Comparison of the Nutrient Intakes by the Score of Dietary Action Guides for Korean Children among the Elementary School Students in Gwangju City

광주지역 일부 초등학생에서 어린이 식생활실천지침 이행정도에 따른 영양소 섭취수준 비교

This study was conducted to examine differences in nutrient intakes by the compliance with the Dietary Action Guide for Korean Children. The subjects included 343 elementary school students in Gwangju city. Compliance with the Dietary Action Guide for Children showed that 62.4% of subjects had breakfast everyday; 44.3% of subjects ate vegetables/fruits/milk and dairy products daily; 26.8% of subjects ate a variety of lean meats/fish/eggs/bean products daily; 32.9% of subjects enjoyed outdoor activity everyday and ate according to their energy needs; 40.2% of subjects chose healthy and nutritious foods for snack; and 15.5% of subjects avoided food waste. Intakes of most of nutrients including energy were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in those who complied with the Dietary Action Guide well. Also nutrient intakes had the positive correlation with the scores of Dietary Action Guide (p < 0.05). From these results, nutrient intakes of children were significantly influenced by dietary factors suggested in the Dietary Action Guide for Children. In addition, the results also confirmed that good food behaviors were indispensible to maintaining a proper nutritional status. Based on these results, good food behaviors and practice were critical to secure good health and proper nutritional status for children, and that nutrition education should be strengthened in school as well as at home.