title: A Study on Perception and Usage Status on Health Functional Foods in Women according to Menopause Status.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to provide a reference base for suggesting proper guidelines for the health of the people by analyzing perception and intake pattern on health functional foods and by identifying needs in pre- and postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a self-administered survey in women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a university hospital between July and August, 2014. The survey questionnaire consisted of 8 items on general characteristics, 4 items on awareness on health functional foods, and 16 items on usage status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all 133 women with ages ranging between 19 to 67 years, postmenopausal women were 57 accounting for 42.9% of all subjects. Mean age was 55.4 ± 6.2 and menopausal age was 49.6 ± 4.3 in the postmenopause group. Mean age was 38.7 ± 9.0 in the postmenopause group. With respect to components of health functional foods, 76.3% of women answered "important" in the postmenopause group, significantly higher than 49.1% in the postmenopause group (P < 0.01). In regard to price, those who answered "important" accounted for the largest percentage in the premenopausal group at 56.6%, and those who answered "moderately important" accounted for 57.9% in the postmenopausal women. A significant difference was found between the two groups (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Development of products reflecting consumer needs can be considered. It is important to foster an environment allowing individuals to choose right health functional foods and further studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Heesook
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hee
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Hyeog
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Food habits; Functional food; Perception; Postmenopause