• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.70-75
• /
• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Association between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and obesity is universally a controversial issue. This study was undertaken to examine the beverage consumption pattern of Korean adolescents. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data was collected from the 2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey involving 65,528 adolescent respondents. A list of the most frequently consumed beverages was analyzed, and the consumption frequency of carbonated beverages, SSBs, and energy drinks during the past seven-days was assessed. The main reasons for the adolescents to consume the beverages were also determined. RESULTS: The beverage preference of adolescents were carbonated beverages (31.0%), 'fruit and vegetable beverages (17.7%)', 'milk (13.6%)', and 'coffee (12.7%)'. Carbonated beverages and SSBs were consumed more than three times a week by 27.1% and 41.1% of the respondents, respectively. About 86.2% of adolescents did not take of any energy drinks during the last seven-days. Taste was the most common reason that adolescents considered when choosing a drink. Carbonated beverages consumed more frequently by boys than girls, and high school students drank coffee more frequently than middle school students. CONCLUSIONS: Boys had a higher preference for unhealthy beverages than girls, whereas consumption of high-caffeine drinks was greater amongst high-school students than middle school students.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate income-related health inequalities among adolescent population across regions in Korea. Methods: Data of 8,456 adolescents from 1998, 2001, 2005, 2007 Korean Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for the analysis. True health status was proxied by self-rated health and overweight status. Per capita income was computed from household monthly average income adjusted by consumer price with base year 2005. Adolescent health inequalities were estimated by Concentration Index (CI) across income and space. Results: Ill health score was related with age (p<0.0001), gender (p=0.0155) and income (p<0.0001). Negative relationship between income and ill-health indicated that higher income group tended to enjoy better health and less overweight. These evidences suggested ill health were accumulated on the economically disadvantaged adolescents. The size of health inequalities (ill-health score) were estimated as CI=-0.057 and CI=-0.030 across income groups and regions, respectively. Comparable measures of within region health disparities were also observed. Conclusion: Since health disparity among adolescent population was small compared to adult population, lessening adolescent health inequality could be a helpful way of mitigating health disparities in later stage. Considering life stage of adolescents, school system and local communities could play important roles toward adolescent health distribution. Although health disparity between regions existed, health disparity within a region should not be neglected.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.552-558
• /
• 2019

Purpose: Although vitamin D deficiency is common among Korean adolescent girls and young women, few studies have explored the potential health effects of vitamin D deficiency in this vulnerable population. This study examined the association between vitamin D deficiency and anemia in Korean adolescent girls and young women. Methods: The data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008 ~ 2014 were used. A total of 3,643 girls and adult women aged 12 to 29 who provided all the information (including serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D, hemoglobin, and/or serum ferritin) needed for the analysis were included in the analysis. Demographic, lifestyle, and health data were obtained through survey questionnaires. Anemia and iron deficiency anemia were defined according to the World Health Organization cut-offs. Multivariable logistic regression, and restricted cubic spline regression were used in the analysis. Results: In fully adjusted logistic regression models, the vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with higher prevalences of anemia (odds ratio (OR): 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04 ~ 2.49) and iron deficiency anemia (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.01 ~ 2.03). In a cubic spline regression model, we observed a dose-response relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentration and anemia, and this linear relationship was also clearly observed between serum 25(OH)D concentration and iron deficiency anemia. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency may be associated with a higher prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and anemia in adolescent girls and young women. Alternatively, vitamin D deficiency may be a concurrent event for patients with anemia, which we cannot distinguish in this cross-sectional study. Further studies are needed to verify the causality in this population of low vitamin D levels.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.295-305
• /
• 2021

