• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.320-335
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• 2024

Purpose: This study examined the impact of adolescents' dietary behavior on their quality of life using the nutrition quotient for adolescents (NQ-A) for some high school students in Seoul. Methods: The subjects were 176 high school students living in Seoul. The NQ-A was used to assess the dietary quality, and the quality of life was assessed by categorizing it into life satisfaction, environment, health, participation and safety, leisure activities, and emotional factors using survey questions validated through previous studies. Results: The NQ score of the survey subjects was 49.30 points. Based on the NQ scores, 7.4%, 46.6%, and 46.0% of participants were categorized as the 'high', 'medium', and 'low' groups, respectively. The total NQ score and balance, diversity, and practice factor scores were positively correlated with life satisfaction, environment, health, participation and safety, and leisure activities among the quality of life subscales. Regression analysis showed that the total NQ score was positively associated with life satisfaction, health, leisure activities, and emotions; the moderation factor was negatively associated with life satisfaction and health. The balance factor was positively associated with the environmental factor. The practice factor was positively associated with health, leisure activities, and emotions, and the environment factor was negatively associated with emotions. Conclusion: These results show that adolescents' quality of life is closely related to their diet, so it is necessary to maintain a balanced and varied food intake and desirable eating behaviors to improve adolescents' quality of life. Furthermore, adolescents' quality of life is influenced by other factors. Therefore, further research is needed to assess the quality of life, including dietary factors, as well as physical, emotional, psychological, and social development.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.630-641
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• 2022

Purpose: In this study, we assessed the intake of nutrients and food groups and analyzed the nutrition quotient of obese children in South Korea. The hypothesis was that dietary quality and nutrient intake are related to the body mass index (BMI) of obese children. Methods: The participants included 48 children (20 boys and 28 girls). Based on the guidelines for the age-for-body mass index provided by the Korean National Growth Charts for children and adolescents, the participants were divided into 3 groups: overweight, BMI ≥ 85th percentile; obese, BMI ≥ 95th percentile; severely obese, BMI ≥ 99th percentile. Results: The energy distribution showed that the carbohydrate ratio was significantly higher in the overweight group (p < 0.01), whereas the fat ratio was significantly higher in the obese and severely obese groups (p < 0.05). Thus, in the overweight and obese groups, the percent body fat was negatively associated with the carbohydrate ratio (p < 0.05) but was positively associated with the fat ratio (p < 0.05). The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) data revealed that the intake levels of protein, vitamin B₁, vitamin B₁₂, and sodium were higher in all groups. Intakes of fiber, calcium, potassium, and magnesium were insufficient in all groups, and the DRI percent for protein was significantly higher in the obese and severely obese groups than in the overweight group. No significant differences were obtained in food group patterns or Nutrition Quotient (NQ) scores among the 3 groups. According to the evaluation results by food record and NQ, a significant difference was obtained in the dietary quality of obese children. Conclusion: We conclude that a higher intake of fat enhances weight gain. Based on the study results, we propose that the guidelines should consider the energy distribution of carbohydrate and fat intake to prevent and control obesity among Korean children.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.263-273
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• 2017

Numerous studies have investigated quantifying dietary intake according to the weight status of children and adolescents. However, studies on differences in quality among diets remain scarce. This study compared diet quality by weight status and examined correlations between quality of diet and obesity in children and adolescents. Two hundred fourteen children and adolescents aged between 9 and 18 years participated in this study (Normal weight n=104, Obesity n=110). The data related to food intake were investigated by dietary records, Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I), and Nutrition Quotient (NQ) and then compared with Dietary Reference Intakes for Korean (KDRIs). In DQI-I, moderation factor (control of unhealthy foods) score was 21.7 in the normal weight group and 19.5 in the obesity group. The normal weight group showed a higher score for moderation factor than the obesity group (P<0.001). Compared with KDRIs, vitamin $B_6$, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, potassium, and zinc intakes were insufficient in both groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that DQI-I moderation was negatively associated with obesity (OR=0.77, 95% CI 0.69-0.87) after adjustment for age, gender, income, and total energy intake. Our results suggest that children and adolescents require nutritional education to understand the importance of vitamin and mineral consumption. Especially, education for children and adolescents with obesity needs to emphasize moderation of nutrient intake that can cause diseases with hyper-ingestion such as sodium and high calorie-low nutrition foods.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.726-738
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• 2019

