• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1185-1200
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In the United States, one in every 5 children is obese with greater likelihood in low-income households. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have accelerated disparities in child obesity risk factors, such as poor dietary intake and increased sedentary behaviors, among low-income families because of financial difficulties, social isolation and other struggles. This study reveals insights into nutrition and health challenges among low-income families of young children in West Texas to better understand needs and develop interventions. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In-depth individual interviews were performed via Zoom among 11 families of children under the age of 3. A semi-structured interview guide was developed to explore 3 areas: changes in (1) dietary intake and (2) sedentary behaviors and (3) families' preferences regarding a parent nutrition education program. Each interview was audiorecorded, transcribed, and coded using MaxQDA software. RESULTS: Eating together as a family become challenging because of irregular work schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most parents stated that their children's dietary habits shifted with an increased consumption of processed foods. Many parents are unable to afford healthful foods and have utilized food and nutrition assistance programs to help feed their families. All families reported that their children's screen time substantially increased compared to the pre-pandemic times. Moreover, the majority of parents did not associate child screen time with an obesity risk, so this area could be of particular interest for future interventions. Meal preparation ideas, remote modality, and early timing were identified as key intervention strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Online nutrition interventions that emphasize the guidelines for child screen time and regular meal routines will be effective and promising tools to reach low-income parents for early childhood health promotion and obesity prevention.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.664-675
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the cross-sectional associations between dietary factors and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in 12,755 subjects (males 5,146, females 7,609) aged 19 years or above using data from the 4th (2007-2009) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The prevalence of MetS in Korean adults was 23.6% (males 26.1%, females 20.9%) with the criteria for modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. While males had a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and high blood pressure than females, the prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol level was higher in females than in males. Among dietary guidelines, the response of 'yes' for asking practice of 'avoiding salty foods', and 'eating moderately and increasing physical activity for healthy weight' were significantly associated with the decreased risk of MetS in both males and in females. Especially, the risk of MetS was significantly lower in the subjects that responded the practice of all items of Korean Dietary Guidelines. Significantly negative associations with MetS were also found in the responding for practice of 'limiting consumption of alcoholic beverages' in males, and taking dietary supplements in females. Skipping breakfast was positively associated with the risk of MetS. In conclusion, dietary behaviors such as having breakfast, practice of dietary guidelines, and food consumption in moderation could modify the prevalence of MetS, and our findings could be useful for establishing guidelines for preventing MetS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.648-658
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between eating habits and health among adolescents in Shanghai and Heze, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 on 2,089 adolescents; 1,089 students were from Shanghai and 999 students from Heze region. Eating habits, weight, height, and nutritional knowledge were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Eating habits score was classified into two categories: healthy eating habits and unhealthy eating habits, based on "Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey", for statistical data analysis. Associations between eating habits, BMI, and nutritional knowledge were examined using a general linear model with adjustment of potential confounding factors such as region, gender, age, parents' education level, and pocket money. Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS (version 9.3) program. Proportions of healthy eating habits group were 90.0% for breakfast (3-7 times/wk), 29.1% for fruit (${\geq}once/d$), 12.5% for vegetable (${\geq}3times/d$), 7.3% for milk (${\geq}2times/d$), 90.0% for fast food (<3 times/wk) consumption, respectively. The average BMI score was 20.1 (Shanghai 20.5 Heze 19.6), which is in the range of normal weight. Rates of obesity and overweight were 16.5% and 8.3% in Shanghai and Heze, respectively. There were significant negative correlations between intake frequencies of breakfast, fast food, biscuits, sugar, chocolate, and BMI score. Eating habits and nutritional knowledge score showed a significant positive correlation. These results showed better eating habits regarding eating regularity and consumption of fruits and soft drinks in Chinese adolescents compared with Korean adolescents, although cultural differences were not fully considered. This study demonstrated significant associations of BMI and nutritional knowledge with dietary behavior in Chinese adolescents in two regions of China. Further studies on Chinese adolescents from other regions in China should be considered.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.4619-4628
