青年期女性における体格と食意識の関連性

Abstract

This study aimed to contribute to the promotion of healthy lifestyle and improvement of low body mass index (BMI) in adolescent women. In this cross-sectional study, we conducted a questionnaire survey to assess the relationship between BMI and healthy lifestyle awareness among 421 female college students in 2015. The questionnaire asked basic questions on age, university department, grade, height, weight, sports activity, parttime employment, type of residence, rise time, bedtime, and sleeping hours and 50 questions on eating and living habits related to healthy lifestyle awareness. Factor analysis of the questionnaire responses identified seven factors for awareness: "self-control for eating out and ready-to-eat foods", "healthy eating", "food safety and hygiene", "self-motivation for exercise", "mealtime and table manners", "variety in food choices", and "weight control". There were significant relations between each factor score for awareness. We divided the samples into two groups: a lower BMI group (< 18.5 kg/m2) and a BMI control group (≥ 18.5 kg/m2). Factor scores for awareness of "weight control" in the lower BMI group were significantly lower than those in the control group and were related to two factors for awareness, "self-control for eating out and ready-to-eat foods" and "variety in food choices". In the BMI control group, factor scores for awareness of "weight control" were related to "self-control for eating out and ready-to-eat foods", "self-motivation for exercise", and "variety in food choices". In conclusion, our results suggest that members of the lower BMI group must improve awareness of weight control via improved food choices and self-control for eating out and ready-to-eat foods.