Purpose: Hepcidin levels have previously been reported to be correlated with liver damage. However, the association between hepcidin levels and liver fibrosis in children with fatty liver disease remains unclear. This study therefore aimed to investigate the pathophysiology of fibrosis in children with fatty liver disease and its association with hepcidin levels. Methods: This retrospective case series included 12 boys aged 6-17 years who were diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) at the Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Sixteen liver biopsy samples from 12 subjects were analyzed. Serum hepcidin levels were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunostaining for hepcidin was performed, and the samples were stratified by staining intensity. Results: Serum hepcidin levels were higher in pediatric NAFLD/NASH patients than in controls. Conversely, a significant inverse correlation was observed between hepcidin immunostaining and Brunt grade scores and between hepcidin scores and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, hyaluronic acid, and leukocyte levels. We observed inverse correlations with a high correlation coefficient of >0.4 between hepcidin immunostaining and aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bile acid, and platelet count. Conclusion: There was a significant inverse correlation between hepcidin immunoreactivity and fibrosis in pediatric NAFLD patients; however, serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher, suggesting that these patients experienced a reduction in the hepcidin-producing ability of the liver in response to iron levels, leading to subsequent fibrosis. Therefore, hepcidin levels can be used as markers to identify the progression of fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.497-508
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition education using materials based on social cognitive theory. Education topics focused on improving health-related and dietary self-awareness and behavior capability in adolescents. Methods: Participants were recruited from a middle school for girls; 67 students (educated group, n=34 and control group, n=33) participated. The education group received 12 lessons in club activity class. Self-administered surveys were conducted for each group before and after the nutrition education program. The questionnaires consisted of variables such as self-efficacy, outcome expectation, outcome expectancy, knowledge, and dietary practices based on the social cognitive theory. Education satisfaction was evaluated using a five-point Likert scale for two sections: a) teaching and learning and b) education results. The data were analyzed using a t-test and Chi Square-test (significance level: p < 0.05). Results: In the education group, post-education, there were significant differences in self-efficacy (p < 0.05), knowledge (p < 0.01), and dietary practices (p < 0.05), whereas outcome expectation and expectancy did not show any significant differences. None of the variables showed any significant differences in the control group. Educational satisfaction scores were $4.38{\pm}0.12$ (teaching and learning) and $4.14{\pm}0.15$ (education results). Conclusions: This study showed that improving adolescent's awareness and behavior capability has a positive effect on their dietary practices. Moreover, this study suggested that a theory-based determinant should be considered to improve dietary behavior among adolescents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.37 no.10
• /
• pp.881-887
• /
• 2004

Elevated plasma homocysteine is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Exercise is generally believed to reduce the plasma homocysteine levels and therefore, being beneficial for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is a possibility that athletes undergoing strenuous training and competition which increase oxidative stress may suffer from increased plasma homocysteine levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of endurance training on the plasma concentrations of B vitamins and homocysteine in 23 male adolescent field hockey players. Data collection and blood sampling was performed during the training period and non-training period. Following the training period, significant changes in energy and vitamin B6 intakes were observed in these subjects. Plasma vitamin B2, pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) and homocysteine levels were significantly higher during the training period than non-training period, whereas no difference was observed in plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels. Positive correlation was observed between plasma folate and folic acid intakes. When energy, B vitamin intakes were adjusted there was a significant negative correlation between plasma homocysteine levels and plasma riboflavin, folate and vitamin B12 levels. In conclusion, it is suggested that athletes with oxidative stress by strenuous exercise may need B vitamins since riboflavin, folic acid and vitamin Bl2 were shown to be negatively correlated with plasma homocysteine in athletes during the training period.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.413-418
• /
• 1992

