• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.390-406
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• 2012

Childhood obesity has rapidly increased worldwide and is one of the most serious health problems in this age group. In order to prevent and manage childhood obesity, we developed a nutrition education website. The website consisted of three parts. The first part was made for self-assessment with regard to obesity index, dietary habits, food frequency, dietary attitude, nutrition knowledge, nutrient intake, energy expenditure, and the stage of behavioral change, and tailored messages and advice according to the assessment results. A total of 612 real-size food photos as well as a nutrient database of 3,346 foods and 541 dishes were created to help children estimate nutrient intakes accurately. In addition, an energy expenditure database of 156 activities for children was established to calculate calorie consumption. The second part was made for setting long-term and short-term goals and keeping track of the changes in energy intake and expenditure in one's own page. The third part was made for education. Various types of nutrition information were provided; texts, pictures, calculators and games. The readability and design of the website were evaluated by 46 obese children. Usefulness, design and readability of the website were found to be desirable for children. This website is expected to be used by an obese child alone or with parents or nutrition teachers in order to control body weight through healthy dietary habits and physical activities. In addition, a non-obese child can also use this website for maintaining healthy dietary habits and preventing obesity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.727-739
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the evaluation of nutrition and exercise education program on weight control for obese children. The subjects of this study were 28 obese children and their parents living in Geyongnam area. The weight control program consisted of exercises for children and nutrition education for both children and their parents. The BMI values of the children were significantly reduced from $27.96\;kg/m^2$ to $27.22\;kg/m^2$ after 11 weeks (p < 0.001) and to $27.65\;kg/m^2$ after one year. Dietary habits and exercise patterns were also changed positively. For the children, while the frequency of eating breakfast and appropriate chewing habits were increased, the percentages of eating in inappropriate position and the frequency of buying snacks were decreased (p < 0.001). In terms of exercise, the proportion of doing exercise more than 30 minutes, participating in physical activity classes actively, and walking rather than taking a car were significantly increased. Nutrition knowledge of both the student and parent respondents were significantly increased when measured immediately after the education and even a year after compared to their knowledge status measured before the program (p < 0.001). Both the students (82.1%) and parents (96.4%) were satisfied with the overall weight control program. Exercise therapy was chosen as the most beneficial content. Reparticipation intention was comparable between the students (28.6%) and their parents (67.9%). A year after survey results revealed that 71.4% of students controlled their weight by doing regular exercises (55.0%) and controlling overeating (45%). Parents often applied healthy cooking methods (89.3%) and low calorie menus (64.3%), which they learned from nutrition education. Most parents perceived that the weight control program was helpful for their children (89.3%) and themselves (92.9%) as well.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2017

This study investigated recognition of food labeling of high school students (males 94 and females 85) in Yongin region. Recognition of food labeling was very high at 81.6%. For checking food labeling at the time of purchasing, 53.6% of the respondents always checked and the main reason was healthier food choice (49.2%). Satisfaction of food labeling was very low at 18.4%. In spite of very low satisfaction, 70.9% of respondents recognized necessity for education of food labeling. In terms of education method, respondents preferred 'school lecture' the most with 48.6%, which are in the following order: TV/newspaper/journal/book (37.4%) > internet lecture (10.1%) > education from parents (3.9%). Moreover, 83.2% of respondents answered 'positive change (ex. checking food labeling)' after getting education. Consequently, high school students had low level of utilization of food labeling at the time of purchasing. However, they showed high level of perception and educational need of food labeling as well as possibility of positive change after receiving education. Therefore, appropriate school education for food labeling may be able to lead a healthy eating habit of high school students.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.933-941
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• 2015

This study investigated differences in nutritional knowledge and eating habits of adolescents living in rural and urban areas of Inner Mongolia, China. A survey was conducted on 869 middle school students in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia: 436 from urban and 433 from rural school. Subjects answered a questionnaire about socio-economic characteristics such as parents' education level and family affluence scale, nutritional knowledge, needs for nutritional education and food habits. Levels of parents' education (p<0.001) and family affluence (p<0.001) were significantly higher in urban students. Nutritional knowledge level of urban students was higher than that of their counterparts (p<0.001). However, rural students reported higher needs for nutritional education (p<0.001). Rural students more frequently consumed snacks (p<0.001) and instant noodles (p<0.001) than urban students. However, consumption frequencies of lunch (p<0.001), dinner (p<0.001), fast food (p<0.001), fruits (p<0.001), vegetables (p<0.001), and milk (p<0.001) were higher in urban students. Considering differences in eating patterns between urban and rural students in Inner Mongolia, appropriate nutritional education programs and nutritional policies should be established for rural students to promote a healthy diet.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.272-280
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• 2006

This study examined the weight control and food habits in 160 obese children and 191 normal-weight children in 4th, 5th and 6th graders of some elementary schools in Gumi city. Regarding the subjects' self-recognition of their body shape, 27.8% of the normal weight group and 92.5% of the obese group acknowledged themselves to be obese. 58.9% of the normal weight group and 61.0% of the obese group were not satisfied with their own body shape and the difference between two groups was very small, 23.6% of the normal weight group and 87.5% of the obese group have tried to reduce weight. The main causative factor of weight gain that children themselves recognized was a sedentary life style. All the students showed a high rate of irregular and unbalanced diet. The obese children showed a significantly higher rate of skipping meals and eating meals faster than the normal weight children. More obese children disliked exercise, and did less excercise than the normal weight children. There was a negative correlation between the obesity index and the food habit score. In other words, they frequently skip a meals, eat in a hurry and dislike vegetables and dairy products. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the student's BMI and the parents' BMI. Overall, many normal weight children showed a high level of self-consciousness of being obese or underweight. Both groups showed a low degree of satisfaction with their own body shape. Therefore education for the distorted perception of body shape is needed because, even normal weight children have tried to reduce their weight. Obese children should be encouraged to exercise, not skip a meals and eat slowly. They also need a systematic education program on weight reduction and weight maintenance. Moreover, education on a healthy diet, healthy food habits, and healthy body shape are necessary for elementary school children.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2010

