Evaluation of nutrient intake and food variety by age in Korean adolescents: Based on 2010~2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the nutrient intake and food variety in Korean adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed 1,555 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years using data from the combined 2010~2012 KNHANES (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). In this study, subjects were divided according to age group (12~14 y, 15~18 y). The nutrient intake, ND (nutrient density), food intake and food score from each food group, variety and food intakes of meals, DDS (dietary diversity score), and GMVFDO (grain, meat, vegetable, fruit, dairy and oil food group) were analyzed using data from the 24-recall method. RESULTS: The results showed that the 15~18 age groupskipped breakfast significantly more often than the 12~14 age group (p < 0.0001). The 15~18 age group consumed significantly higher quantities of fat per 1,000 kcal compared to the 12~14 age group (p = 0.0069). Regarding food variety, the 15~18 age group showed a significantly higher intake (p < 0.0001) and score (p < 0.0001) from beverages than the 12~14 age group, whereas the 15~18 age group showed a significantly lower intake (p = 0.0084) and score (p = 0.0253) from milk than the 12~14 age group. In addition, DDS in the 15~18 age group (4.33) tended to be lower than that of the 12~14 age group (4.44) (p = 0.0727). CONCLUSION: Proper dietary management regarding meal variety is needed for the 15~18 age group, and more systematic studies to investigate the meal variety roles of adolescents are required.

Diet of children under the government-funded meal support program in Korea

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diet of children under the government-funded meal support program. The 143 children (67 boys and 76 girls) participated in this study among 4th-6th elementary school students receiving free lunches during the summer vacation of 2007 and living in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea. The subjects consisted of four groups supported by Meal Box Delivery (n = 26), Institutional Foodservice (n = 53), Restaurant Foodservice (n = 27), or Food Delivery (n = 37). A three-day 24-hour dietary recall and a self-administered survey were conducted. In addition, the children's heights and weights were measured. The average energy intake of the children was 1,400 kcal per day, much lower than the Estimated Energy Requirements of the pertinent age groups. The results also showed inadequate intake of all examined nutrients; of particular concern was the extremely low intake of calcium. On average, the children consumed eight dishes and 25 food items per day. The children supported by Meal Box Delivery consumed more various dishes and food items than the other groups. The percentage of children preferring their current meal support method was the highest in those supported by Meal Box Delivery and the lowest in those supported by Food Delivery. We requested 15 children among the 143 children participating in the survey to draw the scene of their lunch time. The drawings of the children supported by Institutional Foodservice showed more positive scenes than the other groups, especially in terms of human aspects. In conclusion, the overall diet of children under the government-funded meal support program was nutritionally inadequate, although the magnitude of the problems tended to differ by the meal support method. The results could be utilized as basic data for policy and programs regarding the government-funded meal support program for children from low-income families.