A Comparative Study on Dietary Habit and Weight Control of Middle School Students in Gyonggi‐do, Korea

This study was conducted to examine the relationship of dietary habits and weight control. 859 middle school students (453 boys and 406 girls) were surveyed using a questionnaire in the region of Gyonggi‐do, republic of Korea. According to their BMI, the students were categorized into 4 groups, 39.0% of ‘underweight’, 46.0% of ‘normal’, 6.6% of ‘overweight’ and 8.4% of ‘obese’. It was revealed that the level of interest in weight control was the highest among the obese group (51.4%), followed by overweight (49.17%), normal (45.6%), and underweight(28.4%). Their level of interest in weight control was higher as their BMI was higher(p<.001). With regards to experiences of weight control attempts, 68.1% of the obese group answered yes, while 68.4% of the overweight group, 54.2% of the normal group, 30.4% of the underweight group answered yes respectively (p<.001). The Internet was the most preferred source looking for information about weight control (45.4%). Concerning dietary habits, 69.6% of the underweight group, 69.4% of the normal weight group, 66.7% of the overweight group, and 61.1% of the obese group had breakfast every day. In addition, 36.4% of the obese group eat meals alone. Additionally, obese students eat faster than lower BMI students (p<.01). Therefore, continuous nutrition education programs are required to develop good dietary habits for growing students. Support or Funding Information Grant Funding Source: Inha University