Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between objective obesity, subjective obesity, body attitudes and dieting among college women.
METHOD
The convenience sample consisted of 531 women. BMI was calculated based on self-reported weight and height. Body Attitudes Questionnaire (BAQ) was used to evaluate attitude toward women's body.
RESULT
BMI mean score was 19.75. Based on BMI, 84.2 percent of the subjects were in a normal weight range and 0.9 percent of the subjects were obese. However, 26.9 percent of the subjects evaluated themselves as obese. Forty-one percent of the subjects were on a diet to reduce thier body weight. Body attitudes were associated with BMI and subjective obesity. BMI of the dieters was higher than that of the subjects who were not on a diet. Subjective obesity was associated with dieting. BAQ subscales except 'attractiveness' were associated with dieting.
CONCLUSION
Many subjects were on a diet since they wanted to be thinner. Body attitudes were associated with dieting. Therefore, proper education is needed in weight management for young adult women.

• Keywords: Obesity; Weight; Diet; Women