Comparison of nutritional status by energy level of night snack in Korean adults: using the data from 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

ABSTRACT

This study aims to investigate the nutritional status of night eaters using the data from 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 3,903 subjects aged 20 and above were divided into 3 groups by using 24-hr recall data according to the night snack calorie intake non-night snack, night snack less than 500 kcal and 500 kcal and more. Their data were analyzed to find out the difference on the socio-demographic, anthropometric, blood pressure, blood parameters and dietary characteristics. Among the subjects, non-night eaters were 66.0%, night eaters of less than 500 kcal were 28.4% and 500 kcal and above were 5.6%. Male adults, young-aged, higher educated, higher income earner, breakfast skipper and frequent dine-outer (3 times and more a day) were found more in the night eaters with 500 kcal and above. Night eaters above 500 kcal showed higher waist circumference, Glu-FBS, Glu-PP120 and also showed higher daily intake of fat and alcohol per 1,000 kcal and food groups of meat & eggs, beverages and alcohol drinks (p < 0.05), while they showed the lowest carbohydrate energy ratio of 58.3 +/- 13.7 among the three groups. These results suggest that habitual night snack intake above 500 kcal could lead to abdominal obesity and diabetes due to higher intake of meat, fat and alcohol.