The Japanese Association of School Health

Material

ISSN ONLINE : 1880-2400

[School Health Vol.7, 35-43, 2011]

Relationships between Body Image and Subjective Symptoms of Fatigue, Lifestyle and Dietary Habits of Male University Students

Hiroko Moriwaki*, Yoshie Kamimura**, Hiroko Kashima***
and Noriko Maeoomichi*

  • *Faculty of Human Culture and Science, Prefectural University of Hiroshima
  • 1-1-71 Ujina-higashi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-8558 Japan
  • hirokom@pu-hiroshima.ac.jp
  • **Hijiyama University Junior College
  • 4-1-1 Ushitashin-machi, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima 732-8509 Japan
  • ***Naka Public Health Center, Hiroshima City
  • 4-1-1 Oote-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-8586 Japan

[Received September 11, 2009 ; Accepted May 27, 2011]

Keywords:
overestimating body image, subjective symptoms of fatigue, adolescent males, dietary habits

Free PDF

Abstracts

For the purpose of helping university students achieve a healthy lifestyle, we examined the relationship between body image and subjective symptoms of fatigue, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Self completed questionnaires were distributed to 3,267 male university students in the 1st to 4th years of university. A total of 2,878 valid responses were obtained (the valid response rate was 88.1%). Subjects of the analysis for this study were 1,664 students within normal limits according to Body Mass Index who indicated “I’m fat.” (Overestimating Group) and “I’m normal.” (Matched Group) when questioned about their body image. The Overestimating Group showed a greater number of subjective symptoms of fatigue in the categories of “Feeling of physical deterioration,” “Difficulty concentrating,” and “Lethargy.” The Overestimating Group had a lower number of respondents selecting “Exercise three or more times every week,” and “Have never dieted,” “Live a regulated life,” “Always careful about diet,” compared with the Matched Group. On the other hand, a higher number of respondents in the Overestimating Group selected “Want to improve dietary habits,” which suggests the need to develop dietary education and establish an environment conducive to the improvement of dietary habits. It is also necessary to provide health education that allows individuals to develop a proper body image.

References

  • Eaton DK., Kann L., Kinchen S., et al. (2008) Youth risk behavior surveillance--United States, 2007. MMWR Surveill Summ., 57: 1-131.
  • Fujita, Y., Suzuki, S., Kuriiwa, M., et al. (2002) A study on the body image of adolescent boys. Adolescentology, 20: 363-370.
  • Ikeda, J., Fukuda, S., Murakami, T., et al. (2008) Desire for slenderness in adolescent women: transition during 14 years in dietetic students of a junior college. Jap. J. Pub. Health, 55: 777-785. (in Japanese)
  • Ikeda, K. (2007) Between the slimness orientation among early adolescent boys self-respect and form. Bulletin of Niigata Seiryo University, 7: 63-71. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Inoue, C., Maruya, N., Ohta, M., et al. (1992) Desire for slenderness and actual state of dieting of high school and junior college girls. Jpn. J. Nutr. Diet., 50: 355-364. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Kamezaki, S., Iwai, N. (1998) Relationship between a desire about body weight, dieting and subjective symptoms among female college students. Jpn. J. Nutr. Diet., 56: 347-358. (in Japanese)
  • Khor GL., Zalilah MS., Phan YY., et al. (2009) Perceptions of body image among Malaysian male and female adolescents. Singapore Med. J., 50: 303-311.
  • Kobayashi, H., Demura, S., Goshi, F., et al. (2000) Construction of a subjective fatigue scale for adolescent students. Jap. J. Pub. Health, 47: 638-646. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Kobayashi, H., Demura, S., Ouchi, T. (2002) Effective rating of the subjective symptoms of fatigue scale for young adults. Jpn. J. School Health, 44: 131-138. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Larson NI., Neumark-Sztainer D., Story M. (2009) Weight control behaviors and dietary intake among adolescents and young adults: longitudinal findings from Project EAT. J. Am. Diet. Assoc., 109: 1869-1877.
  • Matsuzawa, Y., Inoue, S., Ikeda,Y., et al. (2000) New assessment of obesity and criteria of obesity. Himankenkyu (J. jpn. Soc. Atud. Obesity), 6: 18-28. (in Japanese)
  • Mikolajczyk RT., Maxwell AE., El Ansari W., et al. (2010) Relationship between perceived body weight and body mass index based on self- reported height and weight among university students: a cross-sectional study in seven European countries. BMC Public Health, 10: 40-63.
  • Osako, M., Takayama, S., Kira, S. (2005) Dietary habits, attitudes toward weight control, and subjective symptoms of fatigue in young women in Japan. Jap. J. Pub. Health, 52: 387-398. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Prochaska, JO., Velicer WF. (1997) The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. Am. J. Health Promot., 12: 38-48.
  • Sannomaru, Y., Matsubara, S., Muto, K. (2004) A Study for subjective symptoms of fatigue relating the life styles and diets of male university students. Journal of the Faculty of Nursing and Nutrition Siebold Univ. of Nagasaki, 4: 11-21. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Shigeta, K., Sasada, Y., Suzuki, K., et al. (2007) Effects of dieting tendency on the eating behavior and fatigue in young women. J. Integr. Stud. Diet. Habits, 18: 164-171. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Sugiyama, F., Shibuya, S., Hirokawa, R., et al. (1999) Research on health life in Tokai University students: Part 1 Relationships between percent body fat and body perception & lifestyle. Bull. Faculty of Physical Education, Tokai Univ., 29: 1-8. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Takahashi, H., Kawabata, T., Yamada, S., et al. (2004) Perception and misconception about one's own physique of high school, vocational school and university male students desiring weight loss. Bull. Sch. Hlth. Sci. Sapporo Med. Univ., 7: 23-29. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Takahashi, H., Yamada, S., Ohyanagi, T., et al. (2002) Body image and dietary habits in adolescent males and females desiring weight loss. Bull. Sch. Hlth. Sci. Sapporo Med. Univ., 5: 9-17. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Tsugane S., Sasaki S., Tsubono Y. (2002) Under- and overweight impact on mortality among middle-aged Japanese men and women: a 10-y follow-up of JPHC study cohort I. Int. J. Obes., 26:529-537.
  • The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2006) The National Health and Nutrition Survey (p.186, suplement p.28). Tokyo: Dai-ichi Shuppan. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Ueno, T., Yamamoto, A., Shimada, N., et al. (2005) A comparison between Japanese male and female students of the Kyushu area based on an investigation concerning body shape consciousness. J. Home Economics of Jpn., 56: 369-378. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Urata, H., Fukuyama, Y., Tahara, Y. (2001) Physique and its recognition in male students. Jpn. J. School Health, 43: 275-284. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Wakamoto, Y., and Nakanishi, Y. (2009) Factors related to the osteo sono-assessment index (OSI) in female college students: effective nutrition and health education plan for women’s QOL improvement. Jpn. J. Nutr. Diet., 67: 65-75. (in Japanese with English abstract)
  • Wardle J., Haase AM., Steptoe A. (2006) Body image and weight control in young adults: international comparisons in university students from 22 countries. Int. J. Obes., 30: 644-651.
  • Yamada, K., Takahashi, H., Miyashita, Y., et al. (2007) Misconceptions about self-evaluated physique and interest in shape and weight control/loss behaviors in adolescent males desiring weight loss. Scool Health, 3: 30-38.
  • Yuan, J. M., Ross, R. K., Gao, Y. T., et al. (1998) Body weight and mortality: a prospective evaluation in a cohort of middle-aged men in Shanghai, China. Int. J. Epidemiol, 27: 824-832.

▲ Go to top of page