The Survey of Anthropometric Data and Dietary Behavior of Chinese Middle and High School Students Living in Incheon, Korea

한국 인천에 거주하고 있는 화교 중.고등학생의 체위와 식생활 행동에 관한 연구

This report includes basic data on nutrition education for Chinese adolescents living in Korea. A total of 183 Chinese adolescents living in Incheon participated in the survey. Body composition was analyzed by the Inbody 4.0., and questionnaires on personal dietary behavior were administrated. When compared with the body measure indices of Korean adolescents, we found that height was similar, but weight greater ($5{\sim}12 kg$) among the participants. Regarding obesity, 30.0% of all students were obese (BMI>25), especially the high school boys (42.0%). But in the case of middle school boys, the rates of obesity and under weight (BMI<18.5) were the same (both of them at 22.9%). The average WHR (Waist Hip Ratio) of the female high school group (0.9) was over the normal range. The average percent body fat for each group was also over the normal range. The percentage of students having breakfast everyday was 52.2%, and the rate of skipping breakfast was 25.0%. In the obesity group, the rate of skipping breakfast was remarkably high (P<0.05). Because lunch service was not available at the schools, a lunch box from home was the most popular pattern (43.1 %), but eating out was also popular at 36.6%. For the male high school students, the eating out rate was 62.8%. Since many have-lived in Korea for a few generations, the students' eating practices were much closer to the Korean pattern. For their ordinary meal pattern, 96.0% of the students included Korean foods. however, for New Years Day, the rate of having Gyo-Ja was 75.2%, and having Wol-Byung at Choo-seok was 78.6%, showing that the Chinese tradition still remains. In the case of food preferences, the percentage having Kimchi everyday was 62.1 %, but those drinking green tea was 13.1 %. For cold drinks, the rate for drinking them more than twice per week was 71.6%. The most preferred cooking method was frying with oil (50.6%). Among the students who had visited China (or Taiwan), the rate for 'bad food familiarity' was 37.0%, and the rate for 'did not know Chinese traditional course menus' was 71.3%. As a result of combining eating practices from both China and Korea, and the absence of lunch service in Chinese schools, students are showing bad dietary behaviors. therefore, it is necessary to provide proper nutrition education and a system for lunch service in Chinese schools.