Comparative Study on Food Habit Patterns and Nutrient Intakes Among Worldwide Nations

세계 각국의 식품소비구조, 영양소 섭취수준 및 영양문제의 변화 양상에 관한 비교 연구

The purposes of this study were to: (a) identify the changes in food patterns for last 20 years; (b) analyze the factors affecting on the changes in food patterns; (c) investigate the impact of changes in food patterns on nutritional composition of the diet and diet-related health problems. A questionnaire was developed and mailed to 30 country members of the International Federation for Home Economics(IFHE) regional representatives. The response rate was 60%; simple descriptive and content analyses indicated that the significant differences of food consumption pattern were existed between western and eastern countries. Traditional food consumption patterns were maintained even though each countries' food consumption patterns have been dramatically changed due to the development of food technology and industrialization. The factors most frequently affecting on the changes in food patterns were nutrition and heallth-related educations. The food pattern changes have considerable effect on the nutritional composition of the diet among countries. The major diet-related health problems with nutrient deficiency were reported by underdeveloped countries such as India. In contrast to the above, in the developed countries, the adult disease related to the nutrition have been increased, while the developing countries such as Korea have the problems with nutrient deficiency and adult diseases simultaneously.