Korean J Community Nutr.
1997 Aug;2(3):396-405.
A Glance at the Health Status and Food Intake of North Koreans
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Soonchunhyang University.
- 2Department of Cosumer Studies and Resource Management, Seoul National University.
- 3Department of Colthing and Texyiles, Seoul National University.
- 4Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Seoul National University.
- 5Department of Home Management, Seowon University.
- 6Department of Family and Child Welfare, Sangmyong University.
Abstract
- We performed this study to understand the health status and food intake of North Koreans. Information was collected by individual closed in-depth interviews of 11 escapers from North Korea as well as books, newspapers and North Korean movies. Interviews were done from October, 1996 to May, 1997, covering their heights and weights, their appearance and disease, food system and intake of various main/side foods, concern about health and hygiene. North Korean's height and BMI were lower than those of South Koreans. Difference of BMIs between North and South Koreans was profound in middle aged women than in other age groups. Childrem showed many malnutrition appearances of moon face, large abdomem, arrow-like legs, flaky skin, decolored hair, etc.. Main foods in North Korea were rice-shaped corn, corn flour, wheat flour and wet noodle, and side foods were kimchi and/or soups and steamed soy paste. Food supply system there seemed not to work normally for many years, so foods, especially in cities, has been extremely short in government-operating shops, but some in private market. Many housewives were eager to make and sell simple snack food products, We noticed that North korea schools didn't check students' health even though their medical policy was based on preventive medicine. Their living environmental hygiene was shown to be oyt of control.
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