2004 Volume 15 Issue 3 Pages 160-169
In order to compare the food intake and views on health of elementary school students and adults living in northern Thailand, a questionnaire survey was conducted that included 72 male and 73 female students and 65 males and 45 females aged 15 to 59 years.
With respect to their food intake frequencies, 91% and 99% responded “every day” for rice and 72% and 79% for vegetables among the male and female students, respectively, and 97% and 95% for rice and 63% and 88% for vegetables among the male and female adults, respectively. Three regular meals were taken by 74% and 80% of the male and female students, respectively, and 91% and 91% of the male and female adults, respectively (p<0.05 for males between students and adults).
When asked about the pleasure of having meals with their family while chatting, 47% and 69% of the male and female students, respectively, and 91% and 91% of the male and female adults, respectively, responded positively (p<0.05 between genderin students and p<0.001 for males and p<0.05 for females between students andadults). Reports of sleeping well came from 36% and 54% of the male and female students, and 47% and 66% of the male and female adults (p<0.05 between gender instudents).
A significant correlation was found between the food intake frequencies of vegetables and the degree of sleeping (p<0.05 for students and adults, respectively). The greater intake frequencies of vegetables showed a correlation with more human com-munication (p<0.05and p<0.01 for students and adults, respectively).
The present results indicated that lower food intake levels lead to a lower nutritional status, and the lower intake frequencies of vegetables can affect the degree of sleep and of human communication.
