The influence of body image on weight reduction attempts after adjustment for related factors in a medical school in northern Taiwan

• Main Authors: Wei-Yang Chang, 張維揚
• Other Authors: Prof. Hung-Yi Chiou
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2003
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/15968817518274662669

碩士 === 臺北醫學大學 === 醫學研究所 === 91 === The number of people with overweight problems has been increasing at an astonishing pace among developed and developing countries. Obesity, which is the direct and indirect cause of many diseases and psychological disturbance, has already become an illness of affluence. As people generally care about physical appearance and body shape, nowadays "weight loss" has become a fashionable term people talk about every day. Studies show that more than half of the teenagers and adults surveyed (women or men alike) had lost weight or have attempted to do so. Among weight-losing factors, a desire to improve body image is often the motivation to embark on weight reduction attempts. University years are a key stage for students to develop independent personality. Understanding the relevance between the level of satisfaction of their own body image and their attempts of weight loss — for medical school in particular--could provide helpful reference for evaluations of medical treatments and health enhancement. The purpose of this study is to understand current condition of medical students’ individual background factors, social factors, body image and weight reduction attempts, as well as to explore their correlations. The cross-sectional research questionnaire surveyed 941 medical students (416 male and 525 female) at freshman and senior classes of a medical school in northern Taiwan. For data analysis, t-test, single-variable variance analysis, Scheffe’s multiple comparisons method, chi-square test, Pearson’s product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used. The findings of the research are as follows: 1. For 614 medical students, about 65.2% of all subjects have normal BMI. Among them, there are 117, which equals to 44.3% of male students with normal BMI, and 327 female--or 93.4% of the female group, are dissatisfied with their weight and want to lose more. 2. Male medical students are obviously more satisfied with their own body image than females. Generally, the students at the School of Medical Technology are the least satisfied with body image; from gender perspective, female students at the School of Dentistry and male students of School of Pharmacy give highest score to their body image, respectively. Among male students, senior students have better body image than freshman; the difference between female students at freshman/senior classes is not significant. 3. Female students have significantly higher weight reduction attempts than males. Among females, those at the School of Medicine have lowest attempts to lose weight, and the ones at the School of Pharmacy have highest attempts to lose weight. For males, students at the School of Health Care Administration have lowest attempts to lose weight, and those at the School of Medical Technology have greatest attempts to reduce weight. There is no significant difference on the weight reduction attempts between freshman and senior classes. 4. For male students, there is a negative correlation between BMI, weight reduction belief, parental influence, peer pressure, and body image satisfaction. That means, the greater the BMI, weight reduction belief, and influence of important others, the lower the body image satisfaction they perceive. As to female students, there is a negative correlation between BMI, weight reduction belief, parental influence, peer pressure, boy friend influence, media coverage influence, and body image satisfaction. It demonstrates that the greater the BMI, weight reduction belief, influence of important others and media, the lower the body image satisfaction they express. 5. Among medical students, either male or female, there is a positive correlation between BMI, weight reduction belief, parental influence, peer pressure, boy/girl friend influence, media coverage influence, and weight reduction attempts. Therefore, the greater the BMI, weight reduction belief, influence of important others and media, the greater the weight reduction attempts they possess. 6. Among medical students, either male or female, there is a negative correlation between body image satisfaction and weight reduction attempts. That means, the lower the body image satisfaction, the greater the weight reduction attempts they have. 7. Five related factors including “peer pressure”, “BMI”, “gender”, “class year”, and “weight reduction belief” can be used to predict medical students’ body image. Gender-wise speaking, “BMI”, “mother’s influence” and “class year” can be used to predict male students’ body image; “BMI”, “weight reduction belief” and “peer pressure” can predict female students’ body image. Either group analysis or gender-based analysis shows that “BMI” is the most appeared indicator of predictability. 8. After adjusting for individual background and social factors, the research points out four factors─“weight reduction belief”, “media coverage influence”, “body image” and “mother’s influence” can be used to predict students’ weight reduction attempts. As to male students, “weight reduction belief”, “mother’s influence”, “body image” and “media coverage influence” are best indicators. However, for the female group, “weight reduction belief”, “media coverage influence” and “body image” cannot be ignored. Either group analysis or gender-based analysis shows that after adjusting for “weight reduction belief” and “media coverage influence” factors, “body image” can still be used for effectively predicting students’ weight reduction attempts. 9. No matter medical students have or don’t have weight loss experience, or they have boy/girl friend or not, after adjusting for individual background and social factors, “body image” can still be used for effectively predicting students’ weight reduction attempts. It is expected that this research will be able to present all factors affecting medical students’ weight reduction attempts, and to provide prospective medical workers and educators with a complete picture of the concept of body image. Hence preventive and individual health care can be properly promoted. It is also suggested that future researchers may use or integrate in-depth interviews into a longitudinal research to reflect different aspects of body image and weight reduction attempts. Key Words: body image; BMI; weight reduction belief; weight reduction attempts; influence of important others; peer pressure; media coverage influence; medical student