• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2008

This study investigated the relationships between eating disorder risk, body image perception, weight control, and dietary habits in Korean women. Body shape perception, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) and dietary habit information were collected by a self-administered questionnaire to 373 adult women and the data were analyzed by the Chi-square test. 31.4% of the women were classified in the eating disorder group by a score of over 20 points on the EAT-26. Compared to the normal group, more women in the eating disorder risk group perceived that a thin body shape was the ideal body shape and were dissatisfied with their body shape. This group was also more interested in weight control and more likely to try weight control methods. The eating disorder risk group was more likely to skip meals and snacks than the normal group. In addition, they had a greater appetite and a higher frequency of overeating than the normal group. Over 30% of the Korean women surveyed were categorized at high risk of eating disorders. They were more likely to overestimate body weight and shape and tried to control their weight by inappropriate methods. To prevent eating disorders in adult women, nutrition education programs should incorporate strategies to change inaccurate self-body image and to disseminate information about healthy weight control methods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.175-183
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of appearance stress, job-seeking stress, and college life stress on eating attitude in nursing students. Methods: Data were collected in September and October of 2017. A total of 153 fourth-year nursing students were included in the analysis. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, correlation and multiple regression analysis were conducted using SAS 9.2. Results: The mean score for eating attitude was 2.71±0.56. From the univariate analysis, appearance, job-seeking, and college life stress scores were all significantly related to eating attitude (r=.26, .35, .30 respectively, and p for all <.001). After controlling for covariates, job-seeking stress and college life stress were significantly related to eating attitude (β=.20 and 0.17 respectively, and p=.005 and .024 respectively). Among the covariates, experience of diet and physical anxiety were significantly associated with eating behavior (β=.33 and .24 respectively, and p<.001 and .008 respectively). Conclusion: Job-seeking stress had the biggest influence on eating attitude, followed by college life stress. Therefore, in order to promote healthy eating attitudes in fourth-year nursing students, preventive measures focusing on decreasing job-seeking stress should be considered as a top priority.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.405-414
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• 2016

Objectives: The associations between the eating behavior and energy and macronutrient intake from meals and snacks consumed during different times of the day across the menstrual cycle were investigated in 74 healthy female college students. Methods: A 9-day food record was collected during the last 3 days before menstrual onset (phase 1) and the first 3 days after menstrual onset (phase 2) and from the 4th to the 6th day after menstrual onset (phase 3), respectively. Anthropometry was assessed and eating behaviors were measured using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). Results: External eating was the most prevalent type of eating behavior, followed by restrained eating and emotional eating. Restrained eating was positively associated with energy, carbohydrate and lipid intake at the breakfast and midmorning snack during phase 3. However, emotional eating was also positively related to energy and macronutrient intake at the dinner and after-dinner snack during phase 1 and phase 3, with higher level detected in the phase 1. The association of emotional eating with the snack consumption was highest in phase 1. External eating was positively associated with energy and macronutrient intakes at the dinner and after-dinner snack across the three phases, the highest level being phase 1. In addition, restrained eating was positively associated with the weight, body mass index(BMI), fat mass, waist and hip girth of the subjects. Conclusions: Eating behaviors varied with regard to meals and snacks consumed during different times of the day across the three menstrual phases. Dinner and afterdinner snack consumption in premenstrual phase could be considered as a time when women are more prone to overconsumption and uncontrolled eating.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.256-261
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• 2005

Although nutrition education for pregnant women is important, few such programs have been carefully examined from the participants' perspective in Korea. Focus groups were used to identify 1) perceived eating behaviors during pregnancy and lactation, 2) factors associated with healthy eating behaviors, and 3) needs for nutrition education programs. Using a trained moderator, we conducted 7 focus group interviews with 44 pregnant women over a four-month period. Focus group discussions were video - and audio - taped, transcribed and categorized by major themes. Participants expressed interest in receiving nutrition education regarding healthy eating, weight control after delivery, weaning foods and health management, yet they showed little interest in breastfeeding. The majority of them said that meal balance and meal regularity were the most important components of good health during pregnancy. They were less likely to be confident about taking dietary supplements, including Oriental medicines. life stress and poor appetite associated with pregnancy were major barriers to healthy eating habits during pregnancy. The most important sources of nutrition and health information were friends and family members, especially those who had become pregnant recently. Qualified educators and reliable information appeared to be the most important aspects of program development. Regarding types of nutrition education, participants tended to prefer a combination of individual counseling and small group education with hands-on materials and interactive formats. The use of Web-based nutrition education was well received Major concerns about Web-based nutrition education were authenticity, tailored messages and interactive formats for sharing information. These results offer useful information for designing nutrition education programs for pregnant and lactating women in Korea for health promotion.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.332-343
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• 2016

