"I am too fat" ... Adolescents taking medicine instead of meals, even underweight lose weight

91% of Adolescents Have Tried Weight Control... Even Underweight and Normal Weight Think They Are Fat
Proper Body Image Awareness Needed, Counseling and Education Required in Schools

On May 13th, students are arriving at a high school in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A survey revealed that about 40% of adolescents who are of normal weight perceive themselves as overweight. This is interpreted as a result of the distorted body image taking root among adolescents due to the widespread perception that being thinner is more attractive.

According to Yonhap News on the 22nd, this content was included in the report titled "Factors Influencing Body Image Perception and Weight Control Behaviors among Korean Adolescents," published in the Journal of the Korean Health Association, the academic journal of the Korean Health Association.

According to the report, a survey on adolescent health behaviors was conducted on 29,282 middle and high school students nationwide, and 39.3% of adolescents with normal weight perceived themselves as overweight.

This distorted body image was found to be higher among female students than male students. Among normal-weight students, 41.4% of female students and 37.0% of male students perceived themselves as heavier than they actually were.

Even among underweight adolescents, 2.9% thought they were overweight. Among underweight students, 10.5% thought their weight was average.

Additionally, most adolescents reported having attempted weight control. According to the report, 90.8% (26,604 students) of them answered that they had tried to lose weight by exercising or reducing food intake.

The problem is that a considerable number of students also tried to lose weight through incorrect methods such as taking medication. Among female and male students, 4.3% and 1.5%, respectively, responded that they had taken weight loss drugs without a doctor's prescription.

The proportion of students who took laxatives or diuretics for weight control was 1.2% for male students and 1.7% for female students. Also, 1.6% of male students and 2.7% of female students reported deliberately vomiting after eating.

There were also cases of extreme weight control attempts, such as eating only one type of food or not eating at all, which are unhealthy methods of losing weight. This rate was about twice as high among female students compared to male students.

The report advised, "Schools should develop counseling or educational programs to help adolescents perceive their body image positively." It also added, "Health policies should be established to help adolescents form healthy eating habits and engage in appropriate physical activities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.