Evaluation of Diet Quality according to Food Consumption between Highly Educated, Married, Unemployed and Employed Women

ABSTRACT

The differences in food consumption between highly educated, married, unemployed and employed women were analyzed by food group and common food item intake, DDS (dietary diversity score), and DVS (dietary variety score) and DVSS (dietary variety score including condiment). In food group intake, the total amount of food intake of the unemployed women (1,554.0 g) were significantly higher than those of the employed (1,477.9 g), while the amount of food from fungi and mushrooms (4.2 g), seaweeds (2.4 g), and fish and shellfish (60.5 g) of the unemployed women was significantly lower than those of the employed. And the amount of meat, poultry and their products (102.8 g), eggs (29.9 g), and animal oil and fats (4.0 g) was significantly higher than those of the employed. Moreover, the common food items of the unemployed women were ranked as eggs (29.7 g), pork (28.9 g), chicken (27.2 g), and beef (26.7 g) at 7, 8, 9, and 10, respectively. When counting the major food groups consumed, DDS = 4 has the highest proportion in both groups (unemployed 47.4%, employed 49.1%). In case of the subjects who had not consumed one particular food group in DDS = 4, dairy group was the first (83%), followed by fruit, meat, and vegetables. This order is same in other DDS levels. In dietary variety score (DVS and DVSS), the average number of foods consumed per day of employed women was higher than those of the unemployed. The level of DVSS in the employed women (31.9), especially, is significantly higher than in the unemployed women (30.6). Consequently, highly educated women should pay more attention to increasing dairy intake, and they have need of various foods, over thirty foods without condiments in their diet every day. In addition, encouraging unemployed women to have a nutritionally balanced diet, and offering nutrition education and guidance, such as appropriate choices about animal foods, are needed.