The Perception of School Milk Program and Consumption of Calcium Source of Middle School Students in Gyeonggi, Korea

Abstract

In order to develop the strategies to increase the participation of school milk program (SMP), 300 middle school students were surveyed. The information regarding the perception of SMP and intakes of milk and other calcium sources as well as general characteristics was obtained by self‐administered questionnaire. The data were compared between the subjects who wanted the SMP (wanting‐SMP) and those who did not (not‐wanting‐SMP). More of not‐wanting‐SMP group graduated from the elementary schools without SMP (10.9% vs. 4.5%, p<0.05) and drank milk usually along with other foods such as cereals (32.4% vs. 26.1%) or snacks (26.1% vs. 19.8%), while less of them drank milk alone (33.3% vs. 42.3%, p<0.05), compared to wanting‐SMP group. Compared to wanting‐SMP group, more of not‐wanting‐SMP group drank milk less often than once a week (19.6% vs. 52.2%, p<0.05), while the intakes of dairy foods and calcium supplements were not different between groups. Without significant differences between groups, 65.6% of subjects drank the flavored milks when they had a choice to purchase, while 82.6% drank unflavored milk when they did not have a choice home. Conclusively, the results suggested that the adolescents who are reluctant to participate school milk program may have inadequate calcium intake and provided the rationale to urge them to participate SMP not only for the adequate calcium intakes currently, but also for the good dietary habits regarding drinking milk regularly from healthier type, which will favor their health in the future.