How Does Body-Shape Perception Affect the Weight Control Practices?: 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

Received: June 2, 2014 Revised: June 10, 2014 Accepted: June 11, 2014 Objectives: This study was to investigate how body-shape perception could influence to weight control practice both in normal and obese group. Methods: We used 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to analysis 1) weight control practices of population; 2) consistency between body-shape perception and body mass index; 3) comparison weight control practices between normal group and body mass index (BMI) obese group in perceptional obese group; 4) odds ratio of BMI obese group using herbal drugs for weight control practice in perceptional obese group. Results: We found that study population tends to choose exercise, dietary restriction, meal skip, health functional food, one-food, drug, herbal drug, fasting and self-medication in order of frequency to control weight. The agreement between body-shape perception and BMI within obese group was approximately 64% with 0.40 of Cohen’s Kappa coefficient, ranging from 0.384 to 0.423. Within perceptional obese group, choosing each weight control practice methods ratios between normal BMI group and obese BMI group were not significantly different. Within perceptional obese group, obese BMI group showed significant odds ratio (2.58, 95% confidence intervals, 1.38∼4.85) than normal BMI group in choosing herbal medication for weight loss when adjusting other variables. Conclusions: We concluded that body-shape perception might be an important factor for choosing weight control program, and roles of Korean medical doctors thought to be enhanced for using herbal medication for weight loss.