Nutritional Status of Korean Rural and Urban Adolescent Students

초록

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of rural and urban adolescent students in Korea. A dietary survey was conducted with anthropometric measurements, biochemical assessment and questionnaire analysis. The subjects were 665 male and 700 female adolescent students of rural and urban areas in Inchon. Average height and weight of rural and urban middle school students were 157.9 cm, 161.0 cm and 50.3 kg, 54.3 kg, respectively. Average height and weight of rural, urban general and urban vocational school students were 164.0 cm, 166.2 cm, 164.6 cm and 58.7 kg, 60.7 kg, 59.2 kg, respectively. Most students had self-recognized dietary problem such as overeating, unbalanced meal and skipping meal. More than half of the students skipped breakfast. The main reason of skipping meal was lack of time for meal. As for nutrient intakes, average intakes of most nutrients were higher in urban middle school students compared to rural middle school students. However, average intakes of most nutrients were lower in urban vocational high school students compared to rural and urban general high school students. In both areas, average intakes of energy, vitamin A, vitamin B2, calcium and iron were lower than Korean RDA. Especially, calcium intake of rural middle school students and iron intake of rural female middle school students were lowest in % Korean RDA. Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was higher in rural male middle school students compared to urban male middle school students. In female students of both areas, prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was increased as age was older. Therefore, proper nutrition education is required for improvement of adolescents' dietary behavior and nutritional status in Korea.