Browse > Article

Study on the Eating Habits and Growth Development in Korean Preschool Children  

Shin Kyung-Ok (Department of Food & Nutrition, Kyung Hee University)
Yoo Yoo-Young (Department of Food & Nutrition, Kyung Hee University)
Park Hyun-Suh (Department of Food & Nutrition, Kyung Hee University)
Publication Information
Journal of Nutrition and Health / v.38, no.6, 2005 , pp. 455-464 More about this Journal
Abstract
The study was designed to observe the correlation between the eating habits and growth development in 1,574 children (3-6 years old) in Kyunggi-do and Seoul, Korea. The eating habits and nutrient intake were determined by mini dietary assessment and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). 35.6% children had been practicing an unbalanced diets. Children with unbalanced diet consumed less amount of protein source foods (meat, fish, egg, soy products), vegetables and fruits and had irregular meal time, but more of them preferred sweet foods (ice creme, cookies) and carbonated drinks as snack compared with children in balanced diet. 24-35% children consumed energy, iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), Niacin, Zinc (Zn) less than 75% RDA. Energy intake of children with unbalanced diet was not significantly different from those with balanced diet, but they consumed less amount of niacin, Fe, Ca and Zn than those with balanced diet. By using the relative percentage of standard weight-length-index (WLI), 65.7% children was normal weight, 12.9% was underweight, 13.4% was overweight and 7.9% was obese. However, 11.9% of underweight and normal weight children was so called thin obese since their body fat content was greater than 20%. There were 16.8% underweight in children with unbalanced diet and 12.6% underweight in those with balanced diet. Compared to normal weight, the underweight children significantly consumed less amount of milk and its product, high protein foods, fried foods and fruits, but obese children consumed more high protein source foods (meat, fish, egg, etc) and sweet foods. In conclusion, the eating habits of unbalanced meal was prevalent problem in preschool children which resulting in their health risks. Therefore, it would be needed that new approach for nutrition education to improve eating habits in preschoolers.
Keywords
preschool children; unbalanced diet; underweight; overweight; body fat;
Citations & Related Records
연도 인용수 순위
  • Reference
1 Kim WY, Cho MS, Lee HS. Development and validation of mini dietary assessment index for Koreans. Korean J Nutr 36(1): 83-92, 2003
2 Ko YM, Lee JS, Kim BH, Lee YN, Kwak CS, Choi HM. Serum lipid levels and growth of kindergarten children in low income area in Seoul. Korean J LipidoI 4(2): 190-196, 1994
3 Rozin P. Development in the food domain. Dev Psychol 26: 555-562, 1990   DOI
4 Park SY, Park HY, Moon HK. A study on the food habit and dietary intake of preschool children. Korean J Nutr 32 (4): 419-429, 1999
5 Cullen KW, Eagan J, Baranowski T, Owens E, De Moor C. Effect of a la carte and snack bar foods at school on children's lunchtime intake of fruits and vegetables. J Am Diet Assoc 100 (12): 1482-1486,2000   DOI   ScienceOn
6 Lee HS, Mo SM. Nutrition survey of young children in a day care center in the low income area of Seoul (Hawolgok dong). Korean Home Economics Assoc 24(2): 37-50, 1986
7 Cheng TO. Childhood obesity in China. Health Place 10(4): 395-396, 2004   DOI   PUBMED   ScienceOn
8 Iwata F, Hara M, Okada T, Harada K, Li S. Body fat ratios in urban Chinese children. Pediatrics Int 45: 190-192, 2003   DOI   ScienceOn
9 Moon HK, Jung HJ, Park SY. Indicators of nutritional status on the basis of preschool children's anthropometry. Korean J Nutr 31 (8): 1283-1294, 1998
10 Park JN, Kim KH, Lee SS. A study of factors affecting bone mineral density in children: Anthropometric measurements, socioeconomic factors, family history and other environmental factors. Korean J Nutr 37 (1) : 52-60, 2004
