• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.435-448
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the changes in the nutrient intake and the prevalences of obesity and metabolic syndrome according to the eating alone behavior in middle-aged men and women. Methods: The data from the 2013 ~ 2017 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. A total of 7,728 adults (3,404 male, 4,324 female) aged 40 ~ 64 years old were included. The subjects were classified into three groups according to the number of times eating alone per day (0, 1 ~ 2, and 3 times/day). Dietary data were collected by a 1-day 24-h recall. The nutrient intakes were compared among the three groups. Survey logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of the eating alone behavior with obesity and metabolic syndrome, adjusting for the related confounding variables. Results: In men, eating alone was associated significantly with a lower intake of potassium (p-for-trend = 0.048) and lower intake of calories from protein (p-for-trend = 0.04). In women, the proportion of subjects consuming energy less than 75% of the estimated energy requirement (p = 0.001) and less than the estimated adequate requirement of riboflavin (p < 0.001) differed significantly according to the eating alone behavior. The eating alone behavior was positively associated with an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome (p-for-trend = 0.033), increased blood pressure (p-for-trend < 0.001), and increased waist circumference (p-for-trend = 0.004). On the other hand, in women, however, the eating alone behavior was associated with a decreased risks of developing obesity (p-for-trend = 0.02). No association was found between the eating alone behavior and the risk of metabolic syndrome in women. Conclusion: These results suggest that the eating alone behavior is a risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Korean men.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.280-289
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• 2012

The objective of this research was to explore the influences of 'having a meal with someone' on individuals' eating pattern. Eating is not a simple matter of energy intake but also serves to anchor daily routines being cultivated by people and society. This study was conducted using a cross-sectional eating behavior survey of university students (N = 893, 380 men, 513 women) aged 20 to 24 years. Results were analyzed and presented as frequencies, means and ${\chi}^2$-test with SPSS 14.0. Differences in dietary habits by commensality and solo-eating were observed; Students who ate alone, spent 15 min for a meal and ate convenience food items when they didn't feel hungry. Compared to students who ate alone, those who ate together with someone spent 30 min for a meal and ate more amount of food. Eighty percent of respondents ate more various menus in commensality than solo-eating. They felt lonely when they ate alone and preferred to eat together. In conclusion, university students start to decide and select their own meals by themselves after junior and high school food services which are fixed with regard to menu and the amount. Dietary habits of Koreans rapidly changed concomitant with social changes over the past half century. Governments and health experts recognize that unbalanced meals cause lifestyle-related diseases, in particular obesity. Our research findings will contribute to more comprehensive efficient nutrition education programs in order to prevent obesity and other lifestyle-related diseases in early stages of adulthood.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2002

This study was performed to assess the effect of eating behaviors and health-related variables on overall dietary quality. Ninety-four(male 21, female 73) elderly who were over 60 residing in middle income areas in Cheongju city participated. Information on general characteristics of the elderly, health-related life style, regularity of meal, meal balance and desirable eating habits were obtained by interview based on questionnare. Dietary nutrient intake data were obtained through the 24 hour recall method. The mean age and BMI of the subjects were 73.3 years old and 23.3(male 21.8 female 23.7) respectively. The proportions of underweight and hypertension were 19.2% and 36.2%. Most nutrients except vitamin $B_2$ and calcium were consumed over 75% of the RDA. The Mean Adequacy of Ratio(MAR) of nutrient intake was 0.64(male 0.72, female 0.62). The average score of regularity of meal, meal balance, and desirable eating habits was 14.4 out of a possible 16, 13.7 out of a possible 24 and 5.5 out of a possible 16 points respectively. Male than female, older subjects than young subjects, and those living with their spouses than with other family or living alone had better scores in eating behaviors. Smoking, chewing ability and eating alone vs eating with company affected overall of regulality of meal and meal balance(p<0.05). Positive correlation (p<0.05) was also dietary quality. There was a positive correlation between the mean adequacy ratio, score observed between scores in regularity of meal and meal balance. Therefore, the elderly should be encouraged to eat a variety of food, maintain good dental health, keep regularity of meal and have meals with company to help improve overall dietary quality and eventually achieve optimal nutritional status.

