• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.242-251
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine disparities in food and nutrient intakes based on family types identified among 1,856 participants who were the Korean elderly people in the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) excluding those who were currently practicing the diet therapy. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We separated the subjects into two groups: living alone (LA, n = 638) and living with a spouse (LS, n = 1,218). We also examined the disparities of dietary quantity and quality of those two groups using complex sampling design general linear regression analyses (CS GLM). RESULTS: In the LA group, there was a higher percentage of females and average age in LA group was higher than the participants in the LS group. Household income and education level were significantly lower in LA compared to those of LS. The frequencies of skipping meals were higher in LA. LA's food and nutrient intakes showed lower consumption of vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, and of most nutrients. Even after adjusting for the confounding factors, the consumption of vegetables, seaweeds, carbohydrates, potassium, riboflavin, and vitamin C showed lower in LA than LS. Moreover, LA's nutrient intake ratios compared to the KDRIs were lower which turned out to be similar to their nutrient intakes. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that dietary behavior and food intake of the elderly are associated with family types. Frequently skipping meals and less dietary variety are more common with elderly persons who were living alone. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate the supplementary food programs and nutrition education programs for the elderly living alone.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.280-290
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• 2015

Diet is closely related to an economic level, but few studies have reported on the relationship between the economic level and eating habits, especially in college students. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify differences in eating habits with a focus on processed foods according to allowance level in college students. This study was a cross-sectional survey of 500 college students using a questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics, eating behaviors, purchase of processed foods, and preference and intake frequency of processed foods. All subjects were classified based on monthly allowance: less than \300,000 (n=149), \300,000~400,000 (n=177), and more than \400,000 (n=124). All survey results were comparatively analyzed among the spending money groups. As the level of spending money of the subjects increased, the rate of skipping meals, eating out, and unbalanced diet increased (P<0.05). The reason for consuming processed foods was because they are easy to prepare. The factor considered the most when buying processed foods was price. However, these results showed no significant difference according to level of spending money. As spending money increased preference for retort, convenience, canned, and bottled foods significantly increased. Intake frequency of dairy products was lower, and the frequency of processed foods was significantly higher with more spending money. This study found that a higher level of monthly allowance in college students, was associated with higher rate of skipping meals, eating out, and unbalanced diet, and the preference and intake frequency of processed foods were also high. These results suggest that spending money level in college students, as an economic indicator, is relevant to intake of processed foods.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.416-425
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the stress, dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and health-related behavior of nurses. Method: The subjects of this study were 161 nurses studying at a cyber university. The general characteristics, stress, dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and health-related behavior of the subjects were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire in October, 2010. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the working pattern: shift workers (n = 110) and non-shift workers (n = 51). Results: In the general characteristics, there were significant differences in marriage, monthly income, employment type, and job satisfaction between the two groups. Total stress score did not differ significantly between the two groups. In dietary habits, significant differences in meal regularity, skipping meals, skipping reasons, having regular mealtimes, frequency of snack and the snack time between shift workers and non-shift workers (p<0.05). Total score of dietary behaviors in shift workers was significantly lower than that in non-shift workers (p<0.05). Score of shift workers in taking three meals per day regularly was significantly lower than that of non-shift workers. In health-related behavior, a significant difference in sleeping time was observed between shift workers and non-shift workers. Dietary behavior showed negative correlation with shift work (r = 0.176) and positive correlation with health consciousness (r = 0.210) and perceived health status (r = 0.198) in subjects after adjustment for age, marriage, monthly income, and employment type (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed that shift work, health consciousness, and perceived health status affected dietary behavior in subjects. Conclusion: These results indicate that shift working nurses had poor dietary habits and dietary behaviors, and these dietary behaviors are affected by their shift work, health consciousness, and perceive health status.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.535-554
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• 1999

