Nutrition Research and Practice

The Korean Nutrition Society (한국영양학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Changes in body weight and food security of adult North Korean refugees living in South Korea

  • Received : 2016.12.21
  • Accepted : 2017.06.13
  • Published : 2017.08.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Relocation to new environments can have a negative impact on health by altering body weight and dietary patterns. This study attempted to elucidate changes in body weight, food security, and their current food and nutrient consumption in adult North Korean refugees (NKR) living in South Korea (SK). SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study analyzed data on 149 adult NKR from a North Korean refugee health in SK cohort at four time points (leaving North Korea, entering SK, first examination, and second examination). Body weight was self-reported at the two earlier time points and directly measured at the two later time points. Food security, diet-related behaviors (dietary habits and food consumption), and sociodemographic information were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Nutrient intake information was obtained by one-day 24-hour recall. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS ver 23.0. RESULTS: Body weight increased during relocation by an average of 4 kg, although diversified patterns were observed during the settlement period in SK. Approximately 39.6% of subjects maintained their body weight between the first and second examinations, whereas 38.6% gained and 22.1% lost at least 3% of their body weight at the first examination by the second examination. Food security status improved from 12.1% food secure proportion to 61.7%. NKR showed generally good food and nutrient consumption (index of nutrient quality: 0.77-1.93). The body weight loss group showed the most irregular meal consumption pattern (P < 0.05), and eating-out was infrequent in all three groups. Consumption frequencies of food groups did not differ by group, except in the fish group (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: This study observed considerable body weight adjustment during the settlement period in SK after initial weight gain, whereas food security consistently improved. More detailed understanding of this process is needed to assist healthy settlement for NKR in SK.

Keywords

References

  1. Chang NS, Hwang JY. Food shortage, nutritional deprivation, and reduced body size in North Korean defectors. Korean J Nutr 2000;33:540-7.
  2. Ministry of Unification (KR). Policy for North Korean refugees [Internet]. Seoul: Ministry of Unification; 2016 [cited 2016 September 9]. Available from: http://www.unikorea.go.kr/content.do?cmsid=3099.
  3. Haggard S, Noland M. Witness to Transformation: Refugee Insights into North Korea. Washington, D.C.: Peterson Institute for International Economics; 2011.
  4. Seo SH, Lee EJ, Kim JW. Nutrition transition in Korea and other countries. J Korea Elem Educ 2008;19:31-55. https://doi.org/10.20972/kjee.19.1.200807.31
  5. Kim HR. Overview of the nutritional status and policy directions of supporting children's nutrition in North Korea. Health Welf Policy Forum 2007;132:24-34.
  6. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; International Fund for Agricultural Development; World Food Programme. The State of Food Insecurity in the World: Meeting the 2015 International Hunger Targets: Taking Stock of Uneven Progress. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; 2015.
  7. Goel MS, McCarthy EP, Phillips RS, Wee CC. Obesity among US immigrant subgroups by duration of residence. JAMA 2004;292: 2860-7. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.292.23.2860
  8. Kim HR. Multi-cultural families of health problems and counter policies in Korea. Health Welf Issue Focus 2013;185:1-8.
  9. Cho M, Kim JH, Kim HY, Seo JA, Kim NH, Choi KM, Lee WJ, Yohan L, Baik SH, Choi DS, Kim SG. Weight gain and the risk of metabolic syndrome among North Korean refugees living in South Korea. Diabetes Obes Metab 2010;12:56.
  10. International Organization for Migration. Handbook on Direct Assistance for North Korean Migrants. Geneva: International Organization for Migration; 2014. p.50-1.
  11. Hwang JY, Chang NS. Dietary patterns and nutrient intake in North Koreans by utilizing literature search and survey. Korean J Community Nutr 2001;6:371-9.
  12. Lee EJ, Pei YQ, Kim EM. A survey of the adaptation and preference for South Korean food in North Korean refugees. Korean J Culinary Res 2013;19:93-110.
  13. Kim MJ. Past and present food intake of North Korean defectors using food frequency questionnaire [master's thesis]. Seoul: Hanyang University; 2015.
  14. Choi SK, Park SM, Joung H. Still life with less: North Korean young adult defectors in South Korea show continued poor nutrition and physique. Nutr Res Pract 2010;4:136-41. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2010.4.2.136
  15. Lee SK, Nam SY. Comparison of food and nutrient consumption status between displaced North Korean children in South Korea and South Korean children. Korean J Community Nutr 2012;17: 407-18. https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2012.17.4.407
  16. Choe MA, Yi M, Choi JA, Shin G. Health knowledge, health promoting behavior and factors influencing health promoting behavior of North Korean defectors in South Korea. J Korean Acad Nurs 2012;42:622-31. https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2012.42.5.622
  17. Lee YH, Lee WJ, Kim YJ, Cho MJ, Kim JH, Lee YJ, Kim HY, Choi DS, Kim SG, Robinson C. North Korean refugee health in South Korea (NORNS) study: study design and methods. BMC Public Health 2012;12:172. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-172
  18. World Health Organization Western Pacific Region; International Association for the Study of Obesity; International Obesity Task Force. The Asia-Pacific Perspective: Redefining Obesity and Its Treatment. Sydney: Health Communications Australia Pty Limited; 2000.
  19. Stevens J, Truesdale KP, McClain JE, Cai J. The definition of weight maintenance. Int J Obes (Lond) 2006;30:391-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803175
  20. Coates J, Swindale A, Bilinsky P. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) for Measurement of Food Access: Indicator Guide. Washington, D.C.: Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project; 2007.
  21. Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Korea Health Statistics 2010: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1). Cheongwon: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2011.
  22. The Korean Nutrition Society. CAN-Pro 5.0 (Web ver.) [Internet]. Seoul: The Korean Nutrition Society; 2015 [cited 2016 July 10]. Available from: http://canpro5.kns.or.kr.
  23. Ministry of Health and Welfare (KR); The Korean Nutrition Society. Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2015. Sejong: Ministry of Health and Welfare; 2016. p.2-23.
  24. Yoon IJ, Kim SK. Health and medical care of North Korean defectors in South Korea. Health Soc Sci 2005;17:149-82.
  25. Delavari M, Sonderlund AL, Swinburn B, Mellor D, Renzaho A. Acculturation and obesity among migrant populations in high income countries--a systematic review. BMC Public Health 2013;13: 458-69. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-458
  26. Oza-Frank R, Cunningham SA. The weight of US residence among immigrants: a systematic review. Obes Rev 2010;11:271-80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00610.x
  27. Singh GK, Siahpush M, Hiatt RA, Timsina LR. Dramatic increases in obesity and overweight prevalence and body mass index among ethnic-immigrant and social class groups in the United States, 1976-2008. J Community Health 2011;36:94-110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-010-9287-9
  28. Yoon IJ. Acculturation and social adaptation of North Korean migrants. Korean Stud J 2012;41:37-61.
  29. Lee SK, Nam SY. Food security experiences of displaced North Korean households. Nutr Res Pract 2014;8:198-204. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2014.8.2.198

Cited by

  1. 한국에 거주하고 있는 북한이탈주민 여성의 골밀도에 따른 식생활과 영양상태 vol.52, pp.5, 2019, https://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2019.52.5.449
  2. Comparisons of food security, dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes between adult North Korean Refugees in South Korea and South Koreans vol.14, pp.2, 2017, https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2020.14.2.134
  3. 12세 미만 아토피 피부염 어린이의 에너지 및 영양소적정섭취 수준 평가: 2013-2015년 국민건강영양조사 자료를 바탕으로 vol.53, pp.2, 2017, https://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2020.53.2.141