The Influence of Food Habits on Nutrient Intake and Body Mass Index in Elementary School Students in the Gyeongnam Area

Kim, Seok Young; Lee, Hee Jung

Abstract

The influence of food habits on nutrient intake and anthropometric measurements of elementary school students was studied from November 2005 to July 2006. 160 elementary school students in the Gyeongnam area were individually interviewed to obtain 24-hour dietary recalls of two seasons (winter and summer). During each period, three interviews were done for 3 nonconsecutive days including two weekdays and one weekend day. The food habits were estimated by questionnaire. The food habit score was 21.5 +/- 2.7 out of a maximum of 30. The nutrient intake of children was low in calcium and vitamin A. Except for that, most other nutrients were overconsumed. The nutrient intakes consumed in winter were significantly higher than those of summer. Comparing the anthropometric measurements between the summer and the winter periods, height was significantly higher in the summer than in the winter. However, body fat ratio was significantly higher in the winter than in the summer. There was a significant positive correlation between the scores of food habits and the vitamins and minerals intakes of the summer period. However, the relationship was much weaker between the food habits and those consumed in winter. In addition, the scores of food habits were significantly negatively correlated with most of the anthropometric measurements of both periods. In conclusion, the students' food habits may reflect the intakes of vitamins and minerals of only the previous few months, however they reflect the BMI of children for a period of more than 6 months.