Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status of Young Women according to Breakfast Frequency in Seoul / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: Although breakfast is important to nutrition balance, prevention of overeating, and weight control, people in their 20s (males: 55.1%, females: 49.9%) were reported to have the highest rate of skipping breakfast in 2016 Korea Health Statistics. This study aims to examine dietary habits and nutrient intake depending on breakfast frequency among young women in Seoul. METHODS: The subjects were 655 young women in Seoul from August to October 2016, and the survey was performed by using a questionnaire that included general characteristics, dietary habits, and eating behavior. Body composition was determined by bioelectric impedance analysis. Nutritional status was examined by the 24-hour recall method. RESULTS: The participants were classified by breakfast intake frequency; ‘≥ 5 times/week (n=160)’, ‘1–4 times/week (n=327)’, and ‘breakfast skipping (n=168)’. The ‘breakfast skipping’ group had lower frequency and regularity of meals. In addition, the ‘breakfast skipping’ group had a higher frequency of eating-out and late-night meals. There was no difference in total calories between the ‘breakfast skipping’ group and other groups, but the ‘breakfast skipping’ group had significantly low carbohydrate and fiber intakes. The participants showed lower intakes of calories, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin, folic acid, calcium, potassium, and zinc in comparison with recommended intakes. Especially, the ‘breakfast skipping’ group had significantly lower fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium levels compared to the ‘≥ 5 times/week’ group. For Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR), the ‘breakfast skipping’ group recorded a ratio of 0.60, which was lower than those of other groups. Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) including fiber, vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus were significantly lower in the breakfast skipper group, compared to the breakfast eater group. CONCLUSIONS: The ‘breakfast skipping’ group showed low regularity of meals and a high frequency of eating-out and late-night meals. The breakfast regular eater group showed high intake of micronutrients and quality of meals was high in general. Skipping breakfast could lower nutrient intake and quality of meals, which requires attention.

Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status of Young Women according to Breakfast Frequency in Seoul / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: Although breakfast is important to nutrition balance, prevention of overeating, and weight control, people in their 20s (males: 55.1%, females: 49.9%) were reported to have the highest rate of skipping breakfast in 2016 Korea Health Statistics. This study aims to examine dietary habits and nutrient intake depending on breakfast frequency among young women in Seoul. METHODS: The subjects were 655 young women in Seoul from August to October 2016, and the survey was performed by using a questionnaire that included general characteristics, dietary habits, and eating behavior. Body composition was determined by bioelectric impedance analysis. Nutritional status was examined by the 24-hour recall method. RESULTS: The participants were classified by breakfast intake frequency; ‘≥ 5 times/week (n=160)’, ‘1–4 times/week (n=327)’, and ‘breakfast skipping (n=168)’. The ‘breakfast skipping’ group had lower frequency and regularity of meals. In addition, the ‘breakfast skipping’ group had a higher frequency of eating-out and late-night meals. There was no difference in total calories between the ‘breakfast skipping’ group and other groups, but the ‘breakfast skipping’ group had significantly low carbohydrate and fiber intakes. The participants showed lower intakes of calories, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, niacin, folic acid, calcium, potassium, and zinc in comparison with recommended intakes. Especially, the ‘breakfast skipping’ group had significantly lower fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium levels compared to the ‘≥ 5 times/week’ group. For Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR), the ‘breakfast skipping’ group recorded a ratio of 0.60, which was lower than those of other groups. Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) including fiber, vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus were significantly lower in the breakfast skipper group, compared to the breakfast eater group. CONCLUSIONS: The ‘breakfast skipping’ group showed low regularity of meals and a high frequency of eating-out and late-night meals. The breakfast regular eater group showed high intake of micronutrients and quality of meals was high in general. Skipping breakfast could lower nutrient intake and quality of meals, which requires attention.

The Relationship between the Diversity of Food Intake and Nutrient Intake among Korean College Students Participating in a Nutrition Education Class via the Internet / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the diversity of food intake and nutrient intake among Korean college students participating in a nutrition education class via the internet. The subjects were 796 college students throughout South Korea (278 males, 518 females). A 3 days dietary recall survey was conducted and results were analyzed using the Computer-aided Nutritional Analysis Program. Dietary variety was assessed by DDS (dietary diversity score), MBS (meal balance score), and DVS (dietary variety score). Dietary quality was assessed by NAR (nutrient adequacy ratio), and MAR (mean adequacy ratio). As the DDS, MBS and DVS increased, the NAR and MAR improved. The subjects with a DDS of above 4 or a MBS of above 10 or a DVS of above 11 met two-thirds of the Korean recommended dietary allowance for most nutrients. The DDS, MBS and DVS correlated positively and significantly with the NAR and MAR. Associations between the NAR and high levels of DVS were more positive than those between the NAR and the DDS. Based on these results, the food intake of these subjects was not adequate. Specially, the dietary intake of calcium and iron were not adequate. Therefore, dietary guidelines should be made considering nutritional characteristics so as to improve the intake from all of the major food groups and provide a variety of foods in their diets.