Patterns of Food Habits and Food Intake by Age - Base on the Nutrition Counseling Data of Medical Health Examination -

Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyze the dietary habits and food intake by age, based on the nutrition counseling data of medical health examination. The subjects were 5,511 adults(3,139 males and 2,372 females) who took comprehensive medical test in Gyeonggi area, and they were evaluated from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007. Survey samples were divided by age groups : 30>, 30～39, 40～49, 50～59, 60～69, 70≤years. The subjects were composed of 57% male and 43% female. The results showed that the dietary habits of ≥50 group were relatively good. On the other hand, in 30> yrs group had more dietary habit problems, they had irregular meals and the ratio of skipping breakfast was high. And they frequently had meals out. regularity of meals, eating breakfast was higher in ≥70 yrs groups than in other groups(p , 30～39≥yrs groups than in other groups(p<0.001) and speed of eating meal were fast in 50～59 yrs groups than in other groups(p<0.01). For foods with high cholesterol and fat, it was shown that the older the subject, the fewer the frequency of consumption(p<0.001). For kimchi and salty foods, food intake showed a negative relationship with age(p<0.001), whereas for fresh vegetables and high-calcium fish, it showed a positive relationship(p<0.001). All in all, it was shown that as the people get older, their dietary habits tend to get more appropriate. In conclusion nutrition education based on their dietary habit by age should be taught, so that people have a healthy dietary habit and food intake for the rest of their life.Key words: food habits, the nutrition counseling, age groups.