Abstract
To be thin is the desire of many young women because of idealized body images in the media as well as cultural factors. This review summarizes the content of the symposium, "International Comparison of Body Image," which was part of the 15th International Congress of Dietetics held in Yokohama, Japan, on September 8 to 11, 2008. Body image is a term that refers to one's perception of his/her own physical appearance and how that body appears to others. A negative body image usually has unfavorable consequences, such as the development of an eating disorder. The desire for thinness is widespread, even in non-Western countries. For example, young Japanese women have an even stronger desire to be thin than their American or Vietnamese counterparts. Abnormal eating behaviors are common among adolescents in both Western and non-Western countries. Therefore, we should monitor inappropriate weight loss attempts, especially by adolescents in all countries