Perceived Body Image, Intentional Caloric Restriction and Physical Manifestations of Unbalanced Nutrition according to Body Mass Index in Fifth and Sixth Grade Elementary School Students

Abstract

This study was done to identify perceived body image, intentional caloric restriction and physical manifestations of unbalanced nutrition according to the Body Mass Index (BMI) in elementary school students. Methods: The research design was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data collection was done by using a structured questionnaire that consisted of 34 items. Participants were 151 students in 5th and 6th grades of elementary schools in Gangwon province. Frequency and percentage, one-way ANOVA, and 2-test with SPSS WIN 12.0 were used to analyze the data. Results: In elementary school students, over-weight/obesity and normal weight groups reported that they would be satisfied with a thinner body image compared to the present image. The score for intentional caloric restriction was significantly higher in the over-weight/obesity group than in the underweight group. In physical manifestations of unbalanced nutrition, students in the underweight group frequently were pale and had dry skin, whereas the over-weight/obesity group reported frequent upper respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: The results suggest that elementary school students need to develop the perception of an adequate body image and to avoid inadequate caloric intake if promotion of the child's growth and development is to be without physical manifestations of unbalanced nutrition.

A Study of Children’s Body Image and Depression in Korea

“…A study in which the identical instrument was used to determine CRE of fifth-and sixth-graders obtained a similar result: 19.59 in the BMI-U group, 21.23 in the BMI-N group, and 23.83 in the BMI-O group [10]. A study in seven-to twelve-year-old children also found that the higher BMI, the higher level of restraint of eating [33].…”

“…At the time of developing this instrument, Cronbach's α=.94 for reliability of all of the 32 items and Cronbach's α=.87 for reliability of the CRE scale. A previous study only using a CRE scale in elementary school children (10) found that Cronbach's α=.81 for reliability of the instrument. As for reliability of this scale in this study, Cronbach's α=.89.…”

“…To lose weight, most of them don't take nutrition necessary for growth into account but use undesirable methods, such as excessive restraint of eating, medication for losing weight, vomiting, and use of diuretics, which can injure their health [6][7][8][9]. Such a wrong attempt to lose weight can cause physical problems, including undernourishment, for school-age children who undergo drastic growth and development [10]. Poor nutrition can not only cause fatigue, flu symptoms, sleeping disorder, and problems in the skin but also serious health problems, such as overeating and eating disorders [11].…”

“…The target population in this study was composed of school-age children, who were fourth-to sixth-graders, in South Korea and the proximal population was composed of school-age children, who were fourth-to sixth-graders, in Regions G and C. The number of subjects was based on the study in elementary school children [10] and the one in elementary school girls [7]. The G-Power 3.1 program revealed that these studies had an effect size of 0.26 and 0.21, respectively.…”

Effects of Healthy Life Practice Education on Reported Health Behaviors Among Fourth-Grade Elementary School Students in South Korea

“…Further, nutrient inadequacy or unhealthy dietary patterns in childhood may be associated with adverse health outcomes during childhood and adolescence and can even persist into adulthood (B. H. Kim & Choi, 2009). Currently, many schools offer nonnutritional items that can easily be obtained from soda and snack machines (Shariff et al, 2008), lowering the likelihood of children eating fruits and vegetables, especially if they are not available options.…”