Objectives: Study purpose was to investigate perception on diet, diet problems and related factors among young adult women using focus group interviews (FGI) based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). Methods: Eight groups of FGI were conducted with 47 female undergraduate or graduate students. Guide for FGI included questions regarding perception on optimal diet, diet problems and cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors of SCT. FGI were video, audio-taped, transcribed and analyzed by themes and sub-themes. Results: Subjects showed irregular eating habits (skipping breakfast, irregular meal time) and selection of unhealthy foods as the main diet problems. Regarding cognitive factors related to optimal diet, subjects mentioned positive outcome expectations (e.g., health promotion, skin health, improvement in eating habits, etc.) and negative outcome expectations (e.g., annoying, hungry, expensive, taste). Factors that promoted optimal diet were mainly received from information from mobile or internet and access to menu or recipes. Factors that prevented optimal diet included influence from friends, lack of time and cooking skills. Behavioral factors for optimal diet included behavioral capability regarding snacks, healthy eating and smart food selection. Subjects mentioned mass media (mobile, internet, TV) as the influential physical environment, and significant others (parents, friends, grandparents) as the influential social environment in optimal diet. For education topics, subjects wanted to learn about healthy meals, basic nutrition, disease and nutrition, and weight control. They wanted to learn those aspects by using mobile or internet, lectures (cooking classes), campaign and events. Conclusions: Study results might be used for planning education regarding optimal diet for young adult women. Education programs need to focus on increasing positive outcome expectations (e.g., health) and behavioral capability for healthy eating and food selection, reducing negative outcome expectations (e.g., cost, taste) and barriers, making supportive environments for optimal diet, and incorporating topics and methods found in this study.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.54-66
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• 2021

Purpose: Considering the various health benefits of vegetables, it is necessary to identify maternal correlates of vegetable preference and consumption in children for shaping desirable vegetable-related eating habits. This study aimed to investigate the maternal factors related to vegetable preferences and consumption in preschool-aged children. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that surveyed 303 mother-child pairs (146 boys, 157 girls) to explore general characteristics, vegetable preferences, and cooked vegetable consumption in mothers and children using a questionnaire method. Maternal correlates of the child's vegetable preference and consumption were tested using a generalized linear model using SAS program. Results: Mothers' vegetable preferences and consumption were significantly higher than those in their children (p < 0.001). Mothers' vegetable preferences showed a significant positive correlation with the vegetable preferences of their children (mother-son, p < 0.001; mother-daughter, p < 0.001). Additionally, mothers' cooked vegetable consumption showed a significant positive correlation with the cooked vegetable consumption of children (mother-son, p < 0.001; mother-daughter, p < 0.001). Mothers' vegetable preferences and consumption respectively increased those of their children, in both boys and girls. Conclusion: Findings that mothers' vegetable preference and consumption correlates of children's vegetable preferences and consumption, indicate the importance of the mothers' role in increasing vegetable consumption in children. Mothers should be aware of the effects of their vegetable eating habits on their children's vegetable consumption and try to develop healthy eating habits. We suggest that the government or local communities provide nutrition education for mothers to adopt healthy eating habits and present information to educate their children on food and healthy dietary habits.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.516-527
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association of depressive symptoms, stress perception, and suicidal ideation with overall dietary quality using the newly developed Korean healthy eating index (KHEI). SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included 9,607 adults (3,939 men and 5,668 women, ≥ 19 years) who participated in the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013 and 2015. The KHEI scores were calculated using the food frequency questionnaire data. Survey logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the association between psychiatric distress and dietary quality. RESULTS: The percentage of subjects with experience of depressive mood, higher stress perception, and suicidal ideation was 8.2%, 25.0%, and 3.7% in men and 15.4%, 27.3%, and 6.0% in women, respectively. The mean KHEI score was 61.5 ± 0.29 in men and 64.8 ± 0.24 in women (P < 0.001). The present study found a difference in the adherence to specific dietary components of the KHEI between sexes. Men experiencing depressive symptoms were less likely to eat meat, fish, eggs, and beans, while depressed women showed lower vegetable intake. Both men and women with suicidal ideation showed a lower intake of vegetables. The men with stress had a lower breakfast eating score than those without stress (7.21 vs. 6.77, P = 0.016). The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios for depressive symptoms, stress perception, and the suicidal idea in women with the highest quartile of KHEI scores compared to the lowest quartile was 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.51-0.92), 0.73 (0.58-0.82), and 0.52 (0.33-0.82), respectively and significant dose-response associations were observed (P for trends < 0.05 for all). On the other hand, these associations were not observed in men after adjusting for the confounding variables (P for trends > 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Poor adherence to dietary recommendations is associated with psychological distress, especially in women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.353-363
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• 2011

