A Study on Dietary Behavior and Nutrient Intake of Children with Developmental Disorders in Gyeongbuk Area

Min-A Yoon; Young-Sun Choi

doi:10.4163/kjn.2012.45.1.44

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Yoon and Choi: A Study on Dietary Behavior and Nutrient Intake of Children with Developmental Disorders in Gyeongbuk Area

Research Article

Korean Journal of Nutrition

Korean Journal of Nutrition 2012; 45(1): 44-56.

Published online: 29 February 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2012.45.1.44

A Study on Dietary Behavior and Nutrient Intake of Children with Developmental Disorders in Gyeongbuk Area

Min-A Yoon¹, Young-Sun Choi²

¹Department of Nutritional Education, Graduate School of Education, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 712-714, Korea.

²Department of Food and Nutrition, Daegu University, Gyeongsan 712-714, Korea.

To whom correspondence should be addressed. (yschoi@daegu.ac.kr)

Received 26 October 2011 Revised 27 December 2011 Accepted 25 January 2012

Abstract

This study investigated dietary behavior and nutrient intake in children with developmental disorders as compared with non-disabled children and assessed the relationship between dietary behavior and nutrient intake. The survey was conducted on 118 students (4^th and 5^th grade) of four special education schools and 244 students of an elementary school (control group). The survey was carried out using a questionnaire and an interview. Of the disabled children, children with a mental disorder comprised 72.9% and those with emotional disorders including autism comprised 26.3%. The average percentages of height and weight to standards for age were significantly lower in the disabled female children as compared with the non-disabled female children. Scores for table utensil handling skills, eating behavior, and an unbalanced diet were lower in the disabled children compared with those in the non-disabled children. Dietary behavior scores were not significantly different by either gender or age in the disabled children. Mean energy intake was less than the estimated energy requirement in both groups. Nutrients taken at less than the recommended intake level were calcium, iron, vitamin A, and folate in both groups. Food behavior score at mealtime, personal hygiene score at mealtime, and an unbalanced diet score were significantly correlated with iron and vitamin A intake in disabled male children. Personal hygiene score at mealtime was significantly correlated with calcium, iron, and vitamin A intake, and unbalanced diet score was significantly correlated with iron and vitamin A intake in disabled female children. Although the nutritional status of disabled children with developmental disorders was appropriate in general, improvement in their dietary behaviors through education and practice would allow them to eat balanced diets with essential nutrients.

Keywords: developmental disorder, disabled children, food behavior, nutrient intake

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General characteristics of the subjects

^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 2

Anthropometric characteristics of the subjects

1) Mean ± SD 2) Number of subjects 3) Measurement/standard value ×100 4) Growth standards for children and adolescents, Center for Disease Control

^*: p < 0.05, ^***: p < 0.001 significantly different from non-disabled children within the same sex by independent t-test

Table 3

Regularity of meals, reason for meal skipping and duration of meal time

1) N (%)

^*: p < 0.05, ^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 4

Handling skills of table utensils

1) Scoring 'unable to use' 1, 'need physical help' 2, 'act as directed' 3, and 'use for oneself' 4 2) N (%)

^***: p < 0.001

Table 5

Behaviors during meal time

1) Scoring from 'very likely' 1 to 'very unlikely' 5 2) N (%)

^***: p < .001

Table 6

Practices of personal hygiene at mealtime

1) Scoring from 'strongly disagree' 1 to 'strongly agree' 5 2) N (%)

^*: p < 0.05, ^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 7

Biased attitude against characteristics and kinds of foods

1) Scoring from 'very likely' 1 to 'very unlikely' 5 2) N (%)

^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001

Table 8

Comparison of dietary behavior scores

1) Mean ± SD (Range)

^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001: means of total score are significantly different from those of non-disabled children by independent t-test

Table 9

Nutrient intakes of the subjects

1) Mean (%EER or %RNI) ± SD 2) ^*: p < 0.05, ^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001 by independent t-test

Table 10

Nutrient intakes of disabled children depending on the residence

1) Mean ± SD 2) ^*: p < 0.05, by independent t-test

Table 11

Pearson correlation coefficients between nutrient intakes and dietary behavior scores of disabled children

^*: p < 0.05, ^**: p < 0.01, ^***: p < 0.001

Notes

This research was supported by a 2009 research grant from Daegu University.

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