ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างการรับรู้เรื่องน้ำหนักตัวกับพฤติกรรมควบคุมน้ำหนักของวัยรุ่นหญิง:กรณีศึกษานักเรียนมัธยมศึกษาตอนปลาย โรงเรียนบ้านตาก (ประชาวิทยาคาร) อำเภอบ้านตาก จังหวัดตาก

Abstract

Female adolescents are likely to perceive themselves as overweight. This may lead them to practice weight control and that maybe harmful to their health. The aim of this study is to explore body weight perception and weight control behaviors among female high school students. The relationship between those two variables also investigated. Study samples are 229 high school students. Data were collected using a self-administration questionnaire. The questionnaire was content validated by 3 expert and yielded the value of 0.83. The reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and yielded the value of 0.95. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square for testing the relationship, at the statistical level at .05. Study results indicated that study samples could be divided into 3 groups according to their body weight perception, as compared to BMI for age. The first group, 54.1% of them accurately perceived their body weight. The second group, 41.9% inaccurately perceived their body weight as they were overweight. The last group, 3.9% inaccurately perceived their body weight as they were underweight. In terms of sources of information that influence their weight perception, 41.5% were from Growth chart provided by the Department of Health, and 22.7% were from close friends/intimate friends/friends of opposite gender. The study sample engaged in weight control practice for 35.8%. Regarding to the reason of their engagement in weight control practice, 40.2 % desired for being good personality and they mostly chose exercise and diet control since it was a safety approach. However, some of them involved with in appropriate weight control behavior. For instance, 2.4% used diet pills along with laxatives. People that were most influence them to use weight control practice were friends/intimate friends/friends of opposite gender. Media that was influence their decision of weight control practice was internet. Study results also showed the statistically significant association between BMI for age and weight control behaviors, and the association between body weight perception and weight control behaviors, at the significant level of .01. In conclusion, the study findings support for the existing studies that some of female adolescents perceived their body as overweight and some involved with inappropriate weight control behaviors. Therefore, health care personnel should use this findings to make further plans for appropriate health promotion among female adolescents.