Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary habits and daily intake of nutrients in college students. This survey was conducted using a self-administered questionaire. The average heights and weights were 173.5 cm and 72.3 kg of male students and 161.8 cm and 57.2 kg of female students. The average of BMI was 24.2 kg/m2 of male and 21.9 kg/m2 of female, and the value of male students was higher than the value of female students. The response to the daily meals was 54.6% for '2~3 times/week'. The regularity of mealtime was 41.7% for irregular and the frequency eating after nine was 45.7% for '5-6 times/week', respectively. The repast was 72.2% for 'overeating and little eating' and was a significant difference of male and female students (p < 0.05). The eating rate was higher '10 ~20 min'. As for breakfast food eaten, skipping breakfast was 23.6% for 'no/week' and female students were higher than male students (p < 0.05). The frequency of snacks was 36.0% for 'nothing' of males students and 34.8% for '3- 4 times/week' of female students (p < 0.05). The type of snack was a significant difference of males and females students (p < 0.01), and was the highest 75.0% for carbonated drinks of males and 37.5% for snacks of females. The eating due to stress solution was a significant difference of male and female students (p < 0.01), and was the highest 23.0% for 'frequency' of males and 44.7% for 'sometime' of females. As for food intake of male and female students, the meat intake was 66.7% for 'everything of male and female students. The fish intake was 68.1% for '1- 2times/week'. The milk, milk products, eggs and beans were each 40.3%, 58.3%, 56.9%, 47.2% for '1-2 times/week' (p < 0.05). The fat intake was 55.6% for '1~2 times/week'. The average consumption of energy was 58% of male and 67% of female of estimated energy requirement (EER). Their mean ratio of carbohydrate : protein : fat was 57 : 15 : 28 of all subjects. The mean intakes of vitamin C and folic acid were 70% and 51% of males and 62% and 52% of females of recommended intake (RI). The mean intakes of Ca, P, Fe and Na were 71%, 140%, 146% of males and 72%, 122%, 76% of female of RI and 273% of males and 233% of females of adequate intake (AI). Therefore, nutritional education is necessary for college students to establish physicall and mentall optimal health conditions through nutritional intervention.

• Keywords: male; female; body mass index (BMI); dietary habits; Daily intake of nutrients