2012 Volume 59 Issue 6 Pages 371-380
Objectives The association between normal weight obesity and diet behavior and physical activity in female students was investigated in this study.
Methods The subjects were 530 female students aged 18–21 years from 6 universities in the Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. From January to July, 2010, the body fat and walk counts of these students were measured, and they answered a questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on life environment, perception of body shape, dieting experiences, physical activities, sleeping habits, and diet behaviors. The Eating Attitude Test–26 (EAT–26) was used to evaluate diet behavior. Students with normal weight (18.5≦ body mass index <25 kg/m2; n=439) were divided into high (n=115), middle (n=213), and low (n=111) groups according to their percentage of body fat. Further, a comparative analysis was performed among the 3 groups.
Results From the results of the questionnaire, perception of body shape, desire for a particular body shape, reason for weight loss, success or failure in dieting, and time for sleep were significantly different among the 3 groups. Differences in physical activity were not significant among the groups. Factor III (Oral control) of EAT–26 was higher in the high group than in the low group.
Conclusion High body fat was associated with diet behavior and a desire to lose weight in normal weight students. These results indicate that health education is necessary to establish and maintain appropriate body fat composition and dietary habits.
