Food Intake Patterns of Koreans by the Economic Status Using 1998 Korean National Health Examination Nutrition Survey

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in food intake patterns by the economic status. Data from the 1998 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey were used. Using the poverty line based on the 1998 Korean minimum cost of living, the subjects (n = 10400) were classified into high class (36.1%), middle class (40.7%) and low class (23.1%). Mean intakes for other food groups except grains, potatoes and vegetables became higher as the economic levels were going up. By the family size, it was found that intakes of grains and fishes were different (p < 0.05). By the economic status, intakes of fruits (p < 0.05), meats (p < 0.05) and fishes (p < 0.01) were different. There were no significant differences in consumed types of food by the economic status. Rice was the most prevalent food in all classes and its intakes increased as the economic status was going down. In the dietary patterns of main food group (GMDVF Grain, Meats, Dairy, Vegetable and Fruit), the pattern except dairy (11011) revealed the highest proportion in high-middle class while the patterns without dairy and fruit food groups (11010) had the highest proportion in low class. The proportions of subjects with the low dietary diversity score (DDS) increased as economic status was going down (p < 0.01). The food groups that most people do not consume were the dairy and fruit group. Proportions of people who missed one or more groups increased as economic status was going down. The high dietary variety score (DVS) also was linked to a high score on the DDS and high class (p < 0.01). Thus the intakes of the dairy and fruits product should be increased in all classes. The low class especially had worse quality of food intakes pattern than that of the high or middle class. The nutrition policy and education programs need to be established according to the economic status.