• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2010

Prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing significantly worldwide due to energy imbalance perhaps stemming from undesirable dietary behavior and physical activity level. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of physical activity level on nutritional status in elementary school students. The subjects were comprised of 287 elementary school students between 4th and 6th grades in Seoul, Korea. The level of physical activity was scored with a modified Godin leisure-time exercise questionnaire and was categorized as active, moderately active, and sedentary. Dietary intakes were obtained using a 24-hour food recall method. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to test for global significant differences of nutrient intakes by physical activity level. Boys were more active than girls. Daily intakes of energy in moderately active boys were significantly higher than in the sedentary group, but intakes of calcium and iron in moderately active boys were lower than active boys. For girls, physical activity level did not affect nutrient density at all. Intakes of calcium, vitamin C, and folate for both boys and girls were below 50% of recommended intake. Physical activity did not affect nutrient density and our participants were exposed to nutritional imbalance. Therefore, the results suggest that nutrition education regarding balanced diet and optimum physical activity is required for children's health and growth.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.283-294
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• 1988

To study the factors related to childhood obesity, 75 subjects were selected as an obese group and 75 subjects were selected as a control group according to their obesity index and BMI among the 583 children of 5th and 6th grade in elementary school in Seoul. For each subject, skinfold thickness was measured, information on the characteristics of family, nutrient intake and activity time of the subjects were obtained by questionnarie. The results were summarized as following: 1) Parents' obesity indices of obese group were significantly higher than those of control group(Father's Obesity Index : P<0.01, Mother's Obesity Index : P<0.05). 2) Questions about eating rate and behavior showed that subjects in obese group were significantly faster in their eating rate(p<0.05) and always more eager to eat food(p<0.001) compared to control group. 3) Dietary intake data showed that average daily intake of all the nutrients exceeded Korean recommended dietary allowances for the age group. In female children, fat intakes of obese group were significantly higher than control group(P<0.05). There was no such significant difference in male subjects. 4) Activity time record of subjects reveal that there was a trend for males to spend more time in moderate and high activity and less time in light activity compared to females. Subjects in obese group spent significantly more time for light activity(P<0.001) and significantly less time for moderate activity (P<0.001) compared to subjects in control group. The difference of activity was more pronounced in male subjects. 5) Correlation matrix of the variables showed that obesity index, BMI, and skinfold thickness of the subjects were highly correlated with each other. These indices were positively correlated to parent's obesity indices and the time spent for light activity, but negatively correlated to the time spent for moderate activity. Nutrient intakes were not significantly correlated to obesity indices. Form the results shown above, although both obese and control groups are from high socioeconomic class, obese children tended to come from family with fat parents. They eat fast and are always eager to eat. They tend to eat more fat but are very different from controls in nutrient intake. Obese children are significantly lower in their actinity compared to controls. So, for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, it seems to be more important to increase their activity levels.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2001

High serum cholesterol level is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease(CHD). Nutrition therapy of hypocholesterolemic diets with increased physical activity is the essential step in the treatment of the hypercholesterolemic patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term effect of intensive dietary therapy combined with regular exercise in lowering serum cholesterol level. Seventy three hypercholesterolemic outpatients(mean: 268.0$\pm$24.7mg/dL), aged 34 to 73(mean: 56$\pm$9.8yrs), who visited cardiology OPD of Yonsei Cardiovascular Center from April through October, 1998 were studied. Anthropometric measurements, usual nutrient intake survey using semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and daily nutrient intake analysis were performed. The nutrition counseling for the hypocholesterolemic diet and exercise therapy was performed individually. After a 4 week intensive dietary therapy, comparisons of body weight, nutrient intakes, and blood lipid concentrations were evaluated for the hypocholesterolemic effect of intensive diet therapy. After 4 weeks of intensive diet therapy, significant reductions in percent ideal body weight(p<0.01), saturated fat intake(p<0.01), and cholesterol intake(p<0.01) were observed. There were significant reductions in serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels after 4 weeks of therapy by 8.1%(p<0.01) and 9.7%(p<0.01), respectively. Our results showed that intensive dietary therapy was effective in reductions of serum total and LDL-cholesterol levels. The goal for this dietary modification should not be temporary but rather be permanent in eating behavior accompanied by appropriately increased physical activity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 2003

