The purposes of this study were to investigate the eating of breakfast by female middle school students in Seoul, the perception of the school breakfast program (SBP), and determine the factors affecting the intention to participate in SBP. Out of 340 questionnaires distributed to the female middle school students, 334 were returned (98.2% response rate) and 323 were analyzed. The subjects were categorized into two groups by the intention to participate in SBP. Subjects were classified as participating and non participating groups. As a result of analyzing the breakfast intake frequency, 'hardly eat' showed the highest with 18.5% in the participating group and 10.3% in non participating group, while 'eat every day' showed 38.2% in the participating group, and the highest with 65.5% in non participating group (p<0.001). For the reason for skipping breakfast, 'no time' showed the highest with 30.0% in the participating group, 'over sleep' and 'no appetite' showed the highest with 24.8% in non participating group. For the reason for not participating in SBP, 'breakfast should be eaten at home' showed the highest with 47.2% in non participating group and 'may get up early in the morning' showed the highest with 46.2% in participating group (p<0.01). To determine the factors affecting the intention to participate in SBP, logistic regression analyses were conducted for female middle school students. According to the logistic regression analysis, father's education level was independently associated with the intention to participate in SBP in female middle school students [Odds Ratios (OR) 2.38, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.03~5.52]. Frequency of eating breakfast on weekdays (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.01~1.81), Level of need for school breakfast (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.35~0.76) and whether to approve school breakfast (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.18~0.41) were independently associated with the intention to participate in SBP in female middle school students. In conclusion, proper educational efforts for importance of school breakfast could be useful plan to develop school breakfast program.

This study was carried out to investigate the dining-out behavior of breakfast and preference on the menu of female college students. 500 questionnaires were distributed and 417 were used for statistical analysis(SAS program). This survey was conducted from June, 2000 to October, 2000. 72.8% of the respondents thought there were problems in eating breakfast. The problems were 'skipping breakfast frequently(33.1%)', 'short eating time(20.9%)', 'simple menu(18.8%)'. Preference of dining-out breakfast menus were 'bread & milk(43.8%)', 'conventional menu(34.7%)', 'snack(15.5%)', soup or 'porridge(6.0%)'. A general preference of breakfast menus were conventional (63.7%), 'bread & milk(21.1%)', 'milk and breakfast cereal(8.7%)', 'soup or porridge(6.5%)'. Increase on the amount of monthly allowance decreased the preference of conventional type of breakfast(P<0.05). The questions about the breakfast were 'what is the best menus for breakfast(49.2%)', 'alternative to rice(17.1%)', 'the amounts of breakfast(12.1%)'. But there was no significant difference among these variables. In conclusion, development of convenient & well-balanced breakfast model and nutritional education are needed to increase the nutritional status of female college students.

This study was carried out to investigate breakfast behaviors of female college students. 500 questionnaires were distributed and 417 were used for statistical analysis(SAS program). This survey was conducted from June, 2000 to October, 2000. 44.7% of the respondents considered lunch to be the most important meal. 51.6% students thought that people must eat breakfast. 41.6% of the students always eat breakfast but 22.1% do not eat breakfast. Conventional type of breakfast was found to be the most popular (67.6%). But ￦400,000 monthly allowance group(P<0.05) and self prepared breakfast group preferred Western style breakfast. The main reason for eating breakfast was for health(34.6%). The group of students with less monthly allowance were more likely to skip breakfast due to lack of time (p<0.01). Physical discomforts after skipping breakfast were: lack of strength(42.5%), stomach ache(36.3%), giddiness(9.1%), and recovered temper(12.1%). In conclusion, it is needed that a convenient and nutritional education should be developed for college students' health.