A Comparative Study of Nutrient Intakes and Health Status with Body Size and Weight Control Experience in Adolescent Females

Ryu, Ho Kyung; Yoon, Jin Sook

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate how body size and weight control experience affect the nutrient intakes and the health status of adolescent females. The survey was carried out by self-questionnaires with 463 female high school and college students in Daegu. Analysis of data was done by using a t-test, and ANOVA with the SAS computer program. The average height, weight and BMI of the subjects were 161.2 cm, 53.4 kg, and 20.51 kg/m2 respectively. However, 25.1% of the subjects belonged to the underweight group when we divided the subjects into 3 groups- underweight, normal-weight, overweight-according to their present body size. The average Fe intake of the subjects was less than 50% of the Korean recommended dietary allowances. The dietary intakes of energy and Vit. A were significantly higher in the underweight group than in other groups. However, no significant differences among body size groups were observed in the dietary habit score and the nutritional knowledge score. It also appeared that the dietary habit score and the nutritional knowledge score of the weight control attemptees were worse than those of the non-attemptees. The physical health status of the subjects significantly differed according to weight control experience, and the psychological health status of the subjects differed with present body size. The physical health condition of the weight control attemptees was worse than the non-attemptees. and the psychological health condition of the overweight group was worse than other groups. The results indicated that unnecessary weight control in adolescent females induces unhealthy food behavior which is linked to undesirable health status.