This study was undertaken to assess eating habits and food consumption pattern of 365 adolescent girls in Kwangju area. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on relative body weight as obesity index. Anthropometric data showed that mean height and weight were 161.9±19.0cm and 53.3±7.2kg respectively which are similar to those in the Korean Standard Growth data. Mean BMI and relative body weight were 20.50 and 97.1%. Age of menarche in the subjects significantly influenced the obesity index. Food habit score in the underweight group was significantly lower than that in the normal group at α=0.2 level by multiple range test. Obesity was significantly associated with more frequent and irregular eating. It seems that students in the obese group were concerned on their body weight and tended to consume much vegetable. Obese group consumed more fruits, less butter and fruit juice compared to other groups. It might be suggested that more effective nutrition program might be developed and implemented to ensure good food habit of adolescent girls including obese as well as underweight group.

• 노희경 | Ro, Hee-Kyung