Taste Sensitivity, Diet Intake Frequency and Eating Habits in Female University Students

Abstract

We analyzed the results of diet intake frequency and a questionnaire survey on eating habits in young women to examine the relation between taste sensitivity and eating habits. The subjects were 121 female university students. The survey was included self-report questionnaires about diet intake frequency and eating habits. At the end of data collection, the subjects were divided into 3 groups according to their average sense of taste. Namely, group 1 was below average, group 2 was above normal, and group 3 was above average. The results of the dietary questionnaire survey showed that group 1 tended to have a more appropriate diet than the other groups. The relationship between taste sensibility and diet intake frequency in the 3 groups showed that group 1 tended to eat significantly more vegetables than the other groups. These results indicated that subjects who were highly sensitive to umami had a significantly higher dietary consciousness and a balanced diet containing appropriate portions of food and seasoning.