The Effect of Nutrition Education on Food Habits, Dietary Behaviors, Nutritional Knowledges and Nutrient Intakes of Middle-aged Women

중년기 여성의 영양교육이 식습관, 식행동, 영양지식 및 영양섭취에 미치는 영향

This study investigated the effect of nutrition education on food habits, dietary behaviors, nutritional knowledges and nutrient intakes of middle-aged women. The subjects were 209 females aged $30{\sim}64yrs$. The subjects helped by trainers filled the questionnaire about demographic information, food habits, dietary behavior, nutritional knowledge and dietary intake before and after three months of nutrition education. All data were analyzed by chi-square test and paired t-test using the SAS program. The subjects who didn't drink alcohol significantly increased after the education(p<0.001). The largest meal of the day was lunch and the amount consumed was significantly different before and after the nutrition education(p<0.05). Dietary attitude scores significantly increased after the nutrition education(p<0.001). The percentages of subjects who didn't have processed foods, sweets and salty foods frequently significantly increased after the education(p<0.05). The subjects who answered correctly significantly increased in ten out of fifteen nutrition knowledge items related to obesity and in four out of five nutrition knowledge items related to nutrients after the education. There were significant differences in protein(p<0.01), calcium(p<0.05) and cholesterol intakes(p<0.01) before and after the nutrition education. This study suggests that nutrition education can improve dietary attitudes and nutritional knowledge.