A Study of gender difference on Dietary behavior and Food Preferences of the 6th grade Elementary School Children in Anyang city

안양시내 초등학교 6학년 남.여학생의 식행동과 식품기호도 비교

The purpose of this study was to investigate of gender difference on dietary behavior and food preferences of elementary school children. This survey was carried out through questionnaire method for 274 male and 257 female of the 6th grade elementary school children in Anyang city. By calculating WLI(weight-length index), 26.9% of students were overweight, and 26.2% were under-weight. Average height of male was 147.9cm and that of female was 148.9cm, and their weight was 40.9 kg and 39.2kg respectively. The average BMI(body mass index) was 18.1 kg/㎡. The self-recognition of health status was different according to gender, male recognized better health status than female. There was no significant difference of parents´ education level and the occupation depending on gender. The 56.7% of students had regularly for breakfast, and 60% for lunch and 42.9% for dinner. The female students had irregular meal time more frequently than male did for dinner(p<0.01). They skipped more breakfast(7.0%) than other meals. Reasons of skipping meal were lack of time to eat(50%), boring side-dishes(17.0%) etc. For snacks, choice depends on taste (55.4%), and they bought at the shop nearby (36.5%) and convenience shop(29.9%). They had a meal outside once a month(42.9%), and selected Korean traditional food(52.5%). For almost all of foods male students´ preference showed higher than female except cucumber. Low score of preference was obtained in such as salted vegetables, soy pastes, and fish(shellfish) groups raw or fermented. The preference level was a little higher in such as vegetables & kimchi group and pot stews. The results assert the importance of nutrition education for the students in puberty. It is necessary breakfast should be taken regularly, and therefore we should carry out the education of importance of nutrition and health for children considering the dietary behavior and food preference for balanced diet.