BMI, Body Attitude and Dieting Among College Women

Kim, Ok Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between objective obesity, subjective obesity, body attitudes and dieting among college women. METHOD: The convenience sample consisted of 531 women. BMI was calculated based on self-reported weight and height. Body Attitudes Questionnaire (BAQ) was used to evaluate attitude toward women's body. RESULT: BMI mean score was 19.75. Based on BMI, 84.2 percent of the subjects were in a normal weight range and 0.9 percent of the subjects were obese. However, 26.9 percent of the subjects evaluated themselves as obese. Forty-one percent of the subjects were on a diet to reduce thier body weight. Body attitudes were associated with BMI and subjective obesity. BMI of the dieters was higher than that of the subjects who were not on a diet. Subjective obesity was associated with dieting. BAQ subscales except 'attractiveness' were associated with dieting.
CONCLUSION
Many subjects were on a diet since they wanted to be thinner. Body attitudes were associated with dieting. Therefore, proper education is needed in weight management for young adult women.