Risk of Hypertension in Single-Person Household Youths 1.4 Times Higher Than in Multi-Person Household Youths

High Fat Intake Ratio Compared to Total Calorie Consumption...Inappropriate Eating Habits Need Improvement

The risk of developing hypertension among young adults living alone was found to be 1.4 times higher than that of young adults living in multi-person households, highlighting the increased need for dietary habit improvement. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Getty Images Bank

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] A study has found that young adults living alone have a 1.4 times higher risk of developing hypertension compared to those living in multi-person households. In particular, their fat intake ratio relative to total calorie consumption was found to be high.

According to the Korea Food Communication Forum (KOFRUM) on the 6th, a research team led by Professor Baek Jinkyung from the Department of Food and Nutrition at Eulji University analyzed the health status of 5,325 young adults aged 20 to 30 who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2019, based on the number of household members, and found these results.

Professor Baek’s team classified young adults into single-person (living alone) households and multi-person households based on the number of household members. The proportion of single-person households among those in their 20s and 30s was 9.4% (500 people). Their fat intake ratio relative to total calories was 25.1%, which was high, while dietary fiber intake per 1000 kcal was low at 9.9g. The average waist circumference was 80.6 cm, and diastolic blood pressure was 75 mmHg, both relatively high.

The risk of developing hypertension for young adults living alone was 1.4 times that of those living in households with two or more people.

In the paper, Professor Baek’s team stated, "Young adults in their 20s and 30s living alone (perhaps due to their youth) do not yet show particularly serious health problems," but also pointed out, "Considering the health behaviors and nutrient intake status of young adults living alone, there is a high risk of developing diseases such as hypertension as they age, so prevention and preparation are necessary."

There were also significant differences between young adults living alone and those in multi-person households in terms of frequency of eating out and skipping breakfast. The rate of eating breakfast three or more times a week was 53.6% for multi-person households, but only 37.0% for single-person households. The proportion of those eating out at least once a day was 57.6% for single-person households and 35.1% for multi-person households.

Professor Baek’s team explained in the paper, "Research has shown that young adults in their 20s and 30s who skip breakfast have a 1.2 to 1.4 times higher risk of dyslipidemia compared to their peers who eat breakfast regularly," and added, "Eating breakfast consisting of high-calorie and high-fat fast food increases oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species), which contributes to the development of hypertension and dyslipidemia."

The research team pointed out that young adults living alone tend to develop inappropriate eating habits such as consuming instant foods, eating quickly, and binge eating when dining alone, which can lead to adverse health outcomes, so preparation is necessary.

This research was recently published in the Journal of the Korean Society of Food and Nutrition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.