[Trends in Dietary Behavior of Korean Adolescents: Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2013-2022]

Adolescent dietary behaviors influence not only their current health but also their diet and health in adulthood. This study aimed to understand the trends in the dietary behavior of Korean adolescents over the past decade and to formulate policy suggestions to improve such behaviors. We analyzed thr trends of dietary behaviors using the data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2013-2022, and examined the changes in the last 2 years and the differences before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Over the past decade, the dietary behavior of Korean adolescents has worsened. Skipping breakfast and consumption of energy drinks have increased and fruit, vegetable, and milk consumption has greatly decreased. However, the increasing trends in consumption of fast foods, soda, and sugary drinks has slowed. Many adolescents reported skipping breakfast due to lack of time or appetite, and recently, more adolescents have reported thinking that it is okay not to eat breakfast. Many adolescents did not consume fruit or milk because they do not think they should consume it daily, or because it is cumbersome or tasteless. To improve the dietary behaviors of adolescents, it is necessary to improve their perception of a regular and balanced diet, provide a healthy eating environment, implement nutrition education, and strengthen leadership in managing nutrition at school and home. In addition, rapidly worsening dietary behavior must be monitored, the perceptions and attitudes of parents and adolescents regarding dietary behavior must be investigated and understood, and strategies to improve dietary behavior must be designed.