This study was conducted to evaluate nutritional status of Korean women of child-bearing age. A comparison was made between 113 non-pregnant and 200 pregnant women. Pregnant women of 24-28 weeks of gestation were recruited from prenatal clinic in Seoul. Nonpregnant women were included college students, nurses, office employers, and sales women. General characteristics, anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes, and hematological values were assessed. There was no difference in mean BMI for nonpregnant and pregnant (pre-gravid) women, which were 20.2 kg/m$^2$and 20.6 kg/m$^2$respectively. The pregnant women showed a tendency of better health-caring behavior, evidenced by stop smoking and drinking, and in taking nutrient supplements. The mean intakes of energy, vitamin A, vitamin B$_2$, calcium, and iron did not meet Korean RDA for adult women. In particular, calcium and iron intakes of both nonpregnant and pregnant women were under 60% of the Korean RDA. Judging by MDA score, dietary quality was better in pregnant than in nonpregnant women. Mean serum values of albumin, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, Hb, IgA, IgG were in normal range. However, more than 13% of the nonpregnant subjects showed mild hypercholesterolemia (cholesterol > 200 mg/dl) and anemia (Hb < 12.0 g/dl) . The percentage of anemia in pregnant women were much higher; the subject with Hb < 11.0 g/dl were approximately 30%. The pregnant subjects showed significantly higher serum concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol, and significantly lower concentrations of albumin, IgA, and IgG compared to nonpregnant women. Correlation analysis showed that Hb concentrations were correlated with the intakes of iron- and protein- containing foods such as meat and vegetables. This study strongly suggest that iron-deficient anemia is a major nutrition problem in Korean child-bearing women and this condition is correlated with dietary intakes.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.560-568
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• 2002

This study was carried out to compare the dietary behaviors and the nutrient intake of a middle school and a high school girls in Iksan. The subjects consisted of 132 middle school girls and 122 high school girls in Iksan. The proportion of subjects eating meals irregularly was higher in the high school girls (98.6%) than in the middle school girls(78.7%). The proportion of subjects skipping a meal also was higher in the high school girls(61.5%) than in the middle school girls(53.8%) and most of them (65.8%) skipped breakfast though they thought breakfast was the most important meal of a day (87.4%). The subjects tended to overeat at lunch (38.6%), and at dinner (55.9%). The main reasons of skipping a meal were 1. They had no time (49.3%), and 2. They had poor appetite (24.7%) Mean daily energy intake was 2198.5Kcal in the middle school girls and 2150.5Kcal in the high school girls and mean daily intake of protein, iron, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$ and niacin was significantly higher (p<0.05, p<0.01) in the middle school girls than in the high school girls. Mean daily calcium, iron, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin A and C intake of middle school girls were lower than those of RDA and all nutrients intake of high school girls except for phosphorus was lower than those of RDA. The index of nutritional quality (INQ) was under 1.0 for calcium, iron, vitamin A, $B_1$ and C. Mean blood level of cholesterol, triglyceride, Hb, Hct, GOT, GPT were 170.9mg/dl, 78.9mg/dl, 13.1g/dl, 39.5%, 18.8mg/d and 15.7mg/dl, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.444-451
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• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate how body size and weight control experience affect the nutrient intakes and the health status of adolescent females. The survey was carried out by self-questionnaires with 463 female high school and college students in Daegu. Analysis of data was done by using a t-test, and ANOVA with the SAS computer program. The average height, weight and BMI of the subjects were 161.2 cm, 53.4 kg, and 20.51 kg/$m^2$ respectively. However, 25.1% of the subjects belonged to the underweight group when we divided the subjects into 3 groups- underweight, normal-weight, overweight-according to their present body size. The average Fe intake of the subjects was less than 50% of the Korean recommended dietary allowances. The dietary intakes of energy and Vit. A were significantly higher in the underweight group than in other groups. However, no significant differences among body size groups were observed in the dietary habit score and the nutritional knowledge score. It also appeared that the dietary habit score and the nutritional knowledge score of the weight control attemptees were worse than those of the non-attemptees. The physical health status of the subjects significantly differed according to weight control experience, and the psychological health status of the subjects differed with present body size. The physical health condition of the weight control attemptees was worse than the non-attemptees. and the psychological health condition of the overweight group was worse than other groups. The results indicated that unnecessary weight control in adolescent females induces unhealthy food behavior which is linked to undesirable health status.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.407-418
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• 2012

Many displaced North Koreans (NK) are living in South Korea (SK); however nutrition research with the displaced NK is limited. This study examined food and nutrient consumption status of displaced NK children (6-18 year-old) currently living in SK. A total of 154 children were recruited, and a pre-tested dietary behavior questionnaire, food frequency questionnaire, 24-hr recall method were used. Sex- and age-matched SK children (n = 462) randomly selected from 2009-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used as the comparison group. This study found that more NK children skipped breakfast (37%) and dinner (11%), and ate breakfast (38.8%) and dinner (18.2%) without family members than SK children. Many NK children reported that they rarely ate bread, rice cake, hamburger, pizza, fried food, candy. NK children consumed significantly less energy and nutrients (except calcium) and obtained more energy from fat and protein than SK children. Overall index of nutrient quality in NK children, however, was generally good. Length of stay in SK and breakfast skipping rates were significantly associated with lower diet quality. Therefore, nutrition education with displaced NK children should target those who recently came to SK. How to incorporate "new" foods, generally high in energy, sugar, or fat, in healthy ways and importance of breakfast should be emphasized. The growth patterns of the displaced NK children who were born and raised in food-deprived environments and will grow in food-affluent environments of SK should be monitored for health promotion of the NK children and for nutrition policy of the future united Korea.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.127-134
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• 2008

