A Survey of dietary habits and lifestyle of childbearing Korean women by BMI

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to suggest dietary habit and lifestyle of Korean childbearing women. Between August and September 2007, women aged 20–39 years (n=449) visited in Healthcare System Gangnam Center for regular health checkup were assessed. They were divided into three groups by BMI: low weight(LW, BMI<18.5), normal weight (NW, BMI=18.5–22.9), over weight(OW, BMI≥23.0). They were interviewed using questionnaire to assess dietary habit and lifestyle. Anthropometric were also measured. The mean age of the subject were 32.8yr and the distribution of BMI was LW(17.8%), NW(65.7%), and OW(16.5%). The BMI group was not affected significantly by age. LW group have significantly more experience of current drinking (53.8%), current smoking (7.5%) and irregular menstruation (53.8%), taking functional food (33.8%), the early first smoking age (17.7yr), increased smoking quantity (1 pack per day) and late menarche (13.8yr). In dietary habit, all of the groups got low total score of dietary habit(58.6, 61.4, 61.6 in LW, NW, OW, respectively). The score of balance diet, healthy diet habit, regular meal and fruit intake were lower in LW group. In OW group, salty food, sweet snack and processed food intake were more often and meal speed was faster than other groups. This study showed that childbearing women have wrong dietary habit especially in LW and OW groups. Further researches are needed to establish the relationship between right eating and the long-term health in childbearing Korean women.