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between alcohol use and drinking problems among college students. Data were collected by structured questionnaires from 400 college students by convenient sampling methods from September 26 to October 14, 2011. Data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 15.0 program. The results were as follows: According to the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), subjects were classified into four groups such as 40.2% of no problem, 36.7% of drinking problem, 6.8% of high risk drinking problem and 16.3% of alcohol dependence. The alcohol use and drinking problems were significant difference for gender, age, type of residence, age of first drinking, cause of drinking, frequency and amount of drinking. The alcohol use was correlated with drinking problems: social function impairment(r=.601, p<.01), behavior problem(r=.579, p<.01), family and interpersonal impairment(r=.637, p<.01). The influencing factors of drinking problems were alcohol use(${\beta}$=.640, p=.000). This study concludes that it is necessary to establish alcohol use policies on campus and develop temperance education program to reduce alcohol consumption and drinking problems.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.293-303
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to compare dietary attitudes, dietary behaviors and diet qualities of Food and Nutrition major and non-major female student at a university located in Inchon. The subjects included 74 female Food and Nutrition and majors and 45 non-Food and Nutrition major female university students. This cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire, and the data were analyzed by a SPSS 10.0 program. The nutrient intake data collected from Three-day recalls were analysed by the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis Program and then the diet quality was estimated using the Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR), the Nutrient Adequacy patio (NAR) and the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ). There was no significant difference in dietary behaviors between Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors. However, most of the female university students had poor eating habits, such as overeating, unbalanced meals, and skipping of meals. In particular, more than 50% of the female university students skipped breakfast. As for weighing themselves once a week, changing dietary lifestyles, calculating food calories and having interest in information on nutrition on health, the ratio of Food and Nutrition majors was significantly higher as compared to that of the non-majors. There was a significant difference in food consumption frequency except for mick and milk products, and iron-rich foods between the Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors. However, there was a significant difference in the frequency scores of iron-rich floods between the Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors. The MAR of Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors were 0.80$\pm$0.13, 0.79$\pm$0.13, respectively. However, in the Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors, the NARs of calcium were 0.61$\pm$0.21 and 0.59 $\pm$ 0.20, and that of iron were 0.61$\pm$0.21 and 0.59$\pm$0.16, respectively, which was extremely low when compared to that of the other nutrients. This result was similar to that of the INQ. Therefore, nutritional education is necessary if female university students are to practice optimal nutrition, including well-balanced diets and eating foods of high nutritional quality.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.121-134
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the acceptance of vegetable menus by high school students and the factors that influence the acceptability. Second-grade high school students (n=389) in Seoul were asked to assess their acceptability of vegetable menus and plate waste, and answered survey questions concerning their demographic characteristics, health-related attitudes, dietary attitudes, dietary habits, and nutritional knowledge. Overall, the menus containing items that were sweet or familiar to the subjects were preferred. Acceptability was significantly associated with the amount of consumption. The acceptability was correlated with dietary habits, dietary attitudes, nutritional knowledge, and several health-related variables. The vegetable-liking groups showed significantly higher scores concerning dietary habits, dietary attitudes, and nutritional knowledge, but did not exhibit a specific pattern of association with the health-related variables. This result implies that intervention strategies focusing on changes in cognitive and/or hedonic factors, such as nutritional education or flavor-flavor learning, would be beneficial for increasing students' acceptance of vegetable menus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.866-873
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current dietary habits, health related behaviors, nutrition knowledge and body indices, and to investigate the changes in nutrition knowledge for designing and monitoring nutrition education program among preschool children. The subjects were 1,200 preschool children, aged $4{\sim}6$ years. A measurement of the height and weight was conducted. The general home environment, the dietary habit of children and nutrition knowledge were collected using a questionnaire that included information about family income, parent's education and occupations. Using the PIBW, 14.6% of the preschool children were under weight, 54.4% were normal, and 31.0% were overweight or obese. We regarded to food habit score, the highest score was in the regularity of breakfast, while the lowest score was in consumption of yellow-green vegetables such as spinach and carrots. Result in food behavior showed that 69.1% of preschool children had a unbalanced diet, and their favorite snack was fast food like pizza and hamburger then followed soft drink and fried foods (chicken of potato). After nutrition education, there was somewhat improvement in the nutrition knowledge score of preschool children from $7.7{\pm}1.7$ point to $8.9{\pm}1.5$ point. These results suggest that nutrition education help preschool children change their nutrition knowledge. Therefore, it would be needed that new appropriate nutrition education to improve dietary habits and health status.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.147-156
