Dietary pattern, anthropometry and serum lipids of schoolchildren in Kaohsiung and Yunlin

The aim of this study was to investigate the dietary characteristics of urban and rural primary school students, to discover the relationship among dietary intake, body weight and serum lipids. Sampling of fifth-grade primary school students in Kaohsiung City and Yunlin county was conducted in February, 1994 and in September, 1994 respectively, then those approach was proceeded by using 24-hour dietary recall for collecting students' dietary data. The results show, with respect to dietary intake: the total calorie intake for boys in Kaohsiung was 1931 kcal, 1559 kcal for girls; for boys in Yunlin was 1785 kcal, and for girls 1577 kcal. The total calorie intake for boys in Kaohsiung was significantly higher than that for boys in Yunlin, (P <0.05). Students' dietary fat intake was high. In Kaohsiung, the students' dietary fat intake was higher than 35% of total calories; in Yunlin, higher than 30% of total calories, which was a significant difference. (P <0.05). The percentage of carbohydrate was quite the reverse. As to anthropometry, the students in Kaohsiung were taller and heavier than those in Yunlin. In serum lipids, total cholesterol on average for boys in Kaohsiung was 177.4 mg/dL, for girls in Kaohsiung was 170.5 mg/dL, and for boys in Yunlin was 157.1 mg/dL, for girls in Yunlin was 156.7 mg/dL. These results show the nutrition imbalance between urban and rural students should soon be equalized.