The Dietary Status of Kindergarten Child from a High Socioeconomic Apartment Compound in Seoul

일부(一部) 고소득(高所得) 아파트 단지내(團地內) 유치원(幼稚園) 어린이의 성장발육(成長發育) 및 영양(營養)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究)

A dietary survey of 100 children, aged 5 to 6, of Y.C. Kindergarten located in Yowido apartment compound of Seoul, was conducted July 18 to August 21, 1979. The results are summarized as follows: General family environment: Ninety four percent of the subjects were from families having two to three children, without grandparents in the home. One hundred percent of fathers were educated at or above the college level, while 83.9% of mothers had completed college. Mothers' ages ranged from 30 to 40 years, with 58% in the $31{\sim}35$ age bracket. Nearly 60% of the fathers were office and government employees, 10% were professors and teachers, 30% were engaged in businesses and other work, while 91.3% of mothers were unemployed. Anthropometric measurements: Mean values of standing height, body weight, girth of head and girth of chest, ranged from the 75th to the 90th percentile of Korean standards. None of the subjects had anthropometric indicators below the 5th percentile, representing the malnutrition borderline, of the Korean standards; while 12%, 24%, 17% and 14% of subjects supposed the 97th percentile in standing height, body weight, girth of head, and girth of chest, respectively. Furthermore, 58% of subjects exceeded Jelliffe's standard in arm circumferences; 60%, in triceps skinfold thickness; and 14.5% of subjects exceeded 120% of the latter standard. From this data, a certain number of these children were judged to he rather overweight. Dietary intake: Mean intake per day of energy and of nutrients, excluding iron, reached or exceeded Korean recommended dietary allowances. The energy input ratio of carbohydrate: protein: fat was 61.4 : 13.2 : 25.4, showing lower dependance on carbohydrates and higher dependance on fat for energy needs, compared with the average for Korean children of the same age group. Mean FAO-protein score of each subject's diet was shown to be as high as 90.6. Energy intake was divided among breakfast, lunch, and evening meal, on the average, in a ratio of 19.6 : 24.1 : 23.0. Approximately 33.3% of the daily caloric intake came from the snacks. Nutrition Knowledge of mothers: Nutrition knowledge of mothers was highly scored. Mothers' self-evaluations of their knowledge of nutrition was highly correlated with attitudes toward nutrition behavior.