A Study on Weight-Control Experience, Eating Disorder and Nutrient Intake of College Students Attending Web Class via the Internet

Lee, Jeong Hee; Kim, Jin Sook; Lee, Mi Young; Chung, Sun Hee; Chang, Kyung Ja

Abstract

This study was to investigate weight-control experience disorder and nutrient intake of college student attending web class via the internet. The subject were 1200 college students(392 male, 808 female) attending web class concerned with nutrition and weight control. This cross-sectional survey was conducted by self-administered questionnaire and data were analyzed by Students t-test and chi2-test. Nutrient intake collected from 3 day-recalls were analyzed by the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis Program. Mean height, weight and RBW(relative body weight) of the male college students were 174.7 cm, 68.0 kg and 101.2%, respectively. Mean height, weight and RBW of the female college students were 162.3% cm, 52.7% kg and 95.3% respectively. Among the male college students, low weight were 1.0%, underweight were 12.8%, overweight were 12.5%, obese were 6.9% by RBW standard. Among the female college students, low weight were 5.1%, underweight 30.2%, overweight were 5.2%, obese were 1.5% by RBW standard. Percentages of weight control experience were 21.7% and 67.0% in the male and female college students, respectively. According to RBW, 22.4% of the weight control experience group were low weight or underweight in the female college students but none of weight control experience group were low weight or underweight in the male college students. Percentage of eating disorder were 6.8%(2.8%, male, 8.7% female) in the college students. Among the female college students, most nutrient intakes were significantly lower in the weight-control experienced group compared to the weight-control nonexperienced group. Among the male college students, there was a tendency that the intake of nutrients, except carbohydrate, calcium and vitamin A was higher in the eating disorder group compared to the non-eating disorder group. However, among the female college students, there was a tendency that the intake of nutrients, except calcium and thiamin was lower in the eating disorder group compared to the non-eating disorder group. Therefore, nutrition education via the internet is required for college students to know proper weight loss methods, desirable eating habits and eating disorder problem well.