The objective of the current study was to examine associations of whole grain consumption with socio-demographic (i.e.: sex, age, household income, education, marriage status) and certain eating behavior factors (i.e.: dish source, eating place, meal type) among a generally healthy Korean population. Using twenty-four hour recall data from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, whole grain intake (g/day) was calculated for a total of 8,836 generally healthy Koreans aged 6 years and higher. The study subjects had very low whole grain intake. Specifically approximately 60% of the subjects reported no whole grain consumption on the survey day, and mean daily intake ranged from 8.0 g to 15.1 g in different gender and age groups. Living with a spouse was found to be a positive environment factor for whole grain consumption, especially among men. As household income levels increased, whole grain consumption status also improved. The proportion of non-consumer was lowest in a 6-19 year group, and mean intake amount was highest in middle-aged adults. Major dish sources for whole grain consumption included boiled rice with mixed grains, corn, boiled rice with brown rice, cereal products, and other types of boiled rice. It was found that whole grain consumption was highly affected by eating places rather than meal types. The best contributing eating place was home in each age and gender group. The study findings may be useful in planning nutrition education strategy and formulating dietary behavior guidelines for whole grain consumption improvement.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this studay was to compare the eating-related index and the patterns of pre- and post-prandial gut hormone level in normal-overweight and obese subjects of Taeemin population. Methods: We enrolled healthy male participants who were diagnosed with Taeeumin by Sasang Constitutional diagnosis and who were normal-overweight ($18.5kg/m^2{\leq}$body mass index [BMI)< $25kg/m^2$) or obese ($25.0kg/m^2{\leq}$BMI< $30kg/m^2$). Eating behavior and gastrointestinal problems were assessed by using standardized scale. Subjective appetite ratings using visual analogue scales and the profiling of serum levels of ghrelin and peptide YY (PYY) were assessed before and after a standard meal (6 time points: 30 minutes pre-prandial, immediately before meal, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes post-prandial). Results: Tewnty two healthy Taeeumin people classified as normal-overweight group or obese group are the final subjects. External eating score of Dutch eating behavior questionaire scores is higher in normal-overweight group than in obese group. The variations of subjective appetite ratings in obese group are smaller than in normal-overweight group. The pattern of ghrelin in normal-overweight group shows a high peak at 30 minutes post-prandial point, which is contrary to existing studies. The pattern of PYY in obese group decreases from 15 minutes post-prandial point and shows lower peak level, whereas in normal-overweight group shows increasing tendency from pre-prandial point until 30 minutes post-prandial point. Conclusions: There are differences in the eating-related index and the gut hormone patterns related to obesity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2016

Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate associations between eating style and food intake of 45 female college students during Chuseok holidays. Methods: A ten-day food record was obtained and divided into two parts. The first five days (September 20-24, 2015) were considered as a 'Normal Day (ND 1-5)' and the subsequent five days (September 25-29) as 'Holiday (HD6-10)'. The middle three days (September 26-28) of the holidays were considered as the 'Peak Holiday (PD7- 9)'. Eating behaviors were measured using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) and anthropometry was assessed in all study participants. Participants were grouped by cluster analysis according to the mean energy intake of the first three days of the Holiday. Results: Participants had a low-normal range of BMI and they were carefully restricting their food intake at Normal Day. Even the food intake did not exceed 2000 kcal per day during the Peak Holiday. External eating was the most prevalent type of eating behavior, followed by restrained eating and emotional eating. Normal energy and fat intake were correlated with the external eating subscale of the DEBQ. Restrained eating was associated with the weight, BMI, fat mass, waist, and hip girth of the subjects. Compared to the Normal Day, they overate during the Holiday with different eating styles including 'restraint', 'disinhibition', and 'fluctuation'. Therefore, neither eating behaviors nor anthropometry was associated with food intake during the Holiday. Although eating behaviors and anthropometric measures were not different among eating style clusters, the food intakes of disinhibition cluster were higher than those of restraint cluster during all the study periods. Conclusions: Subjects can be classified with the restraint, disinhibition, and fluctuation clusters. However, eating behaviors and anthropometry were not different among three clusters.