• Journal of Family Relations
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.135-156
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• 2018

Objectives: This study aim to determine adolescent meal time, which provides the important context of parent-child sharing time. We divided mealtime into family meal and alone meal, and analyzed the time/space context of each meal time as well as the social determinations. Method: We employed adolescents age 10-18 who live with married patents and attends school at the present (n=5,128) from the original data of Korean Time Use Survey. Results: More adolescent were engaged in family meal rather than eating alone in daily bases. However, the trend show difference by day of week and academic grade; family meal are more prevalent in weekends rather than weekdays. As adolescent reaches high school age, the proportion of eating alone beats the proportion of family meal time. Most of the meal occur at home. Having meal outside was relatively scares, especially on weekdays. Tobit and logistic analysis reveal that, on weekday meal, less school hours, more time spent at the private academy, having family leisure event, and long mother's housework hours were positively associated with family meal time. In weekend model, father's education gradient was associated with family meal time, showing higher the father's education level, there were higher chance of having weekend family meal. As for the eating alone, relevant factors were similar with family meal but the directions were the opposite; having family leisure were negatively associated with alone meal, both weekdays and weekend. Long academy hours, meal preparing and leisure alone were positively associated eating alone. Overall, weekday meal time was strongly linked with adolescent daily schedules and time use, while for weekends meal, in both family meal and alone meal, the influence of parent factors were discovered. Conclusion: The results indicates that alone meal and the family meal are not exclusively related but seem to be complementary. Families tend to enjoy family meal yet, there are some necessary situation that adolescent need to be on their own. Increase in ready-made food industries, growing independence of children by age seem partly allow adolescent children to eat alone. Careful attentions may require for monitoring weekends meal situation and the family factor of adolescent in future studies.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.57-71
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• 2015

This study assessed gender differences of 'solo eating' perceptions and dietary behaviors among college students residing in Seoul and Kyongki province. Two types of questionnaires were used to analyze perception and dietary behaviors of subjects: a cross-sectional survey (N=893) and AGA (Associative Group Analysis; N=50). Women ate significantly more and intook a greater variety of foods when eating together (P<0.05). Men, on the other hand, showed no difference in these variables. Women, compared to men, spent more time eating both alone and together (P<0.001). In the associative group analysis (AGA), women showed a different semantic value for 'solo eating' compared to men. Women also tended to feel lonely when they ate alone and had positive images of eating together. Students began to decide their own dietary behaviors after junior and high school. Dietary lives of Koreans have rapidly changed along with social changes over the past half century. These research findings will contribute to more comprehensive and efficient nutrition education programs for preventing lifestyle-related diseases in the early stage of adulthood.

• 한국노년학
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.415-427
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• 2019

This study examined the effects of eating with others on depressive symptoms among the community-dwelling older adults by family arrangement, using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 7th (2016). A total of 1,233 older adults aged over 65 was included in this analysis. Eating status (alone / with others) and family arrangement (living alone / living with family) were dichotomized based on the original questionnaire. Among 955 older adults who live with family members, 855 persons (89.5%) eat together and 100 persons (10.5%) eat alone. Among 278 older adults who live alone, 86 persons (30.9%) eat together and 69 persons (69.1%) eat alone. Regression analysis controlling for demographic and health related factors, eating with others was significantly related to lower levels of depressive symptoms in the group of older adults who live with family members (β = -1.663, p <.001), while there is no statistical significance (β = -0.856, p = .148) in the counterpart. Therefore, various types of community-based programs need to be developed to encourage older adults to eat with other in their ordinary lives. It is also recommended that the community has to offer consistent care and support for the elderly particularly who live alone.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.101-107
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• 2020

