Analyses of Dietary Habits and Food Items Consumed by Japanese Female Students in Seven Different Cities

Abstract

A survey was conducted on about 200 female students living in seven cities: Fukuoka, Kochi, Okayama, Suita, Matsudo, Sendai and Abashiri. They were given a simple questionnaire to list the food items they consumed during three consecutive days in 1989. An average of 10.2 food items were consumed per meal and 26.3 food items per day. In each area, more than 300 food items were consumed, and the theoretical maximum number of food items was estimated to be within the range 550-620. Among the 35 mentioned food items with the highest frequencies in each area, 57 were non-overlapped food items and 16 were commonly consumed in all areas. xx²-test showed no significant differences in consumption frequencies. ABC analysis showed that food items occupying 50%, 75% and 80% of all food items numbered about 30, 75 and 90, respectively. The food items with a low intake frequency, less than 3 times in the survey, numbered more than 200, accounting for about 60% of all food items. The most frequently consumed food items were found among vegetables, fish, cereals and fruits, reflecting the corresponding number of food items in the food groups of the Japanese standard tables of food composition. There were many food items in each area not described in the standard tables. We concluded that there were no differences in food consumption patterns among the female students, despite their different environments, and that they were enjoying fairly affluent dietary habits, consuming many food items.