Korean J Fam Pract.  2023 Jun;13(2):112-119. 10.21215/kjfp.2023.13.2.112.

Analysis of Dietary Intake Profiles according to Eating Alone Behavior: The Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Kim HR
• Ryu DH
• Lee CW
• Lee J
• Jeong Yj
• Kim HS

• KMID: 2543193
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2023.13.2.112

Abstract

Background
Although there are numerous studies on the prevalence or risk of chronic metabolic diseases associated with solitary eating, few have characterized the nutritional profile of eating alone. This study aimed to evaluate dietary intake profiles and nutritional intake stability, such as dietary consumption balance, according to eating alone behavior.
Methods
The study included 5,302 adults over 20 years of age who completed health and dietary intake interviews from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) 2019. The frequency of eating alone ranged from zero to three times per day. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables were used to analyze general characteristics. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to elucidate the association between the frequency of eating alone and nutritional intake stability or eating out frequency.
Results
As the frequency of eating alone increased, the odds ratio of energy overconsumption increased (P for trends=0.009). Although insignificant, the probability of high carbohydrate and low protein intake tended to increase as the frequency of eating alone increased. The frequency of eating out tended to decrease as eating alone increased, suggesting that it was not significantly related to eating alone behavior (P for trends<0.001).
Conclusion
This study enhances our understanding the characteristics and dietary profiles of individuals who eat alone and emphasizes the importance of nutritional balance in determining effective measures for preventing chronic diseases associated with eating behaviors.

Keyword

Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; Eating Alone Behavior; Dietary Intake Profiles; Single Meal