Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the importance of well-being related to lifestyle choices such as food habits, food choices, life pattern, etc. The survey was conducted among college students using a questionnaire and a 5-point Likert score in Seoul City and Kyunggido Province during September 2005. The responses of 968 college students were analyzed by the SPSS program. The results were as follows. Most of the subjects were female(76.2%), and lived with their parents (85.6%). The average score of 'food habits', 'choosing food materials', 'purchasing' and 'life pattern' were $2.71{\pm}1.22,\;2.86{\pm}1.28,\;2.41{\pm}1.21,\;and\;2.97{\pm}1.31$ respectively in males and $3.01{\pm}1.20,\;3.00{\pm}1.32,\;2.55{\pm}1.20,and\;2.68{\pm}1.40$ in females, respectively. In regard to 'food habits', the scores were significantly affected by gender(p<0.001), smoking(p<0.05), alcohol consumption(p<0.05), exercise(p<0.001), weight satisfaction(p<0.001), method of weight control(p<0.001), use of nutritional supplement(p<0.05), attempts at weight control(p<0.001), regularity of breakfast(p<0.001), level of interest in well-being(p<0.001), and whether the individual tried a well-being item(p<0.001). In regarding to 'choosing food materials' the scores were significantly affected by gender(p<0.001), smoking(p<0.05), exercise(p<0.001), weight satisfaction(p<0.05), method of weight control(p<0.05), use of nutritional supplement(p<0.05), attempts at weight control(p<0.001), regularity of breakfast(p<0.001), level of interest in well-being(p<0.001) ), and whether the individual tried a well-being item(p<0.001). Out of the factors affecting 'purchasing', the association with BMI was remarkable. Students who were overweight, obese or underweight showed higher average scores than students of normal weight. The primary concerns and trial of well-being of college students were food and exercise. Therefore, the purchase of well-being goods is related to their weight control in college students. In regard to 'life pattern' the scores were significantly affected by exercise(p<0.01), use of computer(p<0.001), BMI(p<0.001), weight control(p<0.001), use of nutritional supplement(p<0.05), regularity of breakfast(p<0.001), level of interest in wellbeing(p<0.001), whether the individual tried a well-being item(p<0.001), and having taken lecture on well-being(p<0.05). Therefore nutrition education is needed for healthy eating habits of college students and it is necessary to develop a series of lectures to teach them about diet and exercise programs.

Keywords

• Well-being;
• life pattern;
• food habits;
• food choices;
• attitude for well-being