Health and nutritional status of Korean underweight women in their twenties: Based on the 2010~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey / 한국영양학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The current study was conducted in order to identify health and nutritional status of Korean underweight women in their twenties by comparing with normal, overweight, and obese women. METHODS: Data from the 2010~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used in this study. Subjects were 897 women aged 20~29 years. Subjects were classified according to underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese groups based on body mass index. Health status was assessed using data from the health questionnaire and examination. Nutritional status was assessed using data from 24-hour dietary recall and a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The underweight group had higher education and exercised less than the obese group. Means of blood chemistry and blood pressure of the underweight group did not differ from those of the normal weight group. Means of fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, blood cell counts, and blood pressure in the underweight group were different from those of the overweight or obese group. Proportions of delivery, breast feeding, and irregular menstruation in the underweight group were lower compared with the other groups. Except retinol intake, means of nutrient intake did not differ among four groups. There were significant differences among four groups in the intakes of cereals and eggs and frequency of consumption of dairy products. CONCLUSION: The current findings showed that health and nutritional status of underweight women in their twenties did not differ from those of normal weight women. In particular, health status of underweight women in their twenties was better than that of obese women of the same ages. Further study on health and nutritional status of extremely underweight women is necessary.