title: Young urban women and the nutrition transition in China:  a familiar pattern emerges.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrition transition being experienced by urban Chinese college females. The self-administered cross-sectional survey was given to female students attending universities in the urban area of Xi'an, China. The survey was a collection of previously validated instruments measuring motivations for eating, disordered attitudes and behaviors, societal and media influences on body image and eating disturbances, body esteem, body dissatisfaction, and demographic questions. Results from 207 Chinese college females indicated that they had high levels of dietary restraint, despite the large proportion of participants who were considered underweight and normal weight. In addition, the results indicated that these college females ate primarily based on hunger cues. They also had a strong desire to lose weight sometimes to ultra thin and unhealthy levels, but with only moderate levels of disordered eating attitudes and behaviors. It appears that for participants in this study, at their current point in the nutrition transition, the full negative impact of Americanized media may not yet be fully internalized. The study has revealed a need for the development of health education programs to promote healthy eating styles and appropriate dieting behaviors. Future research needs to develop strategies for better understanding the impact of Americanization on the body image of women in this type of transitional population.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Health, College of Health and Human Services, San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA 92182, USA. hmadanat@mail.sdsu.edu
authors.forename: Hala N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Madanat
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hawks
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Chantelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Josiah L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hawks
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001828:Body Image; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D009042:Motivation; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011594:Psychometrics; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult