Abstract

Dietary behavior, body mass index(BMI) and nutrient intake status of 185 boys and 205 girls in 3rd grade middle school students in Daegu area were analyzed. Boys were 168.6cm tall and weighed 61.3kg on the average and girls 158.5cm and 54.4kg, respectively. From their BMIs, 17.9% were classified as the underweight, 54.2% as the average, 14.7% as the overweight and 13.2% as the obesity. The average energy intake per day was 2222.6 kcal for boys, 1796.2 kcal for girls which were 83.3% and 86.6% of the RDA, respectively. Composition rate of carbohydrate, protein, fat in relation to energy intake was 62.4 : 16.5 : 21.1 for boys and 58.8 : 16.0 : 25.2 for girls. Protein was taken low and carbohydrate and fat were high in this study. Particularly, fat intake rate of girls was high. Calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin B2 did not meet the RDA and especially calcium was taken 63.9% for boys and 54.01 % for girls. Most of the students have tendency to eat irregularly and to overeat. For the nutrients intake, calories and calcium intake were lower than the RDA regardless of gender and iron intake was not enough for girls only. In relation to BMI, obesity group students were taking lower calories and proteins than the normal students were. No consistent trend was shown for boys about nutrient intake in relation to eating speed. Students had a correct perception of their body image which was similar to that of their mothers. Nutrient average intake is under the average and the percentile under 70% of RDA was high contrary to the fact that nutrient intake like calcium and iron was exceedingly important particularly in the growth process. Therefore, nutritional education for the proper intake of nutrients was required for the students in Daegu area. Especially, education has to be focused on the balanced diet and correct food choices for the proper dietary behaviors.

Keywords

• Dietary behavior;
• body mass index;
• nutrient intake status