OBJECTIVETo describe the different sex, age and grade distribution of coping behavior and its psychological effects on weight, and to analyze the correlation between overweight, obesity and unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control in adolescents.

METHODSA survey was conducted among students of grade 1 and grade 2 at a junior middle school in Hefei. Students completed the anonymous. questionnaire including the demographic characteristics of adolescents and parents, self-assessed weight status and adolescents' psycho-behaviors related to weight control. Anthropometric measures were taken together with body mass index (BMI) calculated. Students were divided into obesity,overweight and control groups by BMI separate criteria and by self reporting, respectively.

RESULTSAmong all the students, 17.4% reported having unhealthy psychological feelings related to weight control including 3.8% reported having unhealthy behaviors related to weight control and 19.1% of them reported having unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control. The rates of unhealthy psychological feelings, unhealthy behaviors and total unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control among girls (20.6%, 4.3%, 22.6%) were all higher than those among boys (14.5%, 3.3%, 15.8%) (P < 0.05). The rates of unhealthy psychological feelings, unhealthy behaviors and total unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control in obese individuals both assessed by BMI and assessed by self reporting appeared to be the highest (P < 0.05). In addition,data showed that obesity and overweight assessed both by BMI separate criteria and by self-reporting appeared positive correlations with the rates of unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control. Moreover, the relationship between obesity or overweight assessed by the two methods and unhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control did not alter by other factors.

CONCLUSIONUnhealthy psycho-behaviors related to weight control of girls are more severe than boys. The relationship between obesity and unhealthy psychological feelings and behaviors related to weight control does not alter by other factors such as social factors.

Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior ; psychology ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; psychology ; Overweight ; psychology ; Students ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Diet and weight concerns are commonplace and almost accepted features of life for girls during adolescence. Until recently, younger age groups haue largely been ignored, as these concerns were thought to be a product of pubertal development and sexual maturity. Girls under the age of fifteen therefore, have been assumed to be free of the pressures experienced by adult women. However, this belief is now hard to sustain. The object of the present study was to investigate the self-perception and body shape satisfaction in different weight categories of boys and girls aged 12-years old in Korea. METHODS: In May, 1995, one hundred and sixty seven boys and one hundred and twenty girls from two schools in Seoul completed assessments of body-esteem, self-esteem, body shape preference. The children's body weight and height were also measured. RESULTS: The heaviest children expressed the most discontent, having a low body-esteem, a desire for thinness. By the age of 12, girls boys already differ in their body shape satisfaction and differ in their body shape aspirations. There was a significant effect of weight category on the children's body esteem(boys(P =.005), girls(P=.0001). Children in both extreme categories, under-and over-weight, had lower body-esteem scores than those in other weight categories. However, it was the overweight children who had the lowest. reported body-esteem. Body esteem was highest among girls in the 'slightly underweight' category and highest among boys on the 'average weight' category. There was no effects of either weight category or gender on the childrens appraisal of self-esteem. A comparison of the points chosen on the silhouette scales to reflect current and preferred body shapes revealed clear gender differences. Of the girls, 63% placed their preferred body shape at a point thinner than their currently perceived shape, while only 15% chose a broader figure. In contrast,, 41% of the boys rated their preferred figure as broader than their current perception, and 37% as thinner than their current perception. CONCLUSIONS: This study has noted a relationship between body weight and self-perception in 12-year old children. The heaviest children expressed low body-esteem, a desire for thinness. This pattern was more characteristic of girls than boys. Even at this age, well before they have completed physical maturation, girls are aspiring to a body shape which is thinner than their average. This discontent experienced by the heaviest children on this sample was apparent in their lower body-esteem and the distance between their current and preferred body shapes. The girls preference was for thinness, while in the boys it was for a body shape which was broader than their current shape. From their responses, it would appear that the boys' desire was not for fatness, but for a more athletic and muscular build.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspirations (Psychology) ; Body Weight ; Child* ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Overweight ; Self Concept ; Seoul ; Sports ; Thinness ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify congruence between self-perception and objective status of obesity according to %Fat, and to investigate health promotion lifestyle in college women. METHODS: The participants were a convenience sample of 392 college women who were eligible and agreed to participate in this study. Respondents were asked questions using a health promotion lifestyle profile and were evaluated for their body composition using InBody 3.0. The data were analyzed with SPSS 14.0 program, which was used for Chi square, ANOVA, and post-hoc comparison with Scheffe. RESULTS: The major findings were as follows; 1) Overall, 41.8% of participants misclassified their perceived status of weight by %Fat standards and kappa was 0.329. 2) Two percent were underweight by BMI but overweight by %Fat and 39.0% normal weight by BMI but overweight by %Fat. 3) There were significant differences in health promotion lifestyle according to self-perception of body weight but there was no difference in health promotion lifestyle according to %Fat standards. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the necessity for development and application of tailored health promotion program based on self-perception of body weight and %Fat in order to reform incorrect body image and health behavior in college women.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Health Behavior ; *Health Promotion ; Humans ; *Life Style ; Obesity/*psychology ; Overweight ; Questionnaires ; *Self Concept ; Universities ; Women/*psychology ; Young Adult

