• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.213-222
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• 2002

The alkaline comet assay has been used with increasing popularity to investigate the level of DNA damage in biomonitoring studies within the last decade in Western countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the alkaline comet assay as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage for monitoring in the Korean population, and also to evaluate the effect of nutritional status and lifestyle factors on H2O2 induced oxidative DNA damage measured by the alkaline comet assay in human lymphocytes. The study population consisted of 61 healthy Korean male volunteers, aged 20-28. Epidemiological background data including dietary habits, smoking habits and anthropometrical measurements were collected through personal interviews. After blood collection, the comet assay in peripheral lymphocytes and plasma lipids analysis was carried out and the results analyzed. Tail moment (TM) and tail length (TL) of the comet assay were use\ulcorner to measure DNA damage in the lymphocytes of the subjects. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations were observed between DNA damage (TM or TL) and smoking habits expressed as cigarettes smoked per day and pack years (r = 0.311 and 0.382 for TM, r = 0.294 and 0.350 for TL, respectively). There were also significant positive correlations between DNA damage parameter and waist-hip ratio. Higher plasma triglyceride levels were associated with increased damage to DNA. There were no correlations between the consumption frequencies of vegetables and DNA damage to the subjects. However, consumption frequencies of fruit and fruit juice intake were inversely associated with the TM and TL. The results indicate that die comet assay is a simple, rapid and sensitive method for detecting lymphocyte DNA damage induced by cigarette smoking. Consumption of fruit or fruit juices could potentiall modify the damaged DNA in the human peripheral lymphocytes of young Korean men.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.147-154
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• 2023

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the general characteristics of adolescents and their mental health in relation to experiences of heavy drinking. The research utilized raw data from the 18th Youth Health Behavior Online Survey (2022), focusing on 530 participants who reported experiencing heavy drinking in the past 30 days. The study applied weighted composite sample analysis, incorporating frequency, chi-square test, and logistic regression to examine the data. According to the research findings, experiences of heavy drinking showed statistically significant differences across variables such as gender, academic achievement, economic status, sexual experience, and smoking. Additionally, among the mental health characteristics, stress perception, depression, loneliness, suicidal thoughts, suicide planning, and suicide attempts were identified as influencing factors on heavy drinking experiences. These results underscore the need for prevention programs addressing alcohol consumption habits, considering the mental and physical health of adolescents. Developing programs that take into account the relationship between mental health and drinking habits can contribute to forming healthy lifestyle habits during adolescence.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.sup1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2008

Management of obesity needs good rapport among pediatrician, parents and children. Through motivational interview, pediatrician should explore practical ways to modify the eating behaviors conducive to obesity. Imbalance between energy intake and consumption contributes to weight gain. Therefore decrease of sedentary behavior (screen time <2 hrs) and increase of physical activity (>60 minutes) is also important in management of obesity. The goal of management is the long-term healthy life though healthy behaviors. Creating a home environment that supports healthy habits and behaviors is an important key to modifying lifestyle behaviors. For example, increasing intake of vegetables and fruits, restriction of sweetened beverage, education of healthy selection of foods, and frequent family dinner may be advisable. Family members should change their own behaviors in order to help their children. Parents should be positive role model and monitor their children authoritatively but not restrictively.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.1311-1320
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• 2009

Childhood obesity has rapidly increased in Korea during the past 20-30 years. Approximately 1 of 10 children and adolescents is obese. Appropriate prevention and intervention measures urgently need. Obesity prevention starts early in life, i.e., obesity prevention and education begins during the period of fetal development in utero. Behavioral changes are the most positively reflected during pregnancy. Infants should be fed breast milk, and inculcated with healthy eating and behavioral habits during infancy to ultimately establish a healthy lifestyle in children. For achieving a lifestyle and behavior that successfully allow children to overcome obesity, although individual motivation is important, active support of parents and family members is also imperative. Health care providers should also make an effort to actively prevent obesity and take necessary intervention actions. Although the efforts of individuals, family, and healthy care providers are important to prevent the rapid increase in obesity, primary prevention should be encouraged at a higher level. Schools should specifically aim at improving nutrition and physical activity by allocating times for healthy eating, playing, and physical education. Moreover, local communities should provide support by funding for safe recreational environments, such as playgrounds and walking tracks. Public health strategies in community and national policies, such as city planning, food marketing, and advertisements, are required for primary prevention of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.67-87
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• 2006

