• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.255-270
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence the consumption of convenience foods among Korean adolescents. Methods: This study had a descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from the 15th (2019) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which involved a nationwide representative sample of 57,303 middle- and high-school students. Convenience-food consumption was defined by frequency of adolescents consuming convenience foods obtained from convenience stores, supermarkets, and cafeterias over the previous 7 days. The analyzed variables were related to sociodemographic, mental health, and health behavior. The Rao-Scott χ² test was applied to examine the difference in the rate of consuming convenience foods obtained from convenience stores according to each factor. Hierarchical logistic regression was conducted to examine the factors that influence convenience-food consumption among Korean adolescents. Results: It was found that 29.1% of Korean adolescents consumed convenience foods obtained from convenience store more than three times per week. The significant influencing factors were female sex; low subjective academic achievement, and subjective household economic status; high perceived stress; low subjective sleep sufficiency; experience of depression; suicidal ideation; lower physical activity; skipping breakfast; lower consumptions of fruit, milk, and vegetables; higher consumptions of soda drinks, sweet drinks, caffeine, and fast food; lower water intake; current smoking and drinking; drug use; and experience of violence. Conclusion: These findings provide a better understanding of the sociodemographic, mental-health, and health-behavior factors that influence the consumption of convenience foods among Korean adolescents. We suggest that differentiated policies, strategies, and nutrition education need to be developed and implemented, in order to address the above-mentioned factors and thereby reduce such behaviors among Korean adolescents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.547-558
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• 1996

A rapid increase in urbanization and industrialization brings about a change in economic status which results in considerable changes in lifestyle including food habits and disease and mortality patterns. The purpose of the present study was to investigate recent food habit changes if any, reasons for food habit change, current food consumption patterns, and breakfast practices among urban adults with middle and upper income levels. Three hundred men and women, aged 20-60 years, were randomly selected and interviewed individually by trained interviewers. Among the twenty food groups studied, subjects reported that, compared to two years ago, they are now eating more fast foods, meats, fish, vegetables and fruits, and less rice, noodles, pastries, and salt. The changes in fast foods, fruits, and rice consumption patterns varied significantly between age, sex, income level, and BMI groups. The two most primary reasons for food habit changes were 'for my own health' and 'for my family's health', which shows that health seems to be the major concern in changing food habits. Among meals, the breakfast meal was rated as the most important one, and was not affected by the sociodemographic variables. However, the average rate of skipping breakfast was found to be as high as 33% with a greater rate in younger age groups. The rats of breakfast skipping was found to vary between different income, education, and BMI groups. Among the subjects who eat breakfast meals daily, a traditional Korean breakfast of rice and soup was found to be still a predominant choice, although younger age groups, upper income groups, and people with more education choice, although younger age groups, upper income groups, and people with more education tended to eat a western-style breakfast more frequently. These findings are applicable at the planning and implementation stages of various nutritional improvement projects as a part of the National health Promotion Law.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.259-275
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• 2008

Children are an important target of health promotion activities due to the life long effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate a nutrition education program offered to primary school students by community health centers. Eight hundred and twenty-six children from 4 primary schools in Seoul voluntarily attended the program. Teachers taught the classes with materials that were provided to them. The subjects were asked to fill out a questionnaire before and then after completion of the program. The data were analysed by SPSS. The results showed that there were significant positive differences in the children's nutrition knowledge scores after the program (p<0.001). In terms of dietary attitude, the rate of 'yes' responses, as a desirable answer to many questions, had increased (p<0.001); however, this positive change in scores was not statistically significant. For dietary habit changes, it was shown that the proportion of children regularly eating breakfast five days a week had improved to 3.3%. And the proportion of children eating fast foods and instant foods decreased. There was no change in fruit intake, but vegetable intake increased (p<0.001). However, the children's overall dietary habit scores did not show a significant change. In the evaluation of the program, 52.3% of the subjects answered that was helpful, and they viewed 'fast food' as the most interesting topic, whereas 'nutrition labeling' was the most difficult topic in the program. The program's effectiveness was positive in terms of enhancing the 'nutrition knowledge', 'dietary attitudes', and 'dietary habits' of the children. Therefore, the above results indicate that this type of program, provided by community health centers, was effective for nutrition education.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to investigate several aspects of eating out behavior especially in relation to Korean food. Self-administered questionnairs were completed by 700 adults living Seoul and Kyunggi-do area from June to July 1994. The results were as follows: 1. The 68.4% of subjects ate outside home either frequently or occasionally. Lunch-eat-out was the most frequent and breakfast-eat-out, the least. Male subjects, adults under the age of 50, and students ate out more frequently. 2. The 70.3% of subjects spent less than 5000 won for the expense of eating out. Those under the age of 25 and students considered reasonable the expenditure of less than 3000 won for lunch and less than 5000 won for supper. But older adults and workers and housewives prefered $3000{\sim}5000$ won for lunch and $5000{\sim}15000$ won for supper. 3. Nayngmyun, bibimbap, jajangmyun, pizza, Broiled galbi, and pork cutlet were favorite eat-out dishes. Among Korean foods, bibimbap, Broiled galbi, nayngmyun, bulgogi and galbitang were frequently selected menues. While Korean dishes had a tendency to be selected as a first choice, noodle type dishes and western style fast food were prefered as a second and third choices. 4. Korean food restaurants received highest score in the food taste and familiarity evaluations. They also received good grade in such points as the nutritive value of food, amount of serving portion and the variety of menu. But as for the sanitation and food price, Korean restaurant scored the lower mark in comparison to noodle restaurant and fast food restaurant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.448-455
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the fast food consumption patterns of secondary school students in Busan. Secondary school students in Busan area were asked in a survey about their perception and attitudes towards fast food (n=968, response rate: 92%). Most respondents answered that they consume fast food once a month because it is fast, easily accessible and tasty. Although they perceived fast food as unhealthy and less nutritious, they were less aware of its effect on their eating patterns: a clear indication of their limited knowledge on dietary impact. The more knowledgeable respondents were about nutrition and health, the less likely they were to choose fast food over other meals. However, respondents who had little or no knowledge about the nutritional factors of fast food accounted for 43.1%. Our study suggests that development of effective nutrition and health education is crucial to adolescent population. This study will enable educators to plan more effective strategies for improving the dietary knowledge of the adolescent population.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.474-482
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• 2007