We surveyed 837 students attending elementary schoolchildren in Korea for health functional foods (HFF) consumption and significant variables for their HFF consumption including demographic characteristics, parental health concern on offsprings, food eating frequency of subjects and beliefs on potential efficacy of HFF by subjects. The consumption prevalence of HFF was 45.9%, and among all types of HFF, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by apricot extract-fermented products > lactic acid bacteria containing products > EPA/DHA containing products > red ginseng products. HFF consumption was higher in subjects had parents of high education level (p < .05) and those from families with a high socioeconomic status (p < .01) in comparison to each corresponding group. Health concern on offsprings by parents (p < .001) and consumption ratio of HFF by family (p < .001) was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF. Total score of dietary assessment was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF (p < .01), and consumers had a more positive view concerning the potential efficacy of HFF than did nonconsumers (p < .001). Most consumers of HFF took HFF when they were healthy (42.5%), and they did not feel special effects through HFF consumption (47.7%). Most consumers of HFF got the information on HFF from family and relatives (24.8%), and most of them purchased HFF at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics (53.9%). HFF consumers preferred multi-vitamins and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin mineral supplements belonged to HFF. Given the widespread consumption of HFF by elementary schoolchildren, the reasonable consumption of these products for the contribution to their overall health and well-being should be emphasized through nutrition education for them and their family.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.241-255
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• 2020

This study examined the eating habits and preferences of foods according to the age of children with autism spectrum disorders and identified the nutritional needs of parents to support their healthy eating habits and provide basic data for the development of educational programs. A survey of 100 parents of children with autism spectrum disorders was conducted on their children's snack intake, food preferences, and parents' nutrition education needs. As a result, there were four times more boys than girls, and the body mass index differed according to age (p<0.001). Most children ate snacks more than once a day, and parents found that they wanted to develop nutritious snacks that could replace high-protein, low-calorie meals with the minimal use of additives. For the food preference, there was a significant difference in grains and starches, vegetables/seafood and fruits, milk and dairy products (p<0.05), fats and sugars, and Korean fermented pastes (p<0.01) between the two age groups. Regarding whether nutrition education was required, many parents had a high demand for nutrition education (4.24±0.70), and the intention to participate was 3.62±1.09. The most important content to be dealt with in parent education was 'Inducing a change in bad eating habits and behaviors', which was the highest (63%), and mostly face-to-face education was preferred. In conclusion, young children require diet education, and older children need to focus on weight control and obesity.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.342-360
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• 2014

Objectives: This study aimed to develop nutrition education program for consumers to reduce sodium intake based on social cognitive theory (SCT). Methods: The main factors of SCT related to low sodium diet were investigated by using focus group interview (FGI) with 30 women who participated in consumer organizations. Results: The main target groups for the education program were housewives (H), parents (P), and the office workers (OW), for which we considered their influences on other people and the surroundings. According to the results of FGI, in carrying out low sodium diet, 'positive outcome expectation' were prevention of chronic disease and healthy dietary habit, and 'negative outcome expectation' were low palatability of foods, difficulty in cooking meals, and limited choice of foods. The contents of the program and education materials were individualized by each group to raise self-efficacy and behavioral capability, which reflected the results of the FGI. The program included 'salt intake and health' to raise positive outcome expectation. For improving the ability to practice low-sodium diet, the program contained the contents that focused on 'cooking' and 'food purchasing' for H, on 'purchasing and selection of low-sodium food with the children' for P, and on 'way of selecting restaurant menu' for OW. Also the program included 'way of choosing the low-sodium foods when eating out' with suggestions on sodium content of the dishes and snacks. Further, 'dietary guidelines to reduce sodium intake' was also suggested to help self-regulation. Conclusions: This nutrition education program and education materials could be utilized for the community education and provide the basis for further consumer targeted education program for reducing sodium intake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.170-178
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• 2010

We conducted this study to determine the factors associated with childhood obesity. The subjects were 170 preschool children in Busan. Data were collected by using questionnaires which asked for information about socioeconomic status, parental perception of their child's weight status and dietary/physical activity behavior. BMI was calculated for each child and their classification was determined, according to their age and sex, as follows: "overweight" at or above the 85th percentile, "normal" for the 15th-85th percentile, and with a BMI below the 15th percentile the children were deemed as underweight. Classification according to BMI percentile showed that 23.5% ($18.25{\pm}1.33\;kg/m^2$) of the children were overweight, 62.9% ($15.51{\pm}0.76\;kg/m^2$) normal, and 13.5% ($13.23{\pm}2.86\;kg/m^2$) were underweight. Socioeconomic status, as represented by the parents' level of education, the occupation of the father and the household income, did not affect the results. However, mothers working outside the household was a factor that was more likely to affect the weight status (p<0.05). Among mothers whose children were overweight, 30% underestimated their children's weight status (believing them to be of normal weight when they were overweight), and 25% failed to recognize the necessity of weight control for their overweight children. While sedentary activity and total daily activity levels were not related to BMI, the level of physically active leisure activity was inversely correlated with BMI (p<0.05). Although there were no differences in total energy intake, dietary behavior was significantly related to weight status. Overweight children had poor eating tendancies: they eat faster (in less than 15 minutes), overeat, and eat late at night. Based on our findings where hereby recommended the following interventions to help limit weight problems in Korean pre-schoolers: early promotion of active leisure behavior and healthy eating habits, along with attempting to correct parental misperception of healthy weight status for children.