Eating behavior and life habits of kindergarten children in Chuncheon area

춘천지역 일부 유치원 원아의 식습관 및 생활습관에 관한 조사

The purpose of this study was to investigate the eating behavior and life habits of kindergarten children 5 to 7 years old in Chuncheon area. This study was conducted in December, 1996. Anthropometric indices(height, weight, skinfold thickness, mid-arm circumference) were measured and body mass index(BMI), Rohrer index, arm fat area were calculated to estimate children’s body fatness. Also the eating behavior and life habits were determined tv using questionnaire method. The results were as follows: Body fat rate of the children was almost normal according to Rohrer index and BMI. There was significant difference in birth weight between male and female. The problems of the eating behavior were frequent skipping breakfast and eating-out. The rate of the children who took snacks 2 times a day was 46.9％. Most children tended to take sweet snacks such as ice-cream, chocolates, cookies, and they tended to prefer meats and fishes to vegetables. The rate of breast feeding was 28.3％ and the rate of weaning foods prepared at home was 61.1%. Many children preferred indoor activities such as watching TV, toy furniture play, building block to outdoor activities such as roller-skating, cycling, jogging in their spare time. The rate of the children who took exercise regularly was 15％. Children tended to eat kimbap, fried chicken, ramyeon more frequently in various instant foods. The intake rates of fruit juice and barly tea were relatively high and children's favorite fruits were watermelon and mandarin orange. From this results, skipping breakfast, frequent eating-out and the monotony of food preference appears to cause imbalance in nutrient intakes of the children and to have bad influence on children’s health. Accodgingiy, the comprehensive nutrition education and proper modification program should be needed for the children and their parents to correct the eating behavior and life habits. The reasonable exercise programs are needed to motivate outdoor activities of the children, and the importance of breast feeding and weaning foods should be emphasized to lactating women and pregnant women.