• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2015

Objectives: Self perceived body image among women is drawing a lot of attention in Korea due to their unhealthy weight control behaviors. To determine the relationship between self-perceived body image and dietary behaviors among Korean women, the discrepancy between actual body size and body image perception, weight control behaviors were assessed based on age groups using the 2010 KNHANES data. Methods: A total of 1,747 subjects were selected after eliminating those of likely changing their diet recently using the 2010 KNHANES data. The subjects were divided into 3 groups, self-underweight, self-normal, and self-obese according to their perception of body image. The BMI and weight control behaviors were assessed based on age groups according to the body image perception. Results: The younger, the higher ratio of underweight, women perceived their body size as normal or overweight. Exercise and reduced food intakes were dominant among various weight control methods but unhealthy methods were dominant among self perceived overweight group. Conclusions: Incorrect body image perception and unhealthy weight control behaviors can cause nutritional problems. Nutritional education should emphasize the importance of healthy weight and proper body image perception for Korean women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.27 no.9_10
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• pp.1072-1080
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• 2003

This study presents comparisons between 286 male and female in their 60s in terms of the perception of their body shape. The results were as follows: 1. In the perception of male and female elders in their sixties on their body shape, a larger number of female elders considered that they were fat, short and heavy than male elder did. With regard to satisfaction with the body, male elders appeared to be more satisfied with their bodies than female elders, and both male and female elders were dissatisfied most with their abdomen girth. 2. The satisfaction of male and female elders in their sixties with their body shape appeared to be influenced more by their perception than their measured sizes. They were more satisfied with their body shape when they perceived that they had small girths, they were tall and they had long legs. In addition, female elders were more satisfied with their body shape when they perceived that their thigh girth and ankle girth were large. 3. As for perception on normal body types and fat body types and satisfaction, male elders' satisfaction with their body shape appeared to be less influenced by their body types than female elders'.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.799-808
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• 2013

Previous research reported that body size measured as Body Mass Index (BMI) and body shape measured as waist-hip-ratio (WHR) are two essential factors that form the perceptions of body attractiveness. However, the debate on the importance of BMI versus WHR is ongoing. In addition, scholarly articles, that focus on the role of geographic and cultural variability on perceptions of attractiveness, report inconsistent results. Some suggested that according to globalization and the rise of mass media, geographic variability of perceptions of attractiveness have been altered, while others believed that it remains. This study cross-regionally investigates the role of body size and body shape on the perceptions of female attractiveness. Samples were composed of 107 female college students in Alabama and 107 female college students in California. Participants viewed 27 three-dimensional body scan images of women in three body shapes (pear, hourglass, and rectangle) and three body sizes (underweight, normal weight, and overweight) and rated their perceptions of attractiveness. Images were shown to students in a random order with an overhead projector and Microsoft Office PowerPoint software. A three-way mixed-ANOVA was conducted to analyze the data. The results of the study showed that some regional differences exist between the two sample groups. However, regardless of the regional difference, hourglass shapes were perceived to be the most attractive shape and underweight sizes were perceived to be the most attractive size for both samples.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.245-255
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• 2002

This study was designed to investigate body image, objective and subjective measurements of body size and shape, eating behavior, and weight control practices in 650 Korean adolescent girls; 500 of the subjects were 14 years old and enrolled in middle schools, while the remaining 150 were 17 years old and enrolled in high schools. Subjects responded anonymously to a self-administered questionnaire. The results showed that average height and weight of the subjects were 157cm and 49.5kg, respectively, while subjects ideal heights and weights averaged 164cm and 48kg, respectively. The ideal adult body heights and weights proposed by the subjects averaged 172cm and 55kg respectively. Over 50% of the subjects were dissatisfied with their body image; the degree of dissatisfaction with body image was higher in those who believed themselves to be fat. Most of the subjects wanted to lose weight and had tried to lose weight. Self-reported weight control practice methods included reducing food intake (31.9%), skipping meals (29.6%), exercise (25.8%), using slimming machines (6.9%), and using diet pills (5.1%). The heavier the subjects weight was, the greater the difference between the subjective and objective evaluations of body size. The body image scores of subjects who perceived themselves as fat were significantly lower than those of subjects who perceived themselves as normal or underweight. The difference between subjective and objective evaluations of body size, and the degree of obesity, were significantly higher in those subjects who had experience of weight control than those who had no experience of weight control. These results suggest that nutrition and health education programs for adolescent girls should be researched and implemented in order to establish a more realistic body image, positive habits in weight control, and healthful eating habits.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.14-27
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• 2015