Objective: In order to provide basic data required to evaluate the knowledge and behavior of old people towards health promotion and primary factors that influence them, to develop a health educational program. Method: A survey was conducted from March 6th 2004 to June 10th 2004. A total of 949 senior citizens over 60 participated in the survey. Results: The old people was the lower the educational level they had, the lower the level of health education experience they had and the lower the frequency of regular health check-ups they had. In regards to health education and health promotion, seniors citizens were neglected because of a lack of health awareness and knowledge, wrong habits related to healthy living, low access to medical examination, poor economic state, and low educational level. In addition to social atmosphere and systematic efforts by the government, senior citizens tried to find their own ways to have healthy living by improving their educational level, health awareness, and level of health knowledge, and lifestyle. Conclusion: Therefore, not only their family members, but local communities, public organizations, and the whole nation should make every effort to provide a effective health education system by using health educators for senior citizens. There is also a need to prepare a practical and systematic health education program for senior citizens so that they can enjoy comfortable and healthy living in their old age.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-42
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to investigate the importance of well-being related to lifestyle choices such as food habits, food choices, life pattern, etc. The survey was conducted among college students using a questionnaire and a 5-point Likert score in Seoul City and Kyunggido Province during September 2005. The responses of 968 college students were analyzed by the SPSS program. The results were as follows. Most of the subjects were female(76.2%), and lived with their parents (85.6%). The average score of 'food habits', 'choosing food materials', 'purchasing' and 'life pattern' were $2.71{\pm}1.22,\;2.86{\pm}1.28,\;2.41{\pm}1.21,\;and\;2.97{\pm}1.31$ respectively in males and $3.01{\pm}1.20,\;3.00{\pm}1.32,\;2.55{\pm}1.20,and\;2.68{\pm}1.40$ in females, respectively. In regard to 'food habits', the scores were significantly affected by gender(p<0.001), smoking(p<0.05), alcohol consumption(p<0.05), exercise(p<0.001), weight satisfaction(p<0.001), method of weight control(p<0.001), use of nutritional supplement(p<0.05), attempts at weight control(p<0.001), regularity of breakfast(p<0.001), level of interest in well-being(p<0.001), and whether the individual tried a well-being item(p<0.001). In regarding to 'choosing food materials' the scores were significantly affected by gender(p<0.001), smoking(p<0.05), exercise(p<0.001), weight satisfaction(p<0.05), method of weight control(p<0.05), use of nutritional supplement(p<0.05), attempts at weight control(p<0.001), regularity of breakfast(p<0.001), level of interest in well-being(p<0.001) ), and whether the individual tried a well-being item(p<0.001). Out of the factors affecting 'purchasing', the association with BMI was remarkable. Students who were overweight, obese or underweight showed higher average scores than students of normal weight. The primary concerns and trial of well-being of college students were food and exercise. Therefore, the purchase of well-being goods is related to their weight control in college students. In regard to 'life pattern' the scores were significantly affected by exercise(p<0.01), use of computer(p<0.001), BMI(p<0.001), weight control(p<0.001), use of nutritional supplement(p<0.05), regularity of breakfast(p<0.001), level of interest in wellbeing(p<0.001), whether the individual tried a well-being item(p<0.001), and having taken lecture on well-being(p<0.05). Therefore nutrition education is needed for healthy eating habits of college students and it is necessary to develop a series of lectures to teach them about diet and exercise programs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7473-7478
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• 2015

