The purpose of this study was to assess the metabolic profile and nutrient intake data in Korean adolescents according to exercise regularity using the forth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 data. A total of 834 Korean adolescents (440 boys, 394 girls) aged 12 to 18 years were classified into exercising male (EM), non-exercising male (NM), exercising female (EF), and non-exercising female (NF) groups. EM exhibited significantly higher weight (P < 0.001), waist circumference (WC) (P < 0.01) and body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001) than NM. EF showed significantly greater height (P < 0.01), weight (P<0.001), WC (P < 0.001), and BMI (P < 0.001) than NF. Although ratios of macronutrient intake were within the appropriate range in all groups, energy, riboflavin, vitamin C and calcium were assessed as in adequate by the nutritional adequacy ratio (NAR) in all groups. Moreover, EF and NF had inadequate intake of vitamin A and iron according to NAR, respectively. There were significant correlations between height and NAR protein (r = 0.249, P < 0.001), and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) (r = 0.177, P < 0.01), and between weight and NAR protein (r = 0.180, P < 0.01), and MAR(r = 0.136, P < 0.05) in EM. On the other hand, there were significant correlations between weight and NAR protein (r = 0.270, P < 0.01), WC and NAR protein (r = 0.271, P < 0.01), and BMI and NAR protein (r = 0.326, P < 0.01) in NM. There were significant correlations height and NAR Fe (r = 0.153, P < 0.05) in EF. However, there were no significant correlations between metabolic factors and nutritional adequacy in NF. Although we noted no significant differences in MAR between the groups, the exercising groups showed higher MAR values than the non-exercising groups. Therefore, practicing of ideal dietary behaviors appears to be induced through physical activity and regular exercise in Korean adolescents.
