Current Status and Prospects of Community Nutrition in Korea

한국 지역사회영양의 현황과 전망

The nutritional status is strictly related with flood production, flood processing, and distribution along with habits, education and technological achievement, adapted and adjusted to socio-economic conditions. All these factors are independently affecting the nutritional status of populations. In addition to the above mentioned factors launch of it is useful to consider two points ; unification of the South and the North Korea and WTO. The present study gives and overview of basic knowledge about nutritional status of Korean by using availab1e data in relation to nutrition. The basic characteristics of Korean diet with proportions high in carbohydrate and low in fat, have been relatively constant for the past two decades. The average daily flood intake in terms of weight of flood per person is relatively constant throughout the years. Although the proportion of animal food intake tends to increase recently, the Korean diet is still insufficient in meat, eggs, milk, and fish. Moreover because milk has not been accustomed flood with the general population and not much used in traditional flood preparation in Korea, milk consumption was especially low in comparison with western countries. The total energy intake was relatively constant throughout the years from 1969 to 1993. However, changes in the composition have occurred in the past two decades. The amount and proportions of fat have been s1ightly increasing while the total amount of carbohydrate has been decreasing. The nutrition preblems of Korea have changed over the past severa1 decades. The general adequacy of protein and energy existing after Korean War(1950) was resolved now. Since then the average diet appears to be nearly desirable in terms of rapid rates of growth during childhood and attainment of progressively stature and body weight at maturity. The dietary habits of some young people in these days seem to be taking a more western style diets. This trends if established by habit may lead to a marked change in the traditional diet and health. I think Korean nutritional experiences have potential values for tole other countries in Asia and in western countries. Korean diet illustrates a high level of nutritional status and health attainable will a largely vegetable diet : high in complex carbohydrates, and dietary fibre, and low in tat, and reasonable amount of total protein. This is significant for developing and developed countries that must select specific goals fir adequate nutrition for the people. Compared to the western countries, Koreas different incidence of coronary heart disease and malignancy demonstrates the significance of environment and probably the prominent role of diet in the development of these diseases. The changes occurring in the Korean diet of fir the unusual opportunity to assess the effect of diet upon chronic degenerative disease. In the future, the Korean diet might be continue to change significantly These changes are being influenced by socioeconomic factors that have been emerging and growing stronger since mid-l980 and that probably continue to be potent. The expanded purchasing power of the consumer results in increased discretionary purchases. In the case of foodstuffs, the consumer demands appear to be directed toward items of higher protein content, which, being primarily animal products, are inevitably accompanied by an increased consumption of fat. The continued availability of these more expensive flood items depends upon the balance of foreign trade favouring their importation and domestic production. A regression of foreign trade could result in a decreased supply for the consumer, whereas continued growth of trade iou]d provide freedom for increasing availability to the consumer. In this latter situation the exact choice of foodstuffs is depending upon comsumer tastes and the pressures that may influence it.