• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.451-462
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was designed with the goal of understanding the factors affecting the frequency of skipping meals of prime-aged mothers with children as well as their nutritional status. Methods: Utilizing data from the 2010-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey, the frequency of skipping meals of mothers aged between 30 to 49 years with children aged between 3 to 11 years during a two day period was statistically analyzed. The number of meals skipped calculated and categorized into skipping no meals, skipping one meal, skipping two meals or more. Results: Compared to subjects who corresponded to mean nutrient adequacy ratio(MAR) of 4 quartile, subjects who corresponded to MAR of 2 quartile had 2.766 (95% CI: 1.552-4.931) probability of being in the 1 meal skippers group, while the probability of being in the more than 2 meals skippers group was 2.743(95% CI: 1.353-5.564). Also, compared to subjects who corresponded to MAR of 4 quartile, subjects who corresponded to MAR of 1 quartile had 3.471 (95% CI: 1.871-6.442) probability of being in the 1 meal skippers group, while the odds ratio for being in the more than 2 meals skippers group was 5.258(95% CI: 2.642-10.466). Conclusions: The results have the advantage of being generalized because the study selected subjects from probability sampling of the female population of Korea. The research results showed that the elements influencing skipping meals of prime-aged mothers with children were mean nutrient adequacy ratio and the number of nutrients, under estimated average requirement intake, and others. Therefore, to encourage dietary behaviors in the right direction, an integrated approach that considers the associated factors must be realized. Future studies are needed to understand how the frequency of skipping meals of mothers affects their children.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1335-1343
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• 2013

Parents in South Korea are known for their high level of educational zeal for their children. As a result, their children usually take extra classes in institutions as well as participate in other extracurricular activities such as sports and music. The purpose of this study was to examine the lifestyle and dietary behaviors of Korean elementary students involved in such activities. The total number of subjects was 550 fourth to sixth graders in elementary schools in Sejong, Korea. Of the total subjects, 88.0% were involved in extracurricular classes or other activities for an average of 7.34 hours/week. The subjects were assigned to one of four groups based on the degree of extracurricular activities: No extra-class (n=66), Low extra-class (1${\leq}$taking time<5 hours/week, n=118), Medium extra-class (5${\leq}$taking time<10 hours/week, n=184), and High extra-class (taking time${\geq}$10 hours/week, n=182). More subjects in the High extra-class group went to bed late (P<0.01), were under stress (P<0.01), and skipped breakfast, compared with those in the other groups. The ratio of students who answered 'I go to an institute without a meal' (P<0.01), 'I prepare a meal for myself' (P=0.053), or 'I eat out before going to an institute' (P<0.01) was higher in the High extra-class group than in the Low extra-class group. The frequency of eating fast food was higher in the High extra-class group, compared with the other groups. These results indicate that a high amount of extracurricular studies may have a negative effect on the children's lifestyles and dietary behaviors. Therefore, this study alerts parents to the potential harm of excessive extracurricular activities to their children's health.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The obese population is rapidly increasing because of reduced physical activity and a Westernized diet; consequently, various chronic diseases are more prevalent. With the increasing interest in body shape and appearance, research on body shape perceptions and accompanying weight control behaviors are needed for healthy weight management. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on randomly selected 536 (209 men and 327 women) aged 20 to 65 years. Body mass index (BMI), body-shape perception, weight control behavior, quality of sleep, and place of residence were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted using complex design in each groups. Collected data were analyzed using the SAS 9.4 statistical package, and the significance level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: When these two variables were divided into four groups, they were found to influence dieting attempts. People with abnormal weights who were dissatisfied with their body shapes attempted dieting 5.23 times more than those with healthy weights and satisfaction with their body shapes. Further, those with normal weights but dissatisfaction with their bodies attempted dieting 4.45 times more than those who were satisfied with their shapes. Subjects in their 20s attempted dieting 2.53 times more than those in their 30s and 40s, and female subjects attempted dieting 2.24 times more than male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: A correct perception of one's shape can be an important factor for dietary behavior, as body shape perceptions and dieting attempts are strongly related. Additionally, healthy weight management and nutrition education are important elements to incorporate into a weight control program aimed at preventing excessive weight control behaviors and promoting correct perceptions of body shape.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.795-800
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• 2006

