Study on the Intake Attitudes and Educational Needs of Sugars among Middle School Students in Gongju City of Chungnam Province

This study was performed to provide basic information for establishing educational direction and government policy to form the proper sugar intake attitudes of adolescents. A total of 392 middle school students (13.6±1.1 years of age) selected by a convenience method in Gongju area participated in a self-administered questionnaire survey. As a results, the rate of doubted or solid sugar addiction determined by a previously reported sugar addiction index was 50.0% for males and 65.3% for females (P less than 0.01). The mean score of the sugar intake habits was not high (2.07~ 3.03 out of 5) but was higher in females (P less than 0.05). Approximately 85.5% of subjects accepted event days sharing sweet foods as a gift positively, and the overall participation rate was higher in females (P less than 0.001). The mean score of nutritional knowledge related to sugars was 6.44±1.61 for males and 7.10±1.55 for females (P less than 0.001). The concern and intention of reducing sugar intakes were high, and females were higher (P less than 0.05). There was a high tendency toward reducing sugars when eating at school, at home or at restaurants, which were higher in females except for restaurants (P less than 0.001). 52.8% of subjects answered that sugars should be treated more importantly in home economics subjects; the percentage was higher in females (P0.01). The most wanted content and teaching method regarding sugars were 'relationship between sugar intakes and health (62.8%)' and 'cooking activity (61.8%)'. To reduce the sugar intakes, 49.7% of subjects answered that 'drinking water instead of drinking sweet drinks when thirsty' was most urgent and there was a difference by gender (P less than 0.05). In conclusion, sugar addiction of the subjects was at the level of concern. Furthermore, nutritional knowledge related to sugars was moderate and concerns and intentions for reducing their sugar intakes and education demand were high. Therefore, systematic education and policy support to reduce the sugar intakes considering gender differences will be effective.