Food and Nutrient Consumption Patterns of Korean Adults by Socioeconomic Status

Kim, Youngok

Abstract

The relationship between socio-economic status and food and nutrient consumption patterns was studied in 7,370 Koreans aged 20 years and older in the 1995 Korean Health and Nutrition Survey. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rapid economic growth on food and nutrient consumption for Korean adults in the last 30 years. Monthly household income, and individual's educational level and occupation were chosen as variables of socio-economic status for individuals. A one day 24 hour recall method was used for the dietary survey. One way analysis of varience was adopted to test tole association between socio-economic variables and food and nutrient consumption patterns. Individuals who had a high socio-economic status had significantly higher daily intake of most of the nutrients including calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B2 which reached above the recommended dietary allowances(RDA) and a higher percentage energy consumption from fat. In addition, individual who belonged to a low socio-economic status consumed less animal foods, including meat, egg, milk and consumed low proportion of energy from fat. The results suggest that in spite of rapid economic growth during the last 30 years in Korea, individuals who belonged to low socio-economic status categories are still nutritionally vulnerable. Among the socio-economic variables, income and education except occupation were the influential factors on the food and nutrient consumption of Koreans. Therefore, nutrition policy should focus on influencing the dietary patterns of lower social class individuals to improve the health status of the population as a whole.