Effects of Health-related Factors on the Use of Health Functional Foods

건강 관련 요인이 건강기능식품의 이용에 미치는 영향

Many Koreans have been interested in health functional foods(HHFs). Use of health functional foods is growing rapidly. This study aims to identify the determinants of HFFs use focusing on health related factors. The subjects were 24,626 samples from Korea Health Panel in 2008. The subjects were divided into two group: under the 20 years old and 20 old and over. The logistic regression model was used to examine influence of health-related factors on use of HFFs for each group. About thirty percent of the subjects have used HFFs. The larger family size, higher education level of parents, more stable economic status and chronic diseases were positively related to use more HFFs in younger 20 years old. Higher education level, more stable economic status, chronic diseases were more likely to use HFFs in 20 years of age and over. Health related factors such as disability, chronic diseases, admission, and physician visit affect the use of HFFs in both groups. We confirmed that health related factors as well as socio-demographic and economic factors affect use of HFFs. In-depth knowledge about relationship between health related factors and HFFs is required.