The prevalence of childhood and adolescents obesity at ages 6 to 17 in Seoul were investigated on 1992. The number of children and adolescents comprised of 3310 boys and 3270 girls. Obesity was defined as weight that exceeded the standard weighter for heigher and sex by more than 20%(relative weight>120%) The results were as follows : 1) The overall prevalence rate of childhood and adolescent obesity was 14.45% The prevalence rate of boys was 15.83% and that of girls was 13.06% on 1992. The overall difference of prevalence rate between boys and girls in significant(p<0.001) 2) The highest peak age is 11 years old. There were two peaks in the prevalence rate of obesity one is from 9 to 11 years old. the other is from 15 to 17 years old. 3) The prevalence rate of overweight that exceeded the standard weight by more than 20% to 29% was 8.62% by more than 30% to 49% was 5.58% and by more than 50% was 0.25% Our study suggests than the prevalence rate of obesity among the children and adolescent in Seoul, Korea is gradually increasing which will affect the future adult population. We feel it is needed further investigation to determine the causes of increasing rate of obesity and early establishment of preventive programs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.119-128
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This review article provides an overview of the importance of breakfast by examining the relationship between breakfast and academic achievement including the papers published in Korean. Methods: This study searched a total of six domestic and international databases. The main search words for searching the database were 'breakfast,' 'morning meal,' 'adolescent,' 'teen or teenage,' 'children' and 'academic performance,' and used search operators when available such as 'breakfast AND adolescent AND academic performance'. Results: We searched a total of 274 studies through six databases and included a total of 15 primary studies in which 12 studies were cross-sectional and three were cohort studies. Since a quantitative integration of the primary studies was difficult to achieve such as performing a meta-analysis, this study performed a descriptive analysis of all the 15 studies and the results have shown that eating breakfast has a significant effect on academic achievement. In other words, students who regularly had breakfast showed more than twice the academic performance compared to those who did not have breakfast, and even though the math scores of students who had breakfast were statistically significantly higher, none of the study results inferred the reason. Conclusion: This study showed the importance of eating breakfast during adolescence by presenting that academic achievement increases with regular or more frequent habits of eating breakfast.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.46-58
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to compare the nutrition intakes and factors related to dietary behaviors according to age in female. The subjects included 579 females aged 15 - 59 years. This survey was conducted using a selfadministered questionnaire to obtain data about eating behaviors, living habits, eating disorders by EAT-26 (Eating Attitude Test-26), and nutrition knowledge. In younger women aged 15 - 20 years, the living habits related to health such as smoking, drinking and exercising were undesirable. In addition, the younger women group had significantly higher levels of skipping meals and frequency of eating snacks compared to the older women group and their eating times were not regular. And they showed a lower score of health eating index by mini dietary assessment (MDA). Although, all age groups consumed energy, Ca, Fe, and thiamin below the Korean RDA; especially, in adolescent, Ca intakes ($67.1\%$ RDA) were extremely low. In addition, mean score of EAT-26 was significantly higher in young women aged 15 - 29 years than older women. Also, they had rather lower levels of accuracy and perception for nutrition knowledge compared to older age group. These results suggested that Korean adolescent had undesirable nutritional intakes and attitude, and nutrition knowledge, indicating inadequate eating behaviors. These poor dietary behaviors can affect the health status. Therefore, the nutrition counseling and education to help people to have correct nutrition knowledge and to form better eating habits needs to be established.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.165-177
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study attempted to compare adolescents' dietary behaviors and perceptions by gender in order to recommend useful strategies for nutrition interventions. Methods: Subjects were 2,363 middle school (MS) and high school (HS) students. They completed a self-administered questionnaire on their interest in diet and health, dietary perceptions, nutrition knowledge, dietary practices, and dietary environment at home. Data were analyzed using t-test, $x^2$-test, and simple regression analysis by gender and by school groups Results: Overall, girls obtained higher scores than boys did for "interest" (MS: p<0.001; HS: p<0.01), "dietary perceptions" (MS: p<0.001; HS: p<0.01), and "knowledge" (MS: p<0.01; HS: p<0.001). Regarding "dietary practices," no gender differences were observed among MS students, however, among HS students, boys obtained higher scores-reflecting good practices-than girls did (p<0.01). In all subjects, dietary environment at home was strongly associated with dietary practice than other variables (MS boys: ${\beta}$=0.435, p<0.001; MS girls: ${\beta}$=0.492, p<0.001, HS boys: ${\beta}$=0.271, p<0.001; HS girls: ${\beta}$=0.429, p<0.001). Conclusions: We observed gender differences in some of the variables such as knowledge and perception among adolescent students. Educational programs and core strategies that consider these gender differences need to be developed. Specifically, for girls, educational programs should focus on facilitating dietary recommendation adherence, whereas for boys, the program could focus on improving dietary knowledge and perceptions.