RESUMO
This study was intended to collect the baseline information on dietary behavior of adults to develop nutrition education program in the context of healthy weights at community level. Nutrient intakes of 128 housewives were assessed by 24 hour recall method. Also food habits, nutrition knowledge and attitude were investigated by self-administered questionnaires. Subjects were divided to under-weight, normal-weight, over-weight groups by body mass index (BMI). Most under-weight groups evaluated as their current body images were normal. 41% of normal-weight groups judged as their current body images were obese. Energy and fat intakes of over-weight group were significantly higher than that of under-weight and normal weight groups (p < 0.05). However, carbohydrate and protein intakes showed no significant differences among the three groups. It appeared that active attitude toward change in nutrition attitude of normalweight group was significantly higher than that of under-weight group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences of food habit score, nutrition knowledge, and obesity habit scores among the three groups. The frequency of eating-out showed significant difference among three groups (p < 0.05). Food habit scores were positively related to health-concerned attitude (r = 0.174), convenience-concerned attitude (r = 0.229) and food enjoyed attitude (0.213) and negatively related to obesity habit score (r = -0.206). Also, positive correlation of body fat mass with frequency of eatingout (r = 0.213), instant food (r = 0.227) and amount of meal (r = 0.187) existed (p < 0.05). We concluded that nutrition education programs for housewives should include specific strategies to modify unsound food behaviors and inappropriate perception of body image for a healthy weight.