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with the improvement of metabolic syndrome, and provide basic data for the health management of clients. The subjects were 280 adults who were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome in 2013, and who were examined from January 2013 to December 2014. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ${\chi}^2$-test, and logistic regression analysis with SPSS WIN 18. The change rate from 3 to 2 risk factors was 60.6% among those clients whose metabolic syndrome improved. The improvement group showed a decrease in their waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides and increase in their HDL cholesterol in 2014 compared to 2013, as well as decreased drinking, increased exercise, proper calorie, protein and carbohydrate uptake, and increased consumption of a lipid lowering agent. Exercise, calorie uptake and maintenance of an oral hypoglycemic drug influenced the improvement of the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, it is necessary to have an intervention program including exercise enhancement and diet modification and to reinforce the health education for continuing health management.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2002

The objective of tole study was to compare nutritional knowledge, attitudes and food practices of competitive athletes, recreational athletes and non-participants. All students enrolled at the University of Nebraska in an Introductory Nutrition course in which sports nutrition was stressed, were asked to participate in the study. The course was typical of many introductory nutrition courses ; about two thirds of the students were from the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and most of the students were encouraged to take this course by their advisers. The students were divided into three groups : 20 competitive athletes (mostly runners, swimmers, basketball players and football players for the University), 14 recreational athletes (who were involved in a planned exercise program at least 2 hours per week), and 19 non-participants. At the beginning of the semester, students completed a food frequency questionnaire, and a 24-hour food record based on the Food Guide Pyramid. A nutrition knowledge and attitude questionnaire was formulated specifically for this study, covering normal nutrition and sports nutrition. The results showed that consumption of foods from all Food Guide Pyramid food groups except the fats/oils/sweets group was not significantly different among the three student groups. Regarding the fats/oils/sweets group, competitive athletes consumed significantly more numbers of servings than recreational athletes, while the recreational athletes consumed significantly more than non-participants (p<0.01). The total mean scores from the nutrition attitude and knowledge questionnaire were not significantly different among the three student groups. However, combined athletes (competitive athletes and recreational athletes) obtained significantly higher scores on some of the nutrition attitude questions (p<0.05). The results of the study indicate that athletes, significantly lower scores on some of the nutrition knowledge questions (p<0.05). The results of the study indicate that athletes, whether competitive or some of the nutrition knowledge questions (p<0.05). The results of the study indicate that athletes, whether competitive or recreational, had a very positive attitude regarding the effects of nutrition on their sports performance and health: however, these athletes did not appear to apply scientific principles of sports nutrition to their diet. In conclusion, advising athletes to simply increase or decrease their intakes of certain foods is too simplistic an approach for maintenance of good health and for better sporting performance. Athletes and non-athletes need continuous nutrition education to help with improving their competitive edge and food choices.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.747-758
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• 2022

This study aimed to identify the factors that influence depression in stressed adults by age. Data were extracted from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, covering 3,333 adults aged 20 to 59 years who were highly aware of stress. Linear regression analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS 25.0 program. The study found that in the case of people in their 20s, education level, health-related quality of life, obesity, weight change, smoking, and subjective body type were significant influencing factors, with an explanatory power of 60.3%. In the case of people in their 30s, gender, household income level, living with spouse, economic activity, health-related quality of life, food intake, obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and subjective health were significant influencing factors, with an explanatory power of 30.3%. For people in their 40s, household income level, living with spouse, economic activity, health-related quality of life, smoking, aerobic exercise, and subjective health were significant influencing factors, with an explanatory power of 34.4%. For people in their 50s, gender, education level, income, economic activity, health-related quality of life, protein intake, fat intake, high blood pressure, diabetes, weight control, aerobic exercise, subjective health, and subjective body type were significant influencing factors, with an explanatory power of 42.3%. Therefore, as it was found through this study that the factors affecting depression in stressed adults differ by age, it is necessary to establish an intervention strategy for each age when trying to lower depression in stressed adults.