The purpose of this study was to figure out the characteristics of dietary habits and lifestyles related to the development of insulin resistance syndrome(IRS). The participants in this study were 595 adults with one or more abnormal data from a health examination and 215 normal adults. When IRS was defined as a condition in which the subjects have 2 or more abnormalities among obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and hyperglycemia, the prevalence rate was 37.8%. We classified the 595 adults by the number of components of IRS components they had, the higher age and obesity index they had. Total cholesterol and glucose levels in the blood were also positively related to the number of IRS components. IRS subjects tended to practice less habitual drinking and more exercise and weight control. Coffee consumption and dining out frequency were also lower in the IRS group. An analysis of food habits by odds ratio indicated that total food score was better in the IRS group. However, it appeared that food habits such as "frequent snacking" and "never rejecting offered foods" need to be improved in IRS subjects. Other undesirable food habits were related to the consumption of eggs, dairy products, fried foods, garlic and onion. Dietary intake of Ca, Fe, riboflavin, Vit A, and energy were less than 75% of the Korean recommended allowance for more than half of the subjects. Nutrient intake was lower, Ca/P ratio from food intake was worse in the IRS group. Our results indicated that nutrition counseling for IRS need to be focused on balanced food intake to supply sufficient amount of each nutrient.nt of each nutrient.