J Nutr Health.  2024 Jun;57(3):307-319. 10.4163/jnh.2024.57.3.307.

Health and dietary characteristics of the men and women in their middle age according to health-related quality of life: using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data in 2019 and 2021

• Kim S
• Yang YJ

• KMID: 2557900
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2024.57.3.307

Abstract

Purpose
This study compared the differences in health and dietary characteristics between middle-aged men and women according to their health-related quality of life.
Methods
This study used the data from the 2019 and 2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The participants were men (n = 1,571) and women (n = 2,179) aged 40-59. A health-related Quality of Life Instrument with eight items (HINT-8) was used to measure the health-related quality of life. The participants were divided into four groups based on their HINT-8 total scores (high, mid-high, mid-low, and low). The general and health characteristics, mental health, and dietary behaviors were compared according to the quality of life.
Results
Men with a lower quality of life had lower incomes, were more likely to be single, smoked and drank more, and perceived themselves as slim or obese. Women with a lower quality of life had a higher proportion of older age, obesity, lower education and income, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Both men and women with a lower quality of life had higher proportions of subjectively perceiving poor health, weight gain over the past year, and considering themselves as obese. Both men and women with a lower quality of life had lower consumption frequencies of vegetables/mushrooms/seaweed and fruits.
Conclusion
Both men and women with lower health-related quality of life had lower incomes, higher rates of perceiving their health as poor, and consumed vegetables/ mushrooms/seaweed and fruits less frequently, but they showed different characteristics in other aspects. Therefore, policy development tailored to men and women is necessary.

Keyword

health-related quality of life; middle-aged; health behavior; nutritional status