Background: Kermanshahi oil is one the most favorable oils in Iran especially in Kermanshah province. We aimed to evaluate the role of usual intake of Kermanshahi oil and other kinds of dietary fats as well as different meats, vegetables and fruits, carbohydrates, cereals, grains, sweets, candy and lifestyle habits in risk of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A case-control study with 47 consecutive, newly diagnosed premenopausal breast-cancer patients and 105 age and socioeconomic matched healthy women was conducted from 2013-2014 in Imam Reza hospital of Kermanshah using a standardized, validated questionnaire assessing various anthropometric, socio-demographic, lifestyle and dietary characteristics. Results: Kermanshahi oil intake was associated with a 2.1-fold (OR=2.123, 95% CI 1.332-3.38) (p=0.002) higher likelihood of having breast cancer, while daily intake of other solid animal fats also increased the likelihood by 2.8-fold (OR = 2.754, 95% CI 1.43-5.273) (p < 0.001), after various adjustments made. Lack of fish oil, white meat, vegetables, soy products, nuts and dairy products (especially during adolescence) in daily regimens and lack of sun exposure were significantly associated with premenopausal breast cancer risk in this region. Conclusions: This study suggested that animal fat increases the risk of premenopausal breast cancer but many other dietary and non-dietary factors including calcium and vitamin D deficiency are consistently associated with increased odds of breast cancer in this region.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.316-318
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• 2019

Recently, healthy life has become an issue in an aging society, and the number of people who have been interested in continuous health care for better life is increasing. In this paper, we implemented a personalized recommendation systm to provide convenient healthcare management for user. The PHR (Personal Health Record) of user could be stored in the server along with health related information such as lifestyle, disease, and physical condition. The users could be classified into similar clusters according to the PHR profile in order to provide healthcare contents to the users who had similar PHR profile. K-Means clustering was applied to generate clusters based on PHR profile and ACDT(Ant Colony Decision Tree) algorithm was used to provide personalised recommendation of health information stored in knowledge base. The app system developed in this paper is useful for users to perform healthcare themselves by providing information on serious diseases and lifestyle habits to be improved according to the clusters classified by PHR profile.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.49-64
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• 2012

With the burden of chronic diseases mounting among the population as a result of its aging, the importance of health examination is being stressed in order to identify and manage diseases in the early stage. Health examination in Korea is divided largely into periodic health examination provided as a national health screening program and individual physical checkups. The advantages of the former include little economic burden on the examined and those of the latter include the freedom of the individual to select various examination headings depending on the individual's characteristics and preferences. With both examinations now being expanded, empirical analyses from various standpoints are needed. This study proposes to analyze traits of the examined and non-examined as shown in the facts and figures of the 1st and 2nd Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (KLoSA), thereby make the determinant factors clear leading to the acceptance of the examinations, and analyze the effects of the examinations upon maintaining or moving to healthy lifestyle. It was confirmed that demographic features such as gender and age, socioeconomic features such as the level of education, place of residence and household income, physical and mental state of health such as chronic disease and dementia, and daily living habits are significantly related with whether to accept physical examination. It is also confirmed that physical examination leads to non-smoking, regular physical exercises and regular dietary habits. It is suggested that, to enhance effects of health examinations, follow-up management programs making use of results of health examinations be further expanded, and the national health screening program be more actively put into operation for the bracket lying in the blind spot of the program.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.803-811
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nutrition knowledge has been reported to have a weak positive effect on healthy eating behavior. This study aimed to determine if there was a difference in nutrition knowledge depending on the choice of science subject in high school and whether that affected the actual eating habits of college students in Japan. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were 514 college students, the majority first-year students, in 3 cities in Japan. A questionnaire survey was conducted on elective subjects in science in high school, diet (11 items), lifestyle (5 items), and nutrition knowledge (34 questions). The preliminary survey was conducted on 47 students in the fall of 2019, and the full-scale survey was conducted in May-June and October-November 2021 at the end of lectures for the first-year students. RESULTS: The students in the high-score group (24-31 points, n = 180) had a higher intake of vegetables (odds ratio [OR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-2.82; P = 0.015) and breakfast (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.03-2.60; P = 0.035), and a reduced intake of fast food (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.14-0.51; P < 0.001) than those in the low-score group (6-19 points, n = 150). Only the biology and chemistry students had significantly higher nutrition scores than the other groups (all: P < 0.001), but no significant difference was found between the other groups. Understanding nutrition learned in elementary and junior high school is appropriate, while molecular structure, recommended amount, and food poisoning were insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of nutrition appears to have a positive effect on the actual eating habits of college students. Although biology and chemistry in high school may help students understand the foundations of good nutrition, specialized food education may be required to make informed dietary choices.