Weight Reduction Dieting Survey and Satisfaction Degree and Diet Related Knowledge among Adult Women by Age

摘要

This survey was conducted from June 2004 to August 2004, through questionnaires given to 432 women aged ranging from 20 to 50 years, who were living in the Seoul metropolitan area. The questionnaires were designed to determine the physique, level of obesity and dieting survey as well as to uncover which diets were in fashion and their satisfaction degree. Dieting-related knowledge and dieting side effects were also investigated. The results were as follows: In dieting survey, as the age increased, dieting for health reason (52.3%) increased, whereas that for aesthetic reasons (32.6%) decreased (p<0.05). The most effective methods of dieting were exercise (50.2%) and diet (45.0%) regimens. In regards to exercise frequency, 46.5% for none, 23.5% for 1~2 times a week, suggesting that most respondents do not practice exercise for dieting purposes (p<0.05). Major source for dieting was shown to be obtained from relative family or friends (31.7%), newspapers or magazines (29.3%) and internet (14.9%). Asthe age decreased, information from the latter increased, whereas that from TV program (21.2%) decreased (p<0.05). Reasons for excess weight were bad eating habits (39.6%), lack of exercise (38.3%), pregnancy and childbirth (10.6%). In fad dieting, whileorganic foods and aerobic exercises scored the highest satisfaction degree among diet and exercise regimens, on the other hand, sauna, steam baths and high temperature half-immersion baths scored the highest among surgery and other special therapies. Asthe age increased, the satisfaction degree for organic foods such as organic vegetable and high functional boiled cooked rice increased (p<0.05). As the age increased, scores on dieting-related knowledge decreased. Side effects of dieting included dizziness (16.2%) fatigue (15.1%) indigestion/constipation (11.1%) physical weakness (10.5%), loss of concentration (7.8%), dry skin (7.4%) loss of motivation (6.7%). The above results showed that attitude toward dieting among adult women varied with age andin light of the well-being trend, organic foods and aerobic exercises scored the highest satisfaction degree through all age.