서울 시내 중학생의 BMI 비만도 및 관련 식생활 요인 분석

Body Mass Index and Dietary Factors of Middle School Students in Seoul

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between the BMI and food preference, eating behaviors, and nutrition knowledge score among the middle school male and female students. A total of 394 students from 4 different middle school in Seoul were participated in this study. The students were categorized into 3 groups by BMI: under-weight( <20), ideal(20≤BMI <25), and overweight(≥25) groups. The data on food preference, eating behavior, and nutrition knowledge were collected by a questionnaire. All data were analyzed by means as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. F-test, x²-test, and correlation analysis. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. BMI average of the male students was 21.4. About 45% of the students were in ideal weight group, 40% were in under-weight group, and 15% were in overweight group according to BMI. 2. About 62% of the participants wanted to lose weight:43% of the male students, and 82% of the female students. And 33% of the students wished to lose more than 7kg of body weight. 3. Preference score for animal protein foods was the highest in overweight group. On the other hand, preference score of vegetables was the highest in under-weight group. 4. All 3 BMI groups eat more foods on dinner compared to lunch or breakfast. Eating amount score of between-meal was highest(eat more) in under-weight group, and the lowest(eat less) in overweight group. But the percentage of students who eat snack at night was the highest in overweight group. 5. Among the eating behavior variables, eating frequency of snack at night and eating speed were significantly different among 3 groups. Overweight group eat snack at night less frequently and eating speed is faster than the other groups(p< .05). 6. Nutrition knowledge score was the highest in overweight group, but the difference was insignificant. It is shown that about 40% of the participants belong to under-weight group, but 62% wished to lose weights. Parents and teachers should watch out the juvenile students health, especially whether they try to lose weight or maintain unrealistically low weight.