Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to research the distorted self-perception of body image held by many college students. Method: The subjects in this study consisted of 189 female college students and 125 male college students. The data were obtained through self-reported questionnaires completed by the students between April 1 and April 10, 2005. The data were analyzed by frequency and a $x^2$-test in the SPSS/pc 10.0 statistical program. Result: While female students tend to perceive themselves as being more overweight than they actually are according to their BMI scores, male students consider themselves to be thinner than they actually are according their BMI scores. Conclusion: Many female and male college students have a distorted self-perception of body weight. These findings indicate that health care providers need to do a better job of educating college students about normal body weight.

Keywords

• Somatotype;
• Body mass index;
• Obesity

• 신체 외형도;
• 체질량지수;
• 비만;