This study was designed to evaluate the nutritional status and dietary problems of obese elementary students consuming unbalanced diets. Blood parameters, body-image perceptions, taste preferences, and nutrient intakes of 40 obese elementary students with unbalanced diets were compared to those of 40 additional obese elementary students as a control. The averages for age, height, weight, and obesity index were 11.5 years, 142.0 cm, 51.0 kg, and 35.4% in the study group and 11.8 years, 144.0 cm, 53.5 kg, and 36.3% in the control group, respectively. The major disliked foods by the students in the study group were vegetables (65%) particularly Kimchi (15%), as well as fish(15%), and pulses (10%). Mean serum cholesterol, blood glucose, GOT/GPT, and hemoglobin levels were 175.1 mg/dL, 89.2 mg/dL, 24.1/18.9 IU/L, and 14.3 g/dL in the study group and 182.8 mg/dL, 91.3 mg/dL, 28.3/33.9 IU/L, and 14.7 g/dL, in the control group, respectively. Approximately 60${\sim}$80% of the subjects responded that they eat a meal everyday, and the remainder skipped at least one meal. The preference for salty tasting foods was significantly lower in the study group, but the preference for hot tasting food was higher as compared to the obese control group(p<0.05, p<0.05). The daily energy intakes of the study and control groups were 1,768.3 kcal and 1,572.7 kcal, respectively, but there was no significant differences between them. Daily intakes of animal protein, fat, animal fat, and vitamin $B_2$ were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. In conclusion, this study found that obese children consuming unbalanced diets strongly disliked vegetables, particularly Kimchi, as well as hot tasting foods; however, they preferred salty foods. Daily intakes of animal protein and fat were higher in the study group as compared to obese children not consuming unbalanced diets.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2009

The study was performed to investigate the relationship of regular exercise to body composition and nutrient intakes of male college students by comparing anthropometric measurements and one-day dietary intakes by 24-hour recall of physical education (PE) majors and non-major male college students. The subjects were 253 students residing in the Gyeonggi area. Only 64.1% and 32.1% of PE majors and non-major students exercised over 4 times a week and PE major students did stronger exercise than the non-major students did. Mean BMI and WHR (Waist Hip Ratio) of the two groups were not different. But percentages of body fat and lean body mass in PE major students were lower and higher, respectively, than those of non-major students. PE major students consumed significantly more energy and other nutrients except iron, niacin, vitamin C, and vitamin E than non-major students. Nutrients consumed less than KRDA was calcium in PE major students and energy, calcium, zinc, vitamin $B_{12}$, folate, and vitamin C in non-major students. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) of PE major students (1.00) was significantly higher than that of non-major students (0.94). Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) of all nutrients except vitamin A of PE major students was also significantly higher than that of non-major students. Nutrients below 1.00 in INQ of both groups were calcium, zinc, vitamin B2, and folate. Our data supports that regular exercise may positively influence on body composition and increase diet quality in male college students. Therefore, an educational program focused on regular exercise along with proper dietary behavior would be needed.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.280-288
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• 2000

This study was undertaken to compare the obesity related dietary factors among rural middle school students living in Korea. Anthropometric data showed that mean height and weigh were 161.7$\pm$13.0 and 49.8$\pm$10.3kg in 226 male students and 158.3$\pm$6.1 and 48.2$\pm$7.5kg in 212 female students. Mean BMIs for boys and girls were 19.10$\pm$2.47 and 19.26$\pm$2.35, respectively. 71.68% of male students and 72% of female students were underweight by the BMI index. The BMI of older students was higher than young ones in both sexes. Most nutrient intakes of the subjects were below the RDA. In particular Ca and Fe intakes were extremely low in both sexes. 66.88% of the students skipped breakfast and it was found that the reasons for missing a meal for both sexes were significantly different. Compared to males, more female respondents felt guilty and depressed related to eating. Furthermore, females were more significantly concerned with body image, diet, and body weight(p〈0.001), and they were not satisfied with their weight. The sources of information on obesity and diet were from radio and TV in males while females got information from magazines and friends. In male students their ideal body weight was higher was higher than actual body weight. In contrasting, female students desired a thin body shape. A different approach for nutrition education for adolescents should be developed and implemented based on sex.