J Nutr Health.  2019 Apr;52(2):194-205. 10.4163/jnh.2019.52.2.194.

Assessment of dietary behaviors among preschoolers in Daejeon: using Nutrition Quotient for Preschoolers (NQ-P)

• Lee HJ
• Kim JH
• Song S

• KMID: 2444943
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2019.52.2.194

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary behaviors of preschoolers in Daejeon using the Nutrition Quotient for Preschoolers (NQ-P).
METHODS
The study subjects were recruited from child-care centers and kindergartens located in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon between August and September 2018. A total of 411 preschoolers aged 3 ~ 6 years were included in the data analyses. A questionnaire of NQ-P, which consisted of 14 checklist items on dietary behaviors, was completed by the parents or guardians of the study subjects. The NQ-P scores and its three factors, including "balance", "moderation", and "environment" factors, were calculated according to sex, age, and weight status. Differences in the NQ-P scores and their factors according to sex, age, and weight status were tested using a student's t-test.
RESULTS
The mean NQ-P score of the total subjects was 58.5 ± 9.2, which was within the medium-low grade. The NQ-P score was 58.5 ± 9.4 in boys and 58.6 ± 9.0 in girls (p = 0.955). The NQ-P score was similar regardless of the age groups (57.8 ± 9.4 in 3 ~ 4 years vs. 59.2 ± 9.0 in 5 ~ 6 years, p = 0.124), whereas subjects aged 5 ~ 6 years showed a significantly higher scores of environment factors than those aged 3 ~ 4 years (67.9 ± 16.8 vs. 61.7 ± 17.3). The mean score of the moderation factor was lower in the overweight/obese children compared to the non-overweight/obese children (46.6 ± 13.3 vs. 51.0 ± 16.2, p = 0.012). Compared to children aged 3 ~ 4 years, children aged 5 ~ 6 years had higher intakes of vegetable dishes and processed meat. The overweight/obese group showed a higher consumption of processed beverages than the non-overweight/obese group.
CONCLUSION
The current study indicates that the dietary behaviors of preschoolers residing in Daejeon need to be improved. These findings suggest that nutrition education or health interventions targeting young children is necessary for improving their nutritional health status.

Keyword

nutrition quotient; eating behaviors; dietary habits; preschool children; Korean

MeSH Terms

Beverages
Checklist
Child
Child, Preschool
Education
Feeding Behavior
Female
Food Habits
Humans
Meat
Parents
Statistics as Topic
Vegetables

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