The purpose of this study was to identify differences in dietary behavior in Korean and Chinese female university students and investigate factors that influence dietary behavior. A total of 447 female university students in Korea and China were surveyed between June 27 and August 30, 2016. The data were analyzed using χ 2 test, t-test, one way ANOVA, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Among Korean female university students, those who skipped breakfast were 26.18 times (95% CI:

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... 1-126.407) more likely to be at a low-level stage for balanced diets than those who did not skip breakfast. In addition, compared to Korean female university students who did not eat late-night meals, those who ate late-night meals were 3.15 times (95% CI: 1.28-7.768) more likely to be at a low-level stage for balanced diets. Compared to Chinese female university students who did not skip breakfast, those who skipped breakfast were 4.22 times (95% CI: 1.865-9.551) more likely to be at a low-level stage for balanced diets. Compared to the Chinese female university students who did not stay up all night, those who stayed up all night were 5.25 times (95% CI: 1.712-16.074) to be in the preparation stage. The study results show that some factors that influence stage changes in balanced diets in Korean female university students were skipping breakfast and eating late-night meals. Therefore, it is recommended that solutions for improving the behavior of late-night meals and skipping breakfast, which are factors influencing stage changes in balanced diets should be strategically performed according to dietary behavior stages.