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Table 4 The life style practices of students in Japan and Korea. Table 4 shows the results of questions related to dietary practices with special reference to eating habits. Meal patterns, consumption of fruits and vegetables, consumption of fried foods, consumption of alcohol were assessed for Japan and Korean students. Behavioral differences between two countries were compared using chi-square analyses. Statistical significance was established at p < 0.05.

From: A comparative study of food habits and body shape perception of university students in Japan and Korea

Questions

Levels

Total (%)

Japan (%)

Korea (%)

p values

Do you take your meals regularly

always regular

120 (45.3)

74 (59.7)

46 (32.6)

**

 

irregular

145 (54.7)

50 (40.3)

95 (67.4)

 

Do you always take breakfast

daily

149 (56.2)

98 (79.0)

51 (36.2)

**

 

three or four times per week

22 (8.3)

3 (2.4)

19 (13.5)

 
 

once or twice per week

37 (14.0)

12 (9.7)

25 (17.7)

 
 

rarely

57 (21.5)

11 (8.9)

46 (32.6)

 

How many times do you eat meals except snacks

one time

19 (7.3)

5 (4.1)

14 (9.9)

**

 

two times

100 (38.2)

17 (14.0)

83 (58.9)

 
 

three times

141 (53.8)

98 (81.0)

43 (30.5)

 
 

four times

2 (0.8)

1 (0.8)

1 (0.7)

 

How often do you take snacks apart from regular meals

daily

92 (34.7)

41 (33.1)

51 (36.2)

n.s

 

three or four times per week

70 (26.4)

28 (22.6)

42 (29.8)

 
 

once or twice per week

64 (24.2)

34 (27.4)

30 (21.3)

 
 

rarely

39 (14.7)

21 (16.9)

18 (12.8)

 

How often do you eat green, red or yellow colored vegetables

daily

126 (48.1)

70 (56.5)

56 (40.3)

*

 

three or four times per week

46 (17.6)

18 (14.5)

28 (20.1)

 
 

once or twice per week

76 (29.0)

30 (24.2)

46 (33.1)

 
 

rarely

14 (5.3)

5 (4.0)

9 (6.5)

 

How often do you eat fruits

daily

62 (23.6)

18 (14.5)

44 (31.7)

**

 

three or four times per week

85 (32.3)

44 (35.5)

41 (29.5)

 
 

once or twice per week

62 (23.6)

21 (16.9)

41 (29.5)

 
 

rarely

54 (20.5)

41 (33.1)

13 (9.4)

 

How often do you eat fried food

daily

12 (4.6)

9 (7.3)

3 (2.2)

n.s

 

three or four times per week

137 (52.1)

67 (54.0)

70 (50.4)

 
 

once or twice per week

47 (17.9)

29 (23.4)

18 (12.9)

 
 

rarely

67 (25.5)

19 (15.3)

48 (34.5)

 

How often do you take alcohol

daily

2 (0.8)

1 (0.8)

1 (0.7)

**

 

two or three times per week

63 (24.2)

18 (14.5)

45 (33.1)

 
 

rarely

195 (75.0)

105 (84.7)

90 (66.2)

 

How often do you eat with friends and family

daily

183 (69.8)

91 (74.0)

92 (66.2)

n.s

 

three or four times per week

29 (11.1)

14 (11.4)

15 (10.8)

 
 

once or twice per week

31 (11.8)

5 (4.1)

26 (18.7)

 
 

always alone

19 (7.3)

13 (10.6)

6 (4.3)

 

Please state your smoking history

current smoker

37 (14.2)

24 19.8

13 9.4

**

 

never smoke

223 (85.8)

97 80.2

126 90.6

 

What type of food do you think you should eat to have a balanced nutrition

mainly meat

2 (0.8)

1 (1.4)

1 (0.7)

n.s

 

mainly vegetable

46 (18.0)

21 (9.1)

25 (18.0)

 
 

meat, vegetable and other variety of food

181 (70.7)

78 (87.8)

103 (74.1)

 
 

others

27 (10.5)

17 (1.7)

10 (7.2)