11 Yoo YY. A study on food habits and nutritional status and social development in Korean preschool children. Graduate school, Kyung Hee University. Dissertation for Master Degree, 2005
12 Brooke OG. Obesity in children. Human nutrition. Applied Nutr 39A 304-314, 1985
13 Lim Y, Oh SY. Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for preschool children in Korea. Korean J Comm Nutr 7 (1) : 58-66, 2002
14 Korean Pediatric Association. Korean infant normal growth, 1998
15 Nam HW, Urn YS, Chung EJ. A comparative study on dietary attitudes and nutritional status of preschoolers in different income levels in Seoul and Kyunggido. Korean J Diet Cult 13 (5) : 405-414, 1998
16 Lee NS, Im YS, Kim BR. The study on the food habits and preferences of Elementary school children. Korean J Comm Nutr 2(2): 187-196, 1997
17 Hong YJ. A study on a relation of food ecology to obesity index of 5th grade children in Cheju city (II) -Obesity index of children and food habit of their mother. Korean J Diet Cult 13 (2): 141-151, 1998
18 Robinson TN. Television viewing and childhood obesity. Pediatr Clin NorthAm 48(4) : 1017-1025, 2001   DOI   PUBMED   ScienceOn
19 Faith MS, Berman N, Heo M, Pietrobelli A, Gallagher D, Epstein LH, Eiden MT, i\llison DB. Effects of contingent television on physical activity and television viewing in obese children. Pediatrics 107 (5): 1043-1048, 2001   DOI   PUBMED   ScienceOn
20 Griffiths PL, Bentley ME. The nutrition transition is underway in India. J Nutr 131 (10): 2692-2700, 2001
21 He Q, Ding ZY, Fong DYT, Karlberg J. Risk factors of obesity in preschool children in china: a population-based case-control study. Int J Obes 24: 1528-1536, 2000   DOI   ScienceOn
22 Mo SM, Woo MK. Dietary behaviors of young children in day care center regarding the family and dietary environments. Korean Home Economics Assoc 22 (2) : 51-62, 1984
23 Park MY, Jang YJ, Seo JS, Mo SM. Children nutrition survey in rural health project areas. Korean J Nutr 13 (1): 15-26, 1980
24 Kim YH, Seo JS. Dietary pattern of children with an unbalanced diet in school feeding. J Korean Diet Assoc 10(3): 345-355,2004
25 Robertson SM, Cullen KW, Baranowski J, Baranowski T, Hu S, de Moor C. Factors related to adiposity among children aged 3 to 7 years. J Am Diet Assoc 99 (8) : 938-943, 1999   DOI   ScienceOn
26 Yum KS, Yoon EY, Kim CI, Kim KT, Mo SM, Choi HM. Eating behavior obesity and serum lipid levels in children. Korean J Nutr 26 (1) : 56-66, 1993
27 Moon HK, Chung HR, Kim YC. A study on anthropometric data of 5th grade students. Korean J Nutr 20(6): 405-411, 1987
28 Kim YK, Chyun JH. Food habits and its relation to the obesity of preschool children living in urban area. Korean J Diet Cult 15 (5) : 349-360, 2000
29 Kelder SH, Perry CL, Klepp KI, Lytle LL. Longitudinal tracking of adolescent smoking, physical activity and food choice behaviors. Am J Pub Health 84: 1121-1126,1994   DOI   ScienceOn
30 Ahn HS, Kim HJ. Analysis of factors associated with the pres. chool children's nutrition awareness I. Assessment of the nutrition awareness and involvement in food-related activities. Korean J Diet Cult 9: 311-321, 1994
31 Moon HK, Chung HR, Song BH, Park HR. Factors related to infant growth in low-income households. J Korean Pub Health Assoc 17 (1): 118-129, 1991
32 Park HS, Shin KO. Hair zinc and lead: Relationship to nutrient intake and height and body weight in Korean preschool children. Korean J Nutr 37 (3): 193-201, 2004
33 Dennison BA, Russo TJ, Burdick PA, Jenkins PL. An intervention to reduce television viewing by preschool children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 158 (2) : 170-176, 2004   DOI   ScienceOn
34 Kim HS, Lee HO. Survey on nutritional status of preschool children in Asan measured by anthropometric and nutrient intake analysis. J Korean Diet Assoc 11 (1): 114-124, 2005