To identify target energy balance-related behaviors (ERBs), baseline data from 141 overweight or obese schoolchildren (aged 8-14 years old) was used to predict adiposity [body mass index (BMI) and fat percentage] one year later. The ERBs included a modified Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension diet score (DASH score), leisure-time physical activity (PA, days/week), and leisure screen time (minutes/day). Several cardiometabolic variables were measured in the fasting state, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), blood glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C). BMI and fat percentage were measured using a BIA body composition analyzer (MC-980MA, TANITA, Tanita Co., Guangzhou, China). Partial correlation coefficients (partial r) and multiple linear regression models were used to predict BMI and fat percentage one year later. Our sample consisted of 114 boys and 83 girls with a mean BMI of 24.7±3.7 kg/m2 and fat percentage of 34.2%±8.3% at baseline. BMI, fat percentage, and certain cardiometabolic variables were negatively associated with DASH score and leisure-time PA (all P<0.05), but positively associated with leisure screen time (all P<0.05) at baseline. Statistically significant predictors of BMI and fat percentage one year later were baseline BMI (partial r=0.85), fat percentage (partial r=0.69), eating out (times/week, partial r=0.18), and DASH Score (partial r=-0.18). Overall, childhood obesity prevention interventions should target reductions in ERBs.
Adiposity ; Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; Child ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Overweight ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo examine the relationships between overweight, obesity and indices as satisfaction of life, trait anxiety, depression, self concept etc. in male and female junior middle school students.

METHODSA questionnaire survey was administered to 1818 participants in a middle school in Hefei city, Anhui province. This contents of survey would include Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI), and Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale (PHSCS). Anthropometric measures were taken together with the calculation of body mass index (BMI). The students were divided into normal-weight, overweight and obesity groups by BMI separate criteria. Gender differences of mental health status and group differences of mental health among normal-weight, overweight obesity students were analyzed. Relationships between BMI and the scores of MSLSS, CES-D, TAI, PHSCS were estimated among boys and girls respectively.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of overweight and obesity of boys (21.5%, 7.7%) were significantly higher than in girls (8.0%, 2.8%). Difference of the MSLSS scores in gender was significant among normal-weight group (P = 0.002). The difference of the CES-D scores in gender was significant among overweight group (P = 0.046). There were significant group differences of the CES-D scores, TAI scores, and PHSCS scores among normal-weight, overweight and obese girls (P < 0.05). Both the CES-D score and TAI score of obese girls were higher than normal-weight girls (P = 0.012 and P = 0.035). The PHSCS score of obese girls was lower than normal-weight girls (P = 0.014) and the group difference of the CES-D score was also significant between overweight and normal-weight girls (P = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONBoth prevalence rates of overweight and obesity of boys were higher than that in girls. Nevertheless, level of mental health level among girls with overweight and obesity were lower than that in boys.

Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Depression ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; statistics & numerical data ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Sex Distribution ; Students ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective: To analyze the relationship between family-related factors and the status of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years in China. Methods: Data were collected from the China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance in 2010-2012 program. A sample of 6 343 subjects aged 6-17 years was selected, with matched weight, education levels, household income and other family related factors of their parents. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between family factors and overweight and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents. Results: After adjusted for age, gender and region, results from the multivariate logistic regression showed that both the overweight and obesity of children and adolescents were associated with maternal BMI (OR=1.83, 95%CI: 1.63-2.05), paternal BMI (OR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.57-1.94), mother's educational level (OR=1.24, 95%CI: 1.12-1.37) and household income (OR=1.30, 95%CI: 1.15-1.46). Conclusion: Factors as overweight or obesity status of the parents, mother's educational level and household income were positively correlated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Chinese children and adolescents.
Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Family/psychology* ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity/psychology* ; Overweight/psychology* ; Parent-Child Relations ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity/ethnology* ; Prevalence ; Schools

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary intake, obesity index and psychosocial factors influencing obesity among 200 high school girls in Seoul. The Social Cognitive Theory provided the Conceptual basis for this study. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine factors related to obesity, including self-efficacy for controlling overeating, social support for eating behavior, perception of body image and weight control, nutrition knowledge, and attitudes toward obesity. The data were analyzed using t-test and multiple logistic regression. The results of this study are as follows : 1) The mean age of the girls was 16.4 years, and the rate of overweight and obesity(measured by obesity index) was 27.0%. 2) The mean energy intake of subjects was 1832.3+/-384.0kcal. The energy derived from carbohydrates, proteins and fats was 62.7%, 13.8%, and 23.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the obese and the comparison group in energy intake. 3) The result of multivariate analysis indicated that obesity had a significant relation to the perception of ideal body image, social support for eating behavior, and self-efficacy for controlling overeating(p<0.01). As subjects preferred thinner body images(OR=0.39) and received less social support(OR=0.93), the odds of being classified as obese increased. The odds of being obese were also associated with self-efficacy, however, the relation was not strong(OR=1.04). 4) Specific social support was related to obesity among adolescent girls. As subjects received more support from family member, the odds of being obese decreased. The emotional support as well as family member's positive nutrition behavior plays a significant role. In addition, instrumental support from friends was associated with obesity. With repect to self-efficacy, the odds of being obese were increased as subjects felt less confident in controlling overeating when tempting food was placed in front of them or after an argument. In contrast, the obese group felt more confident in controlling overeating for the rest of the specific situations examined. These findings suggest that educational interventions for weight control should incorporate strategies to help participants realize their degree of obesity, to reduce the discrepancy between current and ideal body image, to elicit and maintain social support from friends and family, and to increase the self-efficacy for changing eating behaviors.
Adolescent* ; Body Image ; Carbohydrates ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Energy Intake ; Fats ; Feeding Behavior ; Female* ; Friends ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity* ; Overweight ; Psychology* ; Seoul

