• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.856-868
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate causes for health problems among college women by analyzing factors related to their dietary habits, physical development, health habits, and blood parameters. The subjects were ages 20 to 24 years, lived in the Seoul area and were randomly selected during March, 2008 to August, 2009. The average height and weight of the overall subjects were $162.02{\pm}4.89\;cm$ and $53.96{\pm}7.00\;kg$, respectively. According to a 3-point assessment scale for the subjects' dietary habits, the average point value was 21.2. The percentage of subjects that ate breakfast daily was only 30.5%, and they omitted regular meals at least once a week. Approximately 83.5% of the subjects reported eating out often or frequently, and preferred Korean foods when they ate out. The subjects had interim meals (snacks) one or two times daily, and 40.4% of them preferred unbalanced meals. As their interim meals, among the 'good' group, ate breaded potatoes (39.3%), carbonated beverages, and ice cream (36.8%), whereas the 'poor' group, drank milk and ate dairy products (38.0%) as well as fast food and fried food (22.8%). Intakes of energy, fat, vitamins $B_2$ and $B_6$, niacin, folic acid, calcium, iron, zinc, and phosphorus were higher in the 'poor' group. The average hemoglobin level ($13.77{\pm}1.00\;g/dL$) among the subjects was within normal range; while 2.7% of subjects had hemoglobin levels under 11.1 g/dL (standard value) and were examined as anemic. The degree of interest in health was 24.5% higher among the subjects who had poor dietary habits. In contrast, among those who had good dietary habits, 49.6% reported they had no interest in regular exercise. The subjects reported that regular meals, nutrient intake, sufficient rest, and sleep as necessary to maintain health. The average amount of sleep obtained by the subjects was 6~8 hours. Among the 'poor' group, 36.2% reported that they exercised regularly, whereas 18.5% of the subjects in the 'good' group reported regular exercise (p<0.05). In conclusion, it appears necessary to provide nutrition education through teaching and to promote nutrition and health to college women so they can control their individual health status and create practicable dietary plans.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.297-316
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the body image, food habits, nutrition knowledge, food intake frequency, nutrient intakes of female university students in Masan. Methods: Two groups (n = 302, nutrition major: 147, non-major: 155) were classified into underweight, normal weight and overweight/obesity groups according to BMI respectively. Results: Height and weight of all subjects were 161.5 cm, 53.2 kg and were 161.5 cm, 55.1 kg, 161.5 cm, 51.3 kg in major and non-major female students, respectively. The BMI and body weight were significantly different (p < 0.001). Significantly higher proportions of underweight students in both study groups had perceived as 'normal' or 'fat' (p < 0.001). Higher proportion of the subjects skipped breakfast and main reason was no time to eat. Nutrition knowledge score was significantly higher in major than in non-major subjects (p < 0.001). Fish intake frequency score was significantly higher in non-majors, while the vegetable intake frequency score was significantly higher in majors. Nutrient intakes were significantly higher the majors compared to non-majors, particularly the intake of calcium (p < 0.05), zinc (p < 0.001), vitamin C (p < 0.001) and vitamin E (p < 0.01). Subjects in both groups did not have adequate nutrient intakes compared to KDRIs. BMI showed a positive correlation with body image, body weight and nutrition knowledge score (p < 0.01). Conclusions: These results suggest that systematic nutrition education program which can be applied in real life is important for the formation of correct choices of food and good eating habits.