This study explores the comparison of body image, body satisfaction, and clothing behaviors between Korean and British young women. Body image was measured by two methods: visual and verbal. For the data analysis, the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 16.0 for Windows was used to provide descriptive statistics, an independent sample t-test, and paired sample t- tests were applied in this study. Our results show that Korean and British female college students perceived ideal-body images that were smaller than their self defined body images. The ideal and self-images were significantly different in both groups. Both groups were dissatisfied with their own body size. The study was limited to a small sample size. Future studies using more participants from a more diverse age group and ethnic groups are recommended. The study will help marketers and retailers develop new products and new markets aimed at Korean and British women related to body image and body satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1186-1195
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to study the body cathexis according to the age and the degree of obesity of elderly women. The subjects were 342 elderly women aged 60 to 92. Body measurement and survey were taken from July to August 2001. The results are follows; 1) The subjects showed a tendency to be satisfied with their bodies. But they were relatively unsatisfied with the girth of torso parts. 2) The body cathexis was more influenced by the perceived body size than the actual body size. 3) There were significant differences among the age groups in the body cathexis. The 60∼69 age group was more dissatisfied with their bodies than the other age groups. 4) There were significant differences among groups according to Rohrer Index in the body cathexis. The normal group was more satisfied with their bodies than the lean and the obese groups.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the weight control attempts and related factors among 220 female college students in Seoul. Factors examined included body image, body satisfaction, interest in weight control, beliefs related to weight control, social norms, social expectations regarding subjects' body size and weight change. Data were analyzed using t-test and chi-square test(at $\alpha$=0.05). The average height and weight of subjects were 160.7cm, 52.2kg respectively. BMI and body fat(%) were 20.2 and 25.2%, respectively. One hundred seventy two students(78.2%) had attempted to control their weight, mainly to lose weight, and were categorized as the weight control attempt group. Subjects used diet modification as well as unhealthy method to control weight. 48.2% in the attempt group were underweight or normal weight(by BMI), suggesting that their weight control attempts were was unnecessary. Students in the attempt group described their own size as heavier than those in the no-attempt group(p<0.01) or other girls of their age(p<0.05) ; more dissatisfied with their body size(p<0.01), and showed more interest in weight control(p<0.01). Several differences in beliefs were also noted(p<0.001). The attempt group believed less strongly in the harmful effects or difficulties in weight control and believed more strongly in the advantages of weight control. With respect to social factors, the attempt group perceived that their family and friends wanted them to be smaller than they were(p<0.001), perceived that significant others felt that they should lose weight(p<0.05). These results suggest that educational programs for college female students should start focusing on the harmful effects of excessive dieting and information about desirable weight control methods. Students should be helped to have a correct body image. In addition, educational programs should incorporate strategies to change beliefs regarding weight control, as well as modifying social expectations from significant others.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.79-88
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• 2015

This study focused on the idea that consumers who are dissatisfied with their body form tend to be more interested in weight control behavior. This research connects this relationship with consumers' risk perception on the internet and consequent decision hesitation behavior. Empirical results extracted three factors of weight control behavior: diet, physical treatment, and medication and exercise. Weight control behavior was different by gender but not by age. Consumers who were dissatisfied with their body form were likely to do exercise, but other types of dissatisfaction (weight dissatisfaction and height dissatisfaction) were not significantly related to weight control behavior. Weight dissatisfaction influenced perceived size risk significantly when shopping online. Diet, physical treatment, and medication had significant influence on perceived size risk when shopping online. Perceived size risk had significant influence on decision delay and offline switch behavior. This study took a convergence approach, which connects consumer characteristics with online shopping behavior.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.471-483
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• 2013

The study aimed to investigate the wearing & purchase practices with shirts and analyze the group differences on the shirt size, BMI & perceived body type. Total usable questionnaires were obtained from 350 male office workers aged from 20 to 49 in Seoul. Results were gained from the statistical analysis such as factor analysis, ANOVA, t-test using SPSS 21.0. The results were as follows. First, male office workers had difficulty in choosing the right size among the different sizes of ready-made shirts and had trouble in vexatious order & high price for custom-made shirts, however, they had an emphasis on design and size for the 2 kinds of shirts in common. Second, the groups by shirt size, BMI, perceived body type showed significant differences in shirt fitness and shirt wearing methods of ready-made shirts but showed no difference in purchase intention of custom-made shirts. Fatness and body type were proved to be important for wearing shirts and it was assumed that there were socio-psychological reasons for the custom-made shirt purchase. Finally, the groups by the experience of purchasing custom-made shirts showed no difference in shirt fitness and shirt wearing methods of ready-made shirts but showed difference in purchase intention of custom-made shirts. This meant that purchase of a custom-made shirt stimulated another purchase. Therefore, shirt brands should focus on the first purchase of custom-made shirts.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.777-786
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to compare the perception of men's lower body shape in the 60s with that in the 20s. On hundred and seven men in the 60s and 178 men in the 20s participated in the survey and measurements. The results were as follows : 1. It was perceived that men in the 60s had broader girth but lighter weight than men in the 20s. The research revealed that men in the 60s was more satisfied with their lower body shape than men in the 20s. 2. It was also found that the ideal size of men in the 60s was broader in the girth of their waist and hip, shorter in their height, and lighter in their weight compared to men in the 20s. 3. It showed a difference in the satisfaction with their body shape between men in the 60s and the 20s. The satisfaction with their lower body shape of men in the 60s was more affected by their perception than by their real measured size. On the other hand, the satisfaction of men in the 20s was affected by their perception as much as by their measured size. 4. If we look at the perception and satisfaction in relation with their body types, we found that there was a difference in the girth of their waist, abdomen, hip, and weight depending on their body types. And men in the 20s showed greater differences in their perception and satisfaction depending on their body types, compared to men in the 60s. 5. The measured size of men in the 20s had greater differences depending on their body types than that of men in the 60s. On the contrary, the ideal size of men in the 60s had greater differences than that of men in the 20s.