The present study was conducted to investigate the relation of eating behavior and food intake to 534 adolescents' obesity indices. Group means of relative body weight (RBW) were 93.66 for males and 97.12 for females. Body mass index(BMI) were 20.39 for males and 20.41 for females. Respondents were divided into 3 groups on the basis of RBW as an obesity index. Astonishingly, 44.76% of total respondents were underweight and 12.92% overweight and obese. 64.54% of respondents usually skipped their breakfasts and 24.23% their dinners. More males did not have their breakfasts than females. In contrast, more females skipped their dinners than males. A significant difference was found between males and females in their eating habits(p<.001) that should be changed. As their undesirable eating habits, males pointed out 'skipping meals', while females stressed 'overeating'. There were more overeating respondents in the overweight group, while more respondents skipping their meals were found in the underweight group. Many females(72.79%) and males(52.78%) tended to alternate consistently overeating and fasting to lose weight. The most important reason for losing weight was to improve their appearance(61.12%). In addition, nutrient score indices of respondents were very low with a mean of 33.39. Only 42.13% of total respondents showed good nutrient score indices. More males ate meat, bean, white vegetables, potato and fat than females(p<.05), whereas more females ate bread, rice cake and fruit than males(p<.01). Among the 3 groups -overweight, normal weight and underweight groups, overweight group was the most eaters of meat, fish, egg and milk; underweight group was the least eaters of them.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.486-495
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and to examine the eating habits of elementary school students in Kwangju. The study was carried out on 931 students(male : 454, female : 477) in September and October of 1996. The results are summarized as follows ; Obesity was defined as body mass index(BMI) that exceeds 20. The rate of obesity was 10.0%(male 4.7$\%$, female 5.3$\%$) in subjects. Subjects were divided into 3 groups : normal group(BMI〈20), mildly obese group(20〈BMI〈25), and moderatly obese group(25〈BMI〈30), respectively. With regard to frequency of skipping breakfast, 9.1$\%$ of normal children and 17.5$\%$ of mildly obese children and 33.3$\%$ of moderately obese children had skipping every morning(p$\ll$0.001). With regard to the regularity of meal time, 62.1$\%$ of normal children had ‘regular meals’but 58.0$\%$ of mild obese children and 50.0$\%$ of moderate obese children had‘irregular meals’(p$\ll$0.05). With regard to meal volume, obese children consumed much more meal volume than normal children(breakfast p$\ll$0.001, lunch p〈0.005, dinner p$\ll$0.001). With regard to try to lose weight, 22.9$\%$ of normal children and 55.6$\%$ of mild obese children and 83.3$\%$ of moderated obese children indicated they had attempted(p$\ll$0.001). The results of this study showed that the prevalence of obesity in elementary school students in Kwangju has a tendency to be increased. Obese children need to correct their eating habits. This reasserts the importance of nutrition education in children through teachers, parents and dietitians. The findings of this study should be applied to nutrition education to ensure better physical fitness of children. (Korean J Community Nutrition 2(4) : 486-495, 1997)

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.17-35
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the determining factors that have influence on elementary students who go without breakfast and identified their physical, mental and social health that may resulted by skipping breakfast. Methods: For data collection, total 855 elementary students at the 5th and 6th grade in an urban and a rural area were asked to join the survey using a self-administered questionnaire from March 25 to April 9, 2005. The data were analyzed through a series of statistical methods including frequency, percentage, chi-square$(X^2)$ test, t-test and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: It was found that 24.0 % of respondents would skip breakfast, and influential socioeconomic factors on their skipped breakfast were economic level and mother's occupation. A group that has meals more with family everyday and a group that has breakfast served by mother as usual showed significantly low percentage of going without breakfast at statistical level(p<0.05). In case that other family members used to go without breakfast, there was a tendency to significantly high rate of skipped breakfast(p<0.01). And a group who got up early in the morning and a group who scored high points in the assessment of dietary habit showed significantly low percentage of skipped breakfast(p<0.01). In the result of multiple logistic regression analysis, the significant variables in urban area were economic level, person setting up breakfast, getting-up time and family members who would skip a meal. In rural area, meal-skipping family member, person setting up breakfast and dietary habit were significant variables(p<0.05). In physical influences according to skipping breakfast, students would skip breakfast had more stomach or dizziness(p<0.05). Depression score were higher and school life score were lower in group skipping breakfast, but not statistically significant. Conclusions: In conclusion, in order to reduce the rate of elementary students who often go without breakfast, it is favorable that they should be instructed in the importance of breakfast and the harm of skipped meal, so that they can cultivate positive living habits and dietary attitudes as well. And it is necessary that this health education cover not only students but also all of their family members(especially mother). Furthermore, it is necessary to develop systematic programs for them to get over environment factors.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2004

