KOREASCHOLAR

The purpose of this study was to investigate the snack and beverage intake patterns of students by body mass index groups (BMI 〈18.5, 18.5-23, 23-30, ≥30). Questionnaires were completed by 1381 high school students in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi-do, the area of Korea's capital region. There were no significant differences in skipping meals for overweight (BMI 23-30 and ≥30) or under-nourished (BMI 〈18.5) students. Girls skipped dinner more frequently than boys. Boys and girls both preferred meat and disliked fish regardless of BMI. Girls with BMI 23-30 disliked vegetables. Boys and girls would rather have crackers, candies, and chocolates than potatoes as snacks regardless of BMI. Obese boys (BMI ≥30) preferred flour-based food, fast food, and other food as snacks. Girls liked fruits more than boys. Snacks were eaten 2-3 times per week, when students were hungry or bored. There were no significant differences in the frequency or reasons (habitual, stressed) for snack consumption by BMI. Girls liked juice more than boys did, and boys preferred soda water more than girls did. Both the under-nourished (BMI 〈18.5) boy and girl groups had more juice than the overweight (BMI 23-30 and ≥30) groups. Obese (BMI ≥30) boys did not more drink soda water than other BMI groups. The under-nourished (BMI 〈18.5) boy group had more soda water than the normal (BMI 18.5-23) and overweight (BMI 23-30) groups. Girls in the overweight (BMI 23-30) group had 2 more cups of soda water a day than the normal group (BMI 18.5-23). Therefore, skipping meals and beverage intake patterns might influence BMI.

• 한경순 | Han, Gyeong-Soon
• 조우균 | Cho, Woo-Kyoun