• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.451-462
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was designed with the goal of understanding the factors affecting the frequency of skipping meals of prime-aged mothers with children as well as their nutritional status. Methods: Utilizing data from the 2010-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey, the frequency of skipping meals of mothers aged between 30 to 49 years with children aged between 3 to 11 years during a two day period was statistically analyzed. The number of meals skipped calculated and categorized into skipping no meals, skipping one meal, skipping two meals or more. Results: Compared to subjects who corresponded to mean nutrient adequacy ratio(MAR) of 4 quartile, subjects who corresponded to MAR of 2 quartile had 2.766 (95% CI: 1.552-4.931) probability of being in the 1 meal skippers group, while the probability of being in the more than 2 meals skippers group was 2.743(95% CI: 1.353-5.564). Also, compared to subjects who corresponded to MAR of 4 quartile, subjects who corresponded to MAR of 1 quartile had 3.471 (95% CI: 1.871-6.442) probability of being in the 1 meal skippers group, while the odds ratio for being in the more than 2 meals skippers group was 5.258(95% CI: 2.642-10.466). Conclusions: The results have the advantage of being generalized because the study selected subjects from probability sampling of the female population of Korea. The research results showed that the elements influencing skipping meals of prime-aged mothers with children were mean nutrient adequacy ratio and the number of nutrients, under estimated average requirement intake, and others. Therefore, to encourage dietary behaviors in the right direction, an integrated approach that considers the associated factors must be realized. Future studies are needed to understand how the frequency of skipping meals of mothers affects their children.