Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate alcohol consumption and dietary behavior of college students in the Chungbuk area. Alcohol consumption, dietary behavior, food preferences, food intake frequency and one-day dietary records were surveyed using questionnaires given to 387 college students. The mean heights and weights of subjects were $175.0{\pm}5.6cm\;and\;69.1{\pm}9.3kg$ in males, and $162.5{\pm}4.8cm\;and\;52.3{\pm}7.9kg$ in females. About 89% of subjects (male 90.6%, female 87.3%) consumed alcohol, and most of them had experienced their first drink due to peer pressure in high school. Usually the subjects were drinking with their friends 1-2 times/week and the amount of alcohol consumed was one or more bottles of Soju. More than 69% of the subjects had tried to quit drinking but more efficient campaigns promoting non-drinking behavior are still necessary since the recognition of the hazards of alcohol seemed not enough to convince college students to stop. The dietary behavior of college students was generally inadequate showing indifference to dietary balance, irregularity of meals, and skipping breakfast. It was more inadequate in the frequent drinking group. In the drinking group, while the food intake frequency scores for milk & dairy products, and fruits were significantly lower, the scores for fast food, frozen food and instant ramen were significantly higher. The mean DVS and DDS were found to be 12.61 and 3.93, respectively, and there was no significant difference shown by alcohol consumption. The dietary management of college student needs to be improved in many aspects. It is further troubled by alcohol consumption. Therefore, a nutrition education program including information on the hazards of alcohol and responsible drinking should be developed and provided.