Abstract
To establish good dietary behavior for middle school students, this study was conducted to analyze the needs of nutrition education and eating attitudes of 373 middle school students(boys 171, girls 202) in Hwaseong city. Using questionnaires, results were gathered and analyzed. Dietary behavior, food group intake and the needs of nutrition education were scored by a five-point Likert scale. Chi-square and student t-test were done for significant gender difference. The correlation between the needs of nutrition education with dietary behavior and food group intake was obtained by Pearson's r. The dietary attitude of 'try to eat first' and 'eating fast' were higher score in boys than in girls(p<0.05). Most of the students thought they didn't have any nutritional problems(71.8%). Nutrition education was considered necessary(54.9%) for proper growth and development(53.0%) in middle school. But 45.1% of students did not suggest by the reasons of 'short time to change'(28.2%), 'more effective in home'(27.4%). The appropriate time of nutrition education was pre-school(28.2%) or elementary school(27.4%), once a week(boys 51%, girls 71.3%) in frequency(p<0.001), and the information acquired by TV/Radio(30.0%) and internet(26.6%). Students(46.0%) wanted to know about 'growth and nutrition'. They were to learn information on the 'healthy growth'(4.10) and 'adolescent nutrition'(4.03). The vegetables group consumption and the thought of dietary attitude 'try to modify bad eating habits' were correlated with almost all categories of desired nutrition education. Through these results, good eating habits would be attained by nutrition education. A nutrition education program would require an expert teacher for middle school students.