncovered that Korean students manage their body image through dieting behaviors while U.S. respondents manage body image through exercise behaviors (weight training as well as cardiovascular exercise). The study provides further support for self-image congruity, which extends its applications to the body image field.

Appearance management is a serious issue for adults and young people in Korean society. People of various ages have used diverse means to improve their appearances. This study focused on dieting as an appearance management behavior in female adolescents. Dieting behaviors are not just a means to improve appearance; they may also relate to individuals’ beliefs and self-control. The importance of individual psychological/ personality factors cannot, therefore, be ruled out. Such factors can help explain personality factors explain “what causes a compulsive diet and what factors can alleviate it”. This study reviewed the literature on perfectionism and self-control as individual personality factors, and empirically examined the effects of these variables on perceived body distortion and dieting behaviors. We performed a structural equation model analysis to verify our hypothesis. The results are as follows: we found perfectionism to be positively related to perceived body distortion and dieting behaviors; we also found self-control to be negatively related to perceived body distortion though unrelated to dieting behaviors; finally, our analysis identified a relationship between perceived body distortion and dieting behaviors. These results indicate that perfectionism and self-control should be considered when conducting guidance and counseling sessions on issues related to dieting behaviors for adolescent’ appearance management. This paper concludes by discussing the study’s implications and limitations.

The principal objective of this study was to determine the effects of diet knowledge and perception on diet practice behavior among university students. Data were collected between March and April of 2005 from 523 male and female university students in Seoul and Chungbuk, via a self-administered questionnaire. The subjects included 217 male students (41.5%) and 306 female students (58.5%), and 52.0% of the subjects were 21-23 years old. With regard to residence type, 42.6% of the subjects lived in the dormitory, home (29.1%) self-boarding (19.5%) and meal (8.8) were in the order. The average weights and heights of the subjects were as follows: 70.9±9.0 kg and 174.3±4.4 cm in the male students and 53.9±5.9 kg and 161.3±4.5 cm in the female students. The average BMI values of the male and female students were 23.4±2.5 and 20.8±2.1, respectively. The average nutritional knowledge scores were as follows: 1.96 out of 3.0, dietary habit (2.13), nutrition (2.0), exercise (1.98), preferred food (1.90), and chronic disease (1.79). We noted no significant differences between the male and female subjects in terms of scored points. Nutritional knowledge by gender and residence type were shown to be significantly different--the male subjects had higher scores for exercise than did the female subjects. The self-boarding subjects had significantly lower scores with regard to nutritional knowledge and chronic disease. The experience and duration of previous diet practice were also significantly different with regard to gender and residence type. The male subjects tended to conduct diet practice for longer periods than females. The self-boarding students reported more attempts at diet behavior, but for shorter durations. The results show that the nutritional knowledge and diet practice behavior of the subjects were influenced by gender and residence type.