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Weight Satisfaction and Dieting Practices among College Males in Taiwan

Department of Nutrition, Chungshan Medical and Dental College, TAIWAN (Y.W., S.-L.C.)
Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, TAIWAN (Y.-C.C., M.-F.W.)
Department of Nutrition, Tokushima University, JAPAN (S.Y.)

Address reprint requests to: Yueching Wong, MS, RD, Department of Nutrition, Chungshan Medical and Dental College, 110 Sec 1, Jien-Kuo North Road, Taichung City 402, TAIWAN, R.O.C.

Objective: To obtain baseline data regarding body mass index (BMI), weight satisfaction and weight perception in male college students. Approaches used to lose weight and characteristics of dieters were also investigated.

Methods: Written questionnaires and height and weight measurements were used to collect data. Nine-hundred thirty male college students selected by multiple stage sampling among colleges in Taiwan participated in this study. Simple frequency and ANOVA were used to analyze data. Post hoc analyses were performed with the LSD test when the F ratio for the ANOVA was significant at p<0.05.

Results: The mean BMI for all subjects was 21.7. Males with a BMI 22.5 are considered thin by Taiwanese and world standards. Yet 34% of these males were attempting to lose weight and 14% percent perceived themselves as either overweight or obese. Exercise was the main approach to losing weight for subjects in all weight categories. Subjects in the dissatisfied/dieting group tended to measure body weight more frequently (p<0.05), spent more time exercising and reading nutrition information (p<0.05) and skipped breakfast and lunch more frequently (p<0.05) than non-dieters. Male dieters ate fewer vegetables and less meat than non-dieters.

Conclusions: Male college students had frequent misconceptions and dissatisfaction with their body weight. Behavioral characteristics among those dissatisfied with their weight indicate they are at risk for developing eating disorders.

Key words: weight satisfaction, characteristics of dieters, male college students

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