According to a survey, women in their 20s and over the age of 75 in Korea eat fewer calories than they need.

On December 23, the Ministry of Health and Welfare revealed the "2020 Korean Nutrition Standards" survey. The Ministry of Health and Welfare provides proper standards for eating 40 kinds of nutrients, including energy, vitamins, and minerals, every five years.

According to this standard, women in their 20s and over 75 should eat about 200kcal more than they do now. On the other hand, men in their 50s and 60s should reduce their nutritional intake by about 125 kcal and have a more balanced diet.

Women from ages 19~29 in Korea need to eat an average of 2,000 kilocalories a day to get enough energy for their activities. However, according to the 2013-2017 National Health and Nutrition Survey, women in their 20s only ate 1,794.6 kilocalories on average.

The recommended intake for women over the age of 75 is 1,500 kilocalories per day, but in actuality, women in Korea in that age range only consume 1,305.4 kilocalories per day. Protein and fat intake accounted for only 25 percent of the total nutrients.

On the other hand, men aged 50 to 64 were eating more than they needed. The recommended intake for men in this age range was 2,200 kcal, but the average intake was 2,325.5 kcal. The average percentage of carbohydrates consumed by men in their 50s and older was about 70 percent of the total nutrition intake.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare standards, it is desirable to consume carbohydrates, fat, and protein at a 5:3:2 ratio.

People in Korea are eating less calcium and vitamin A in all age groups, and they were consuming an excessive amount of sodium. Eating less calcium can increase the prevalence of osteoporosis. Excessive sodium intake causes chronic diseases such as high blood pressure. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said, "The whole nation should increase calcium and vitamin A intake and reduce sodium intake."