There are many concerns about the use and abuse of both licit and illicit substances among adolescents. This study was performed to understand the drinking status and drinking behaviur of middle school students. Self reports on drinking behaviur, dietary habits and one-day dietary records were obtained from 213 boys and 202 girls using anonymous questionnaires. One hundred and forty five of 415 students(34.9%) have experienced drinking and 48.3% of them initiated it at primary school. The motivation for first drinking was different between boys and girls; ' after sacrificial rite' for boys, ' curiosity' for girls. The most plausible reasons for drinking were ' boredom' and ' stress reduction' , and they felt the strongest desire to drink when they felt ' anger or frustration' Drinking behavior was not significantly different between male and female student except in the motivation for first drinking. But interestingly, the girls drank with friends mostly, while the boys drank with their parents. Drinking-experienced students showed significantly high rates of skipping meals and in particular skipping breakfast. DVS was found as $14.71\pm{4.51}$ and $13.95\pm{4.69}$ in non-drinking and drinking, respectively. This study showed that the drinking experience of middle school students were initiated earlier in primary school, and that drinking behavior of female students was not different with that of male student.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate food habits of boy students and to know the difference in food habits between boy and girl students. A previous study had been conducted to girl students in 1998 and this study was carried to boy students in Oct. 2000 using the questionnaires. The subjects were 783 boy students in middle school, high school and university students living in Jeonbuk region. The average score of food habits was $4.09{\pm}1.72$ out of a possible 10(middle school students were $4.96{\pm}1.85$, high school students were $4.17{\pm}1.61$ and university students were $3.15{\pm}1.70$). The average is similar $4.11{\pm}1.63$ to girl students in 1998. The correlation coefficient between the score of food habits and standard of living, present residence, taking nutritional supplements, and sort of school was positive. As a staple food, cooked rice was preferred 95.9% of subjects and this result is similar to girl students of previous study. The most preferred side-dishes was different between girl and boy students. Boy students liked stew the best, but girl students liked Kimchi the best. The most preferred snacks was fruits and fruit juice. The portion of eating cooked rice in boy students (87.8%) was decreased than girl students(90.6%) at breakfast. The main meal to have soup & stew was supper and the most delicious meal was also supper, but primary meal skipped was breakfast. The reasons for skipping breakfast were lack of time(38.7%) and no appetite(17.6%), skipping lunch was missing a time to eat(8.4%), and skipping supper was no appetite(10.5%). Substitution food on no preparation of lunch basket was difference between middle and high school students and university students. Middle and high school students ate noodles and university student ate cooked rice. The preference of snack was that chicken(20.3%) was the best. The time of eating snacks was that anytime(38.6%) was the first, after supper(13.7%) was next. In order to improve the nutritional status of boy students, they must establish good food habits by eating three regular meals per day and balancing their diet. Especially university student must build their regular life style, so they would have three regular meals.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.161-172
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• 2004

The dietary habits of middle-aged obese, overweight and normal subjects were evaluated for the purpose of providing the background information of the degenerative disease control. A survey was conducted with 293 subjects (121 males and 172 females) between the ages 40-64 and they were divided into three groups of normal (BMI 18.5-22.9), overweight (BMI 23-24.9) and obese ($BMI\geq25$) based on the criteria of Korean Obesity Association (2000). The mean age of the subjects was $52.0\pm7.3(male)\;and\;51.9\pm6.9$ (female). Socioeconomic levels of subjects belong to the mid-upper class, since 71.9% of the males and 39.5% of the females received above a college education. More than 40% (44.6%) of males and 22.1% of females were obese, and educational background did not affect the obesity rate in males, whereas in females those who received lower education had a higher rate of obesity (p ＜ 0.001). The subjects had a similar degree of drinking to the national average value. but had a lower degree of smoking. The obese group had the higher rate of drinking (p ＜ 0.01) and smoking (p ＜ 0.01). The annual increase in weight, more than 4 kg, was 8.8% for normal group and 30.9% for obese group. However, there were no differences in the mean annual increase in weight among the three groups. In females there were greater tendencies of weight changes in obese group (p ＜ 0.05). About 44.9% of subjects responded that they were exercising regularly, and the obese group appeared to put into practice less than the other groups and to use more strenuous exercise. There was the greater rate of skipping dinner in the obese female group (p ＜ 0.05). The unbalanced dietary pattern was found more with normal group than the other groups (p ＜ 0.01). The food consumption frequency by food groups was not different among the groups. The obese group consumed less frequently meats, vegetables and fruits and had higher frequency in fish, legumes and their products, instant or fast food. In all subjects the higher rate of obesity was found with males than females and with those of heavier smoking and drinking, and in females the higher rate of obesity was found with lower education levels, skipping meals and having an unbalanced diet. In middle-aged subjects of this study with higher educational and socioeconomic background factors contributing to the effects of obesity may include smoking, drinking, educational background, skipping meals or unbalanced dietary pattern. The predictable characteristics for the development of obesity can be defined as sudden fluctuation of weights, exercise regularity and intakes of vegetables and fruits.