A comparative study of food habits and body shape perception of university students in Japan and Korea

A total of 265 female university students aged 19 – 25 years participated in this study. University students in Korea (n = 141) and university students in Japan (n = 124) completed a self-reported questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Descriptive statistics were used to identify the demographic characteristics of the students and parametric variables were analyzed using the Student's t-test. Chi-square analyses were conducted for non-parametric variables.Comparison of body mass index (BMI) distributions in Japan and Korea showed the highest value in the normal category (74%) together with a very low obesity rate (1.2%). Significant differences were observed between the two countries in terms of eating patterns, with more Japanese eating breakfast daily and with Japanese students eating meals more regularly than Korean students. A difference was also observed in frequency of meals, where Korean students reported eating meals two times per day (59%) and the majority of Japanese students reported eating meals three times per day (81%). Although most subjects belonged to the normal BMI category, their ideal BMI classification was the underweight category (BMI: 18.4 ± 3.4).Few studies have compared the health related practices of Japanese and Korean university students. The present results suggest the necessity of nutrition and health promotion programs for university students, especially programs emphasizing weight management.South Korea has experienced rapid and varied socioeconomic change during the past three decades. Similar to the experience of Japan, the South Korean nutritional transition has also been very rapid. A large increase in the consumption of animal food products and a reduction in total cereal intake have been reported [1]. Also, incidence of metabolic syndrome is now more than 15% in South Korea despite a low prevalence of obesity [2]. Previously, we studied the health related attitudes and body shape perceptions of female