연구배경: 재미한인에서 체형인식이 국내거주인과 다른지를 비교하고 식습관, 음식 및 맛기호도에 미치는 체형인식과 미국 거주기간의 영향을 조사하고자 하였다. 방법: LA와 뉴욕시에 거주하는 재미한인과 서울시에거주하는 한국인 각 100명의 20대 남녀에 설문지 조사를하였다. 설문지는 기본사항, 음식 및 맛 기호도, 식습관,체형인식으로 구성되었다. 결과: 재미한인 여자는 국내거주 한국인 여자에 비해,자신의 체중을 과대인식하는 비율은 더 낮고(31.8% vs. 53.8%), 과소인식하는 비율은 더 높았는데(27.3% vs. 5.8%), 남자에서는 다르지 않았다. 정상인식군에 비해자신의 체형을 과대인식하는 재미한인 여자는 짠맛에 대한 기호도가 유의적으로 높고, 규칙적 식사에 대한 식습관유의적으로 낮았다. 결론: 재미한인 여자에서 체중의 과대인식은 국내거주여자보다 덜하였으나, 바람직하지 않은 식습관과 높은짠맛 기호도와 관련되는 것으로 나타났으므로 올바른 체형인식의 필요한 근거를 제공하였다.

Background: Weight overestimation of Korean Americans may be associated with dietary habits and preferences for foods and tastes. Methods: The subjects were 100 Korean Americans in New York City and LA and 100 Koreans in Seoul, who were 20-29 years old. Self-reported questionnaire consisted of age, height, weight, length of residence in US,preferences for 10 foods and 5 tastes, dietary habits and perception of self body image. Korean Americans were further divided into 3 groups according to length of residence in US. Results: More Korean American women underestimated (27.3% vs. 5.8%), and less overestimated their body weights, than Korean women (31.8% vs. 53.8%, P=0.008). Korean Americans who overestimated their own body weights had significantly higher preference for salty taste and significantly lower dietary habit score regarding regular meals. Conclusions: Overestimation of self body size, rather than longer residence in US may be associated with the undesirable dietary habit and taste preference of Korean Americans, highlighting the importance of correct body image.

Background: Weight overestimation of Korean Americans may be associated with dietary habits and preferences for foods and tastes. Methods: The subjects were 100 Korean Americans in New York City and LA and 100 Koreans in Seoul, who were 20-29 years old. Self-reported questionnaire consisted of age, height, weight, length of residence in US,preferences for 10 foods and 5 tastes, dietary habits and perception of self body image. Korean Americans were further divided into 3 groups according to length of residence in US. Results: More Korean American women underestimated (27.3% vs. 5.8%), and less overestimated their body weights, than Korean women (31.8% vs. 53.8%, P=0.008). Korean Americans who overestimated their own body weights had significantly higher preference for salty taste and significantly lower dietary habit score regarding regular meals. Conclusions: Overestimation of self body size, rather than longer residence in US may be associated with the undesirable dietary habit and taste preference of Korean Americans, highlighting the importance of correct body image.

Korean Americans, Body image, Dietary habit, Food preference