Weight Control Attempts in Underweight Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2010.
10.4082/kjfm.2013.34.6.393
- Author:
O Jin Ee CHOI
1
;
Young Gyu CHO
;
Jae Heon KANG
;
Hyun Ah PARK
;
Kyoung Woo KIM
;
Yang Im HUR
;
Hyun Ji YIM
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jacobel@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Underweight;
Body Image;
Body Weight;
Weight Reduction;
Social Class
- MeSH:
Adult*;
Body Image;
Body Weight;
Chronic Disease;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Family Characteristics;
Female;
Health Behavior;
Humans;
Korea*;
Male;
Motor Activity;
Nutrition Surveys*;
Obesity;
Single Person;
Social Class;
Thinness*;
Weight Loss;
Weight Perception
- From:Korean Journal of Family Medicine
2013;34(6):393-402
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Underweight refers to the weight range in which health risk can increase, since the weight is lower than a healthy weight. Negative attitudes towards obesity and socio-cultural preference for thinness could induce even underweight persons to attempt weight control. This study was conducted to investigate factors related to weight control attempts in underweight Korean adults. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on 690 underweight adults aged 25 to 69 years using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2010. Body image perception, weight control attempts during the past one year, various health behaviors, history of chronic diseases, and socioeconomic status were surveyed. RESULTS: Underweight women had a higher rate of weight control attempts than underweight men (25.4% vs. 8.1%, P < 0.001). Among underweight men, subjects with the highest physical activity level (odds ratio [OR], 7.75), subjects with physician-diagnosed history of chronic diseases (OR, 7.70), and subjects with non-manual jobs or other jobs (OR, 6.22; 12.39 with reference to manual workers) had a higher likelihood of weight control attempts. Among underweight women, subjects who did not perceive themselves as thin (OR, 4.71), subjects with the highest household income level (OR, 2.61), and unmarried subjects (OR, 2.08) had a higher likelihood of weight control attempts. CONCLUSION: This study shows that numbers of underweight Korean adults have tried to control weight, especially women. Seeing that there are gender differences in factors related to weight control attempts in underweight adults, gender should be considered in helping underweight adults to maintain a healthy weight.