This study examined the dietary behaviors and dietary quality of high school students according to the number of times they skipped breakfast. A total of 474 high school students (225 boys and 249 girls) residing in Incheon participated in this survey. The subjects were divided into the three groups according to the frequency of eating breakfast; Regualr (eating breakfast everyday, n=226), Irregualar (eating breakfast 1~6 times/week, n=143, and Skipping (skipping breakfast everyday, n=105). The dietary quality was assessed using a nutrient quotient for adolescents (NQ-A). A higher monthly allowance and a higher rate of working mothers were significantly associated with a higher frequency of skipping breakfast. A higher intake frequency of processed beverages, and street food was significantly associated with a higher frequency of skipping breakfast. Students who had a higher rate of breakfast skipping had significantly lower intake frequency of fruits, white milk, bean and bean products, and fish. The high frequency of skipping breakfast among high school students was associated with lower dietary quality, as illustrated by the low total NQ-A score and sub group score including balance, environment, and practice. This information can inform efforts to provide nutrition education program to promote breakfast consumption and guidelines to students who skipped breakfast frequently.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.656-669
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• 2022

Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between sleep duration, sleep quality, time use, and dietary quality of adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 423 high school students (112 male and 311 female students) in Chungnam using a questionnaire comprising general characteristics, sleep status, use of time, and Nutrition Quotient for Korean Adolescents (NQ-A). Results: On weekdays, male students reported getting 6.6 hours of sleep, which was significantly higher than the 5.8 hours reported by female students. The sleep quality score between male and female students was not significantly different on weekdays and weekends. Comparing the students categorized as getting 6 hours of sleep duration on weekdays and 8 hours on weekends, a significantly higher total NQ-A score was obtained for the long sleep duration group of female students on weekdays. In male students who reported increased screen time on weekdays and study time on weekends, there was a greater frequency of short sleep duration. Our data also revealed that the longer the sleep duration higher the NQ-A score. In addition, higher NQ-A scores were determined with shorter screen time and more prolonged exercise time. Conclusion: Our results suggest that intense study time and excessive use of smartphones have a negative effect on sleep in high school students. In addition, poor sleep quality and lack of sleep are likely to affect eating habits and nutritional status. Therefore, there is a need to provide nutritional education to adolescents imparting knowledge that associates desirable sleep habits and the correct use of time.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 2024

Objective : This study aimed to assess the applicability of the Yonsei Lifestyle Profile (YLP), initially developed for adults, for adolescents and verify its reliability and validity. Methods : This study evaluated the reliability and validity of the YLP among 436 middle and high school students in South Korea. The internal consistency of this scale was analyzed using Cronbach's alpha and Spearman-Brown's coefficient. Concurrent validity was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient with the Korean Youth Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Korean version of the Children and Adolescents Participation Scale, and the Nutrition Quotient for Adolescents. Results : The overall internal consistency of the YLP items demonstrated high reliability, with a Cronbach's α of .811 and Spearman-Brown's coefficient of .779. Significant positive correlations were observed for physical activity (r=.555, p<.01), activity participation (r=.177, p<.01), and dietary habits (r=.633, p<.05), indicating consistent correlations with the related scales. Conclusion : This study analyzed the YLP targeting adolescents and confirmed its high reliability and significant validity in the areas of physical activity, activity participation, and dietary habits. These findings suggest that the YLP can be utilized as a reliable tool for evaluating healthy lifestyles among adolescents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.383-398
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• 2019

Purpose: This study investigated an association between dietary quality and use of convenience foods at convenience stores among high school students. Methods: A total of 474 high school students (225 boys and 249 girls) residing in Incheon participated in this questionnaire survey in June 2018. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the frequency of consumption of convenience foods at convenience stores; less than once a week, 1 ~ 2 times a week, and more than 3 times a week. Dietary quality was assessed using a nutrient quotient for adolescents (NA-Q). Logistic regression was used to investigate an association between dietary quality and use of convenience foods at convenience stores among high school students. Results: For boys and girls, higher monthly allowance was significantly associated with the higher frequency of consumption of convenience foods at convenience stores, whereas school grade, mother's occupational status, family size, extracurricular study, and eating speed were not significantly associated with the frequency of consumption of convenience foods. Higher intake frequency of cookies or sweet and greasy bread, processed beverage, Ramyon, night-time snack, and street food was significantly associated with the higher frequency of consumption of convenience foods for boys or girls. Boys and girls, who had a higher frequency of consumption of convenience foods at convenience stores had significantly greater odds for being in the low grade of dietary quality, especially in the moderation factor. Conclusion: The students who used convenience stores more often appeared to have more monthly allowance and to consume undesirable foods more often. Higher frequency of using convenience foods at convenience stores among high school students was associated with lower dietary quality. These study results can support efforts to provide nutrition education programs and guidelines to students who frequently use convenience foods at convenience stores.