A Comparison of Food Frequency, Food Attitude, and Eating Habits between Korean -American and Korean Children

  • Kim, Eun-Kyung (Department of Food Science, Kangnung National University) ;
  • Sim, Young-Ja (Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, New York University) ;
  • Park, Kye-Wol (Department of Food Science, Kangnung National University) ;
  • Kim, Hee-Sun (Department of Food Science, Kangnung National University)
  • Published : 2006.12.31

Abstract

Food frequency, food attitude, eating habits and physical activities of Korean-American children and Korean children were compared. Two hundred and sixty two Korean-American children living in New Jersey and New York in the United States of America(KcUS group) and three hundred and thirty one Korean children living in Seoul, Korea (KcK group) between the ages of 9 and 12 were included. There were significant differences in food frequency between these groups. The KcUS group ate more western food, more food at meal time and more snack than the KcK group. In addition, KcUS group slept longer hours and exercised less than KcK group. In this study, we learned that higher rate of obesity in Korean-American children could be partially explained by the difference in food intake, food attitude, eating habit, and physical activities between the two groups. It is suggested that a different approach will be useful in developing nutrition education programs against childhood obesity for the Korean-American children and Korean children.

Keywords

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