Evaluation of Diet Quality according to Self-Rated Health Status of Korean Middle-Aged Women -Based on 2008~2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diet quality in Korean middle-aged women based on their self-rated health status (SRH) as well as to investigate the relationship between SRH and the diet quality. For the study, we obtained data for analysis from the combined 2008～2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The study subjects were divided into two groups-'Good' group (≥3.06, n=622) and 'Bad' group (<3.06, n=1,092)-on the basis of the average SRH value (3.06). The women in the 'Good' group had achieved a higher education level and had a significantly high monthly average income (P<0.05), whereas women in the 'Bad' group had a larger waist circumference (P<0.05). In addition, women in the 'Good' group engaged in more physical activities (P<0.01). In comparison with the women in 'Bad' group, women in the 'Good' group were found to have a superior nutritional status, with a nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) of protein (P<0.05), calcium (P<0.05), iron (P<0.05), vitamin A (P<0.05), vitamin B 2 (P<0.05), and niacin (P<0.01). The mean adequacy ratio (MAR) of women in the 'Good' group was also significantly higher than that of the women in the 'Bad' group. The index of nutritional quality (INQ) of protein (P<0.05), iron (P<0.05), vitamin B 1 (P<0.05), and niacin (P<0.05) in women belonging to the 'Good' group were also significantly higher than that in the women assigned the 'Bad' group. The results of regression analysis on the relevance between the diet quality and SRH, MAR, and INQ showed a significantly positive relevance (P<0.001), even after adjusting for disturbance factors. The results of this study show that diet quality seems to be the important factor for improving SRH of women. Therefore, we suggest that developing dietary guidelines and educating women about the guidelines would improve health of middle-aged women in Korea.