PURPOSE: To explain the concept of postpartum weight retention and to analyze factor effect on it. METHOD: A total of 20 studies related postpartum weight retention were selected in the year of 1988-2001 and analysis was done. RESULT: A demographic factor like parity, age, social and economic level and life style such as exercise, diet, breast feeding are influential factor on postpartum retention weight. But parts of them don't agree the same results. Meanwhile, in some studies, psychological factor like women's self esteem related to postpartum retention weight, body image change, depressing is found to be very related. As a result, postpartum overweight gain could be a bad factor of physical and mental health. In Korea, we have few studies related to them. CONCLUSION: It is required to do many-sided and deep studies about aspects of postpartum retention weight and the factor that effect on it. Postpartum retention weight should be approached by controling weight from the period of pregnancy. And it would rather be researched through individual approach considered women's various demographic, social- cultural and physical level than be required standardized level of weight gain.
Body Weight ; Breast Feeding ; Demography ; Diet ; Female ; Korea ; Life Style ; Mental Health ; Overweight ; Parity ; Postpartum Period* ; Pregnancy ; Psychology ; Self Concept ; Weight Gain

OBJECTIVES: Being overweight or obese is central to metabolic syndrome, and these characteristics constitute dominant risk factors for chronic diseases. Although behavioral factors, including eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, are considered to be determinants of obesity, the specific childhood factors that contribute to this condition have not been clearly defined. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 261 children aged 7-9 years who were recruited from an elementary school during October 2003. Information was obtained from their parents using a questionnaire focused on eating behaviors and lifestyle factors, additional data were also collected via anthropometric measurements and biochemical examinations, including blood tests. RESULTS: A total of 48 (18.4%) of the 261 children were overweight, and 34 (70.8%) had at least one other component of metabolic syndrome. Eating behaviors emerged as significant lifestyle-related risk factors for being overweight or obese. Those who engaged in overeating more than twice per week had three times the risk of being overweight (odds ratio [OR], 3.10, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39 to 6.92), and those who ate rapidly had three times the risk of being overweight (OR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.68 to 6.41). Those who had fewer family meals (fewer than 2?3/month) had a nine times higher risk of being overweight than those who had family meals more frequently (at least 1/day) (OR, 9.51; 95% CI, 1.21 to 74.82). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that being overweight or obese during preadolescence is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and is related to unhealthy eating behaviors. Thus, weight-control strategies and healthy eating behaviors should be developed early in life to reduce the risk for metabolic syndrome.
Child ; *Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/etiology ; Obesity/*etiology ; Odds Ratio ; Overweight/*etiology ; Parents/psychology ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

This study was designed to compare the incidence and severity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) between normal (N = 85) and overweight or obese (N = 28) college female students and investigated correlation between PMS, nutrient intake, hematological index and psychological index (depression, anxiety, stress). Each subject was asked a Menstrual Discomfort Questionnaire (MDQ) for PMS by 5 Likert scale. The PMS scores of women in the normal weight subjects ranked in order of severity were water retention (2.71), followed by behavioral change (2.58), negative affect (2.46), pain (2.31), autonomic reaction (2.27), decreased concentration (2.16). The symptoms of 'pain' and 'behavioral change' of overweight or obese subject were significantly higher than those of normal subject (p < 0.05). And total cholesterol concentration of overweight or obese subjects was significantly higher than in normal subject (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the symptoms of 'negative effect' and BMI. And the triglyceride concentration was positively related with 'water retention (p < 0.01)'. The symptoms of 'decreased concentration' were negatively correlated with calcium (p < 0.01) and vitamin B6 intake (p < 0.05). The depression score were positively related with symptoms of 'behavioral change (p < 0.05)', 'negative affect' (p < 0.01), and the anxiety score was positively correlated with 'behavioral change (p < 0.05)' and 'decreased concentration (p < 0.05)'. The stress score was positively correlated with 'decreased concentration (p < 0.01)', 'behavioral change (p < 0.05)' and 'negative affect (p < 0.05)'. This suggests that PMS represents the clinical manifestation of a calcium, vitamin B6 deficiency and psychological disorder. Therefore we concluded that nutrient supplementation, depression and stress management may help to relieve PMS symptoms.
Anxiety ; Calcium ; Cholesterol ; Depression ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retention (Psychology) ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin B 6 Deficiency ; Water