A Study on the Nutritional Status according to Body Mass Index in Korean College Women

Yu, Choon Hie; Lee, Jung Sug

Abstract

This study was performed to investigate dietary habits and nutritional intake according to body mass index (BMI) of female college students. The subjects were 1361 students with a mean age of 20.4 years residing in Seoul and Kyonggui area. BMI (kg/m2) between > or = 18.5 to < or = 23 was considered as normal, < 18.5 as underweight and > 23 as overweight. The subjects had a mean BMI of 20.0 kg/m2 and 25% of them were classified as underweight group, 67% as normal group and 8% as overweight group. Dietary intake was assessed by food frequency method and consumption of foods and nutrients was analyzed. Frequency of meal skipping was higher in the overweight group, 16.1% of the overweight group skipped dinner. Also, the frequency of snack intake was lowest in the overweight group. The overweight group consumed less meat and fish than the normal and underweight groups. The total number of foods consumed in a day was also significantly lower than that of the underweight and normal group. The overweight group consumed less energy, protein, fat, phosphorus and niacin than the underweight and normal groups. The overweight group took iron and sodium intake lower than the normal group. Mean intakes of nutrients except clacium and iron in all three groups were over Korea RDA. The NAR (nutrient adequacy ratio) value of all nutrients, except calcium, was lower in the overweight group when compared to the normal and underweight groups, and the MAR (mean adequacy ratio) of the overweight group was 0.89, which was lower than 0.92 of the underweight and 0.93 of the normal group. The above results indicated that the deficiency of major nutrients such as calcium and iron could be inducde by less kinds of consumed foods and frequent meal skipping including dinner in the overweighted group. Therefore, balanced nutrient intake is required to maintain skeletal health and prevent anemia in overweighted female college students aged twenties.