Relationship between Bowel Habit and Food Intake among Female College Students

• Published in: Eiyōgaku zasshi Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 93 - 98
• Main Authors: Takezoe, Reiko, Hirai, Kazuko, Okamoto, Keiko, Kawakami, Eiko, Miyagawa, Kuniko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Japanese Society of Nutrition and Dietetics 1985
• Subjects: cultured milk and yogurt; defecation tendencies; food consumption; milk and dairy products
• ISSN: 0021-5147; 1883-7921
• DOI: 10.5264/eiyogakuzashi.43.93

To obtain data on the relationship between constipation tendency and dietary habit, we surveyed the bowel habit and food intake of female college students. Subjects studied were: 100 students majoring in food sciences at a college; 52 majors of food sciences at a junior college; and 72 student nurses at a college. All the colleges were situated in and around Osaka. Total of 224 subjects were asked to fill in questionaires in mid January, 1983. Those who had bowel movements three times or less a week were classified as suffering from constipation. Of the students surveyed, 84% lived at home; and 13% indicated they skipped meals often, mostly breakfast. No relationship was observed between the rate of skipping meals and the living style or constipation tendency. Despite the fact that 90% considered costipation affected their health, 25% did suffer from constipation. Of those suffering from constipation, 35% had hard stools and the time required for a bowel movement tended to be long. Of those replying that they often experienced abdomenal pains or distention, 64% and 70% respectively suffered from constipation. More than 50% of those with good bowel habit responded that they had bowel movements soon after breakfast, while no set time could be established for those suffering from constipation. Study on a possible relationship between constipation and dietary pattern revealed that there was no significant difference between intake of vegetables and potatoes and the number of bowel movements the respondents had. 44% of those who suffered from constipation indicated they consumed less amount of milk and dairy products such as cultured milk and yogurt. 52% responded that they had such only once or twice a month. Of those who had bowel movement once or twice a week, 75% took cultured milk or yogurt less than once or twice a month.