This convergence study investigated the differences in obesity, depression, and quality of life of unmarried adults who ate alone. Secondary data from the 7^th National Health-Nutrition Survey in Korea was analyzed using the SPSS 24.0 program. We utilized data from 344 unmarried adults who received three meals per day. Our results showed that the rate of eating-alone was higher in the group with participants who were over 30-year-old, belonged to single-person households, and had low incomes. The group which ate alone had high depression scores and low quality of life scores. When developing a health promotion program, it is necessary to manage depression and quality of life of persons who eat alone and belong to single-person households.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.66-79
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated gender and age differences in nutrient intake and dietary quality of people eating alone. SUBJECTS/METHODS: From Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016 data, 2,305 adults aged 20 years and older that ate meals alone were included in this study. Their energy and nutrients intakes, as well as their nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), mean adequacy ratio (MAR), and index of nutritional quality (INQ) were analyzed. Food group consumption pattern, dietary variety score (DVS), dietary diversity score (DDS) were also analyzed. All data were compared among gender and age groups. RESULTS: Men consumed more energy and nutrients than women, except for vitamin C, and the NARs showed similar gender differences. The INQs of 4 nutrients (calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and riboflavin) were lower than 1.0 in men, whereas only the calcium INQ was lower than 1.0 in women. Men had a lower DDS (3.6) than women (3.9) (P < 0.001) and had more 'undesirable' food group consumption patterns than women (P < 0.001). The intakes of calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C were relatively low in the young-aged group (INQs less than 1.0). In the old-aged group, the MAR level was relatively low, and the INQs of calcium, riboflavin, and niacin were below 1.0. The old-aged group consumed more menu items, but their DVS was the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to women, the dietary quality and food diversity among men were poorer. There were poorer quality and diversity patterns in the young-aged group compared to those of the older groups. An overall low intake of nutrients and the low nutrient density of meals were the main dietary problems among the old-aged group who eat alone. Therefore, men, particularly young- and old-aged, need to be prioritized in nutritional policies directed toward those who eat alone.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.337-349
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between eating behaviour and healthy dietary competency of single and multi-person households, to improve healthy eating behavior. Methods: This study was conducted on 6,355 adult household members who participated in the Food Consumption Behavior Survey 2020. The subjects were divided into age groups comprising young people in their 20s and 30s, middle-aged people in their 40s and 50s, and the elderly in their 60s and above. The eating behavior and healthy dietary competency of single-person and multi-person households were then analyzed. Results: The average age of the members in the single-person households was found to be higher. Single-person households were also found to have a lower marriage rate and lower monthly household income than multi-person households across the age groups of young, middle-aged, and elderly people (P < 0.05). Among each of the age groups, single-person households had significantly higher rates of skipping breakfast and eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner alone than multi-person households (P < 0.05). Young single-person households had lower average scores on healthy dietary competency than multi-person households (P = 0.032). When adjusted for age, gender, marriage, education, occupation, and household income, single-person households had a higher risk of delivery/take-out, eating out, or skipping meals compared to multi-person households (P < 0.05). In multi-person households, the risk of skipping meals, eating alone, eating out, or delivery/take-out decreased as healthy dietary competency improved (P < 0.05). On the other hand, in single-person households, as healthy dietary competency increased, the risk of delivery/take-out or eating alone decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that healthy dietary competency and eating practices can be improved by providing customized dietary education by age group for single and multi-person households.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.534-546
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference, use motivation about TV food program, and look into the relationship between these variables and tendency of eating alone, interest for food and empathy. The results of this study showed that five factors of motivation were extracted: ASMR pleasure, visual pleasure, emotional vicarious gratification, information seeking and time-spending. The interest for food effects all of five motivation. Tendency of eating alone had no effect on use motivation. The higher the motivation for visual pleasure, the more preference for mukbang entertainment show, TV food drama, internet mukbang. The higher the motivation for ASMR pleasure, the more preference for TV food drama and internet mukbang. As for high tendency of eating alone, preference for cookbang show and TV food drama was high. People with low empathy showed the preference for TV food drama.