신체활동 및 BMI에 따른 주관적 체형 인식 차이

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity levels, and subjective body perception among Korean adults. While the World Health Organization defines health holistically, research suggests that objective obesity measures often differ from subjective perceptions, influenced by sociocultural factors. This study analyzed how subjective body perception varies across BMI categories and physical activity levels to inform health education and management strategies. Data from the 9th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2022-2023) included 5,664 adults who provided BMI, subjective body perception, and physical activity data. Participants were categorized by Korean Obesity Society standards into underweight (<18.5 kg/m²), normal weight (18.5-23 kg/m²), overweight (23-25 kg/m²), and obese (≥25 kg/m²). Physical activity, converted to metabolic equivalent tasks (METs), was classified as low (<600 METs/week), moderate (600-1499 METs/week), or high (≥1500 METs/week). One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc tests identified significant differences in subjective body perception. In the underweight group, high-activity individuals had lower perception scores than moderate-activity individuals (p=0.032). In the normal weight group, moderate-activity individuals had lower scores than both low- and high-activity groups (p=0.045). No significant differences were found in the overweight group. In the obese group, low-activity individuals had higher scores than moderate-activity individuals (p<0.05). These results indicate that physical activity influences subjective body perception differently across BMI categories.