김선미1, 고유라1, 이동률2, 박민선3

1강원대학교 의과대학 강원대학교병원 가정의학과, 2원광대학교 의과대학 산본병원 가정의학과, 3서울대학교 의과대학 서울대학교병원 가정의학과

Background: Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Many studies have revealed that eating frequency influences the total serum cholesterol level, glucose tolerance
and obesity. Hypothesizing that an increase in eating frequency decreases the prevalence of metabolic
syndrome with total energy intake adjusted, we evaluated the association between eating frequency and the
risk of metabolic syndrome in Koreans aged more than 20 years old.
Methods: We used the data from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Metabolic
syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III and
the Asia-Pacific regional obesity guidelines. To examine the association of metabolic syndrome with eating frequency,
snack frequency and meal frequency, we performed multiple logistic regression analysis adjusting for
age, sex, physical activity, daily caloric intake, smoking and drinking.
Results: Meal frequency was associated with metabolic syndrome in the 20-45 years group (P=0.011). Eating
frequency was significantly related with metabolic syndrome in the group aged more than 45 years (P=0.025).
Within the subgroup of subjects more than 45 years who had one or two meals a day, snack frequency showed
a significant association with metabolic syndrome (P=0.038).
Conclusions: These results suggest that a decreased eating frequency is associated with a risk of metabolic
syndrome, although the causal relationship is not exactly known. It would be useful to pursue this question
through further studies.

Korean J Health Promot 2011;11(1):9-17
Keywords: Metabolic syndrome, Dietary habits, eating frequency, meal frequency