Korea used to be a country where individuals ate diets high in vegetables and rice, but in recent years, it has become a country where western-style diets are increasingly popular. Consequently, the age for chronicle disease, including obesity and diabetes, has become lower. The purpose of this study was to compare the dietary habits of kindergarten children between lacto-ovo vegetarian and non-vegetarian families. The data were collected from the children(n=300) at Sahmyook University Kindergarten. The results showed that non-vegetarians had higher intakes of cookies, cakes, processed foods, ice cream, and fast foods, while vegetarian children consumed high amounts of vegetables, fruits, and kimchi. The non-vegetarian children tended to have irregular meals, and ate high-fat meats such as kalbi and samgyupsal. However, the results show it is important that many children among both vegetarian and non-vegetarian families should be encouraged to have appropriate essential nutrients, because a high percentage of children in both groups appeared to have low intakes of energy, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin C, calcium, zinc, iron, etc.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.565-573
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• 2015

This study examines the relationships between stress and eating habits of adolescents based on the assumption that adolescents require large amounts of nutrients and that eating habits affect their physical development, academic achievement, and emotional development. For this purpose, 213 adolescents in Gangwondo, Korea, were surveyed. Many studies have reported that stress causes changes in eating habits and affects health status. Based on the dietary action guide scores according to stress categories, eating instant foods less was significant (p<0.001), eating fast foods less was significant (p<0.05), and have soft drinks less was significant (p<0.001). The results suggest the importance of balanced nutrition based on the formation of right dietary habits for adolescents. Good nutrition can be determined through right knowledge of nutrition and dietary habits, and right dietary habits can improve health and physical development as well as mental and emotional stability. The analysis did not compare other regions, and therefore any generalization of the results should be made with caution. However, the results offer important insights into stress among adolescents for their effective counseling.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.58-67
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aimed to compare dietary patterns (missed meals, eating instant foods, skipping fruits/vegetables) between general and multicultural adolescents in Korea. Methods: Data from the 9th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (2013) were used, and analysis was done for the 66,951 youth using SPSS 18.0. Results: The rate of lunch absence accounted for 7.3% in general adolescents and 8.3% in multicultural family adolescents. However, the response of breakfast absence for a week was higher than the rate of the absence of lunch and dinner. For eating instant foods at least more than once a week, there was a significant difference for carbonated drinks, snacks, ramen and fast food in multicultural adolescents. More multicultural adolescents also noted "never ate fruits and vegetable within the recent week." Conclusion: For the healthy diet of adolescents, more careful observation and nursing education should be implemented. Furthermore, parents should also be included in the education altogether.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.614-624
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• 2015

Traditionally, fathers have been a bread earner and responsible for external matters as the head of household. However, the interest of today's fathers in their children has changed from that of the traditional fathers due to the increased employment of female, decreased birth rate and the trend of shared role in parenting. The purpose of this study was to identify the perception type of fathers of preschool children regarding obesity and the characteristics of the type by applying Q-methodology, and to create the basic data for the development of education programs for fathers or policy-making to prevent child obesity. Data were collected by applying 38 Q statements to 24 fathers of preschool children. Collected data were analyzed with the PC QUANL program. Results indicate that fathers' perception of obesity was divided into three types: 'management of physical activity and diet,' 'generous acknowledgment of reality' and 'compromised emphasis on homemade meal.' The 'compromised emphasis on homemade meal' type is those who consider homemade food important, although they sometimes suggest conditions to make their children cooperative for food. It was found that the subject of the study uniformly recognized that processed foods, fast foods or chocolates are harmful to health. The type of fathers' perception of obesity in preschool children was discussed, focusing on the perception type identified in this study.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.325-331
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• 2012

Food allergy refers to an immunologically mediated adverse reaction to food, mainly to proteinaceous constituents. Health implications vary between those individuals who experience mild physical discomforts to those with fast-acting, life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. The prevalence of food allergy is higher in children than in adults, estimated around 4-8% and 1-2% respectively in developed countries. Food allergy has no effective cure at the present time and total avoidance of causative foods is the most reliable prophylactic method currently recommended by the medical community. To help food allergic patients to make informed choices of their foods, mandatory labeling of selected food allergens has been introduced in several countries. All food allergen labelling provisions specify a set of allergens common to the regulated countries. Policy divergence, however, exists between countries by inclusion of additional allergens unique to specific countries and enforcement of specific labelling requirements. Such variations in food allergen labelling regulations make it difficult to manage allergen labeling in imported pre-packaged food products. This paper addresses two current issues in food allergen regulation: 1) an urgent need to determine true prevalence of food allergy in the Asia-Pacific region. This will enable refinement to the food allergen regulation to be more country-specific rather than simply adopting CODEX recommendations. 2) There is an urgent need for harmonization of food allergen regulation in order to prevent food allergen regulation becoming a trade barrier.