RESUMO
This study aims at investigating the health and nutritional status of the adults according to frequency of eating out. One day food intake data were collected by 24 hr recall dietary survey and body size, blood pressure and some blood lipids and other constituents were measured on 137 Daejeon metropolitan citizens 20 yrs old and above who visited Chungnam National University Hospital for physical examination during the period of December 6, to December 15, 2008. The frequency of eating out were categorized into four levels: less than once a week, once a week, 2-3 times a week, 4 times a week and above. Body mass Index, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipid, blood glucose, GPT and GOT did not showed any significant difference according to the frequency of eating out of the subjects. Though, systolic blood pressures and serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol showed a little tendency to be high in the subjects eating out 2-3 times a week. In the contrary, serum triglyceride level tended to be low in the same group. The subjects eating out 4 times a week and over took more total protein, animal protein, animal fat, phosphorus and vitamin B2 than any other group. Also protein energy ratio was the highest in the group eating out 4 times a week and above and they took more animal food group, other food group, beverages . teas and alcohols than other groups eating out. These results showed that higher frequency of eating out leads to higher intake of protein, fat, phosphorus, animal food groups and other food groups (oils, beverages, seasonings) and to lower intake of vitamin C and plant food groups. It, thus, suggested that the strategy for restaurant business is required to provide the menu substituted animal food by more plant food.