The study was designed to observe the correlation between the
eating habits and
growth development in 1,574
children(3 - 6 years old) in Kyunggi-do and
Seoul,
Korea. The
eating habits and
nutrient intake were determined by mini dietary assessment and
food frequency
questionnaire (FFQ). 35.6%
children had been practicing an unbalanced
diets.
Children with unbalanced
diet consumed less amount of
protein source
foods (
meat, fish,
egg, soy products),
vegetables and
fruits and had irregular
meal time, but more of them preferred sweet
foods (
ice creme,
cookies) and
carbonated drinks as
snack compared with
children in balanced
diet. 24 - 35%
children consumed energy,
iron (Fe),
calcium (Ca),
Niacin,
Zinc (Zn) less than 75% RDA.
Energy intake of
children with unbalanced
diet was not significantly different from those with balanced
diet, but they consumed less amount of
niacin, Fe, Ca and Zn than those with balanced
diet. By using the relative percentage of standard weight-length-index (WLI), 65.7%
children was normal weight, 12.9% was
underweight, 13.4% was
overweight and 7.9% was obese. However, 11.9% of
underweight and normal weight
children was so called thin obese since their
body fat content was greater than 20%. There were 16.8%
underweight in
children with unbalanced
diet and 12.6%
underweight in those with balanced
diet. Compared to normal weight, the
underweight children significantly consumed less amount of
milk and its product, high
protein foods, fried
foods and
fruits, but obese
children consumed more high
protein source
foods (
meat, fish,
egg, etc) and sweet
foods. In conclusion, the
eating habits of unbalanced
meal was prevalent problem in
preschool children which resulting in their
health risks. Therefore, it would be needed that new approach for
nutrition education to improve
eating habits in preschoolers.