Dietary Habits of Smokers and Non-smokers in the Korean Health and Nutrition Survey

Differences in dietary habits between Korean smokers and non-smokers were investigated using information obtained from 7,370 adults, aged 20 years and older who participated in the 1998 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey. Dietary habit data including: skipping of meals, meal regularity, meal volume, snacking habits, removing fatty portions before eating foods, and dietary supplement intake were collected using a structured questionnaire by interview. Individual smoking data was also collected by interview as part of the health behavior survey. A Chi-square test was used to test the association between the dietary habits and smoking. 66.9% of the men were smokers (daily current or occasional current), while only 6.7% of women smoked. On average, 34.7% of the subjects were smokers. Smokers were more likely than nonsmokers to engage in the following dietary habits considered unhealthy: skipping breakfast, meal irregularity, large dinners, small breakfasts, frequently eating out, and eating food without removing the fatty portion. Therefore, Korean smokers should be provided education to assist them in making healthy dietary choices such as: eating regular meals, small dinners, and removing fatty portion of foods. The survey also revealed that a substantial percentage (about 20%) of the subjects were taking some kind of dietary supplement, regardless of smoking status. It is, therefore, also necessary to inform the general public that a balanced diet is the ideal way to obtain nutrients for optimal health.