In order to examine nutritional and behavioral risk factors of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Korean preschoolers, we analyzed data on 144 children aged 3-6 years with AD and their 434 healthy counterparts. The data included breast-feeding history, current weight, food behaviors assessed by the Mini Dietary Assessment (MDA), food intake by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and behavior problems by the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scale (PKBS). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed after controlling for preschool location and child's age, gender and total energy intake, as appropriate. There was no group difference of child and household characteristics. Breastfeeding history was related to lower AD risk (OR = 0.63, 95% Cl = 0.40-0.99), yet no statistically significant association was found with overweight status. Regarding food behaviors, AD risk was lower in children who drank milk at least one cup per day (OR = 0.52, 95% Cl = 0.35-0.78) and had regular meals (OR = 0.62, 95% Cl =0.42-0.92). Moreover, there were lower risks of AD in the second (OR =0.48, 95% Cl = 0.28-0.82) and the highest (OR = 0.55, 95% Cl = 0.32-0.94) intake quartiles as compared with the lowest quartile of kimchi intake. Similarly, AD risk was lower in the highest quartile of rice (OR = 0.51 Cl = 0.28-0.93) and the second quartile of fruit (OR =0.45, 95% Cl = 0.25-0.82) intakes. AD children had more problems in social interaction (OR = 1.97,95% Cl = 1.26-3.07) and independence (OR = 1.60, 95% Cl = 1.01 -2.54) measures than the healthy controls. Likewise, AD children tended to show more problem behaviors such as anxiety (OR = 1.63, 95% Cl = 0.99-2.69). Our results suggest that nutritional and behavioral dimensions are related to AD risk, yet the case control study design may preclude generalization of these results.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare convenience food purchasing behaviors and food habits. The study, which asked surveyed 131 female college students in Daejeon, in 2011, on how they used nutrition labels. The subjects were divided into two groups, in terms of the way they checked examined nutrition labels: a "Check" group(n=62, 47.3%) and a "No check" group(n=69, 52.7%). Reasons given for not reading nutrition labelings were "a habit of buying" for 72.2%, and "too small or rude" for 19.1%. The "Check" group reported higher interest in nutrition(p<0.001) and hygiene(p<0.01) than the "No check" group. Those who used the labels had higher cereal(p<0.01) and vegetable(p<0.01) consumption and a lower intake of fast foods(p<0.05). But however, most of the subjects(65.6%) chose by taste, at the time they purchased the convenience foods. The subjects considered "expiry date"(n=87, 66.4%) to be more important information on food labels than "nutrient composition"(n=11, 8.4%). The number of products whose nutrition labels were checked by over 50% was five out of 12. In conclusion, our study suggests that proper use of nutrition labeling may improve food choices and enable healthy dietary practices. Further efforts are needed to provide the public with nutrition education programs on how to read nutrition labeling. Modifying nutrition labels to make them easier for the public to understand should also be considered.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.65-80
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aims to compare changes in physical factors, health behaviors, eating habits, and nutritional intake among Korean male and female adults over a period of three years (2019-2021) before and after the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This study utilized raw data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2021). The participants in this study included 6,235 individuals in 2019, 5,865 individuals in 2020, and 5,635 individuals in 2021. Individuals whose daily energy intake was less than 500 kcal or exceeded 5,000 kcal were excluded from the study. Results: In comparison to 2019, overweight/obesity rates, weight, waist circumference, weekend sleep hours, and resistance exercise days/week increased in both male and female during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding eating habits, the proportions of people skipping breakfast, not eating out, consuming health supplements, and recognizing nutritional labels increased in 2020 and 2021, whereas the rate of skipping dinner decreased. Total energy intake has continued to decrease for the two years since 2019. A comparison of nutrient intake per 1,000 kcal before and after the outbreak of COVID-19 revealed that intake of nutrients, including protein, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, riboflavin, and niacin increased, while folic acid intake decreased. In male, calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, and niacin intakes increased, whereas iron, vitamin C, and folic acid intakes decreased. In female, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, and riboflavin intake increased significantly, while protein and niacin intake decreased significantly. Conclusions: After COVID-19, the obesity rate, breakfast skipping rate, health supplement intake, and nutritional label use increased, while the frequency of eating out, dinner skipping rate, and total energy intake decreased. These environmental changes and social factors highlight the need for nutritional education and management to ensure proper nutritional intake and reduce obesity rates in the post-COVID-19 era.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2024

The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents is increasing worldwide. Obesity in children and adolescents not only increases the risk of transitioning to obesity in adulthood but also increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as high blood glucose, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, and hyperinsulinemia during childhood. The goal of treating obesity in children and adolescents is not to focus on weight loss but to help children reach a healthy weight while maintaining normal growth appropriate for their age and sex. To achieve this goal, regular physical activity and exercise, dietary modification, improvement of obesity-prone environmental factors, and behavioral changes are required for a healthy lifestyle. If appropriate weight control is not achieved through lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy may be considered for adolescents with severe obesity aged 12 and above. Recent clinical trials have reported the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in severely obese adolescents. Currently, two medications can be prescribed in Korea for patients with obesity aged 12 and above: Orlistat and Liraglutide. However, despite effective weight control through drug treatment, body weight may increase again after treatment discontinuation. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate adherence to health behaviors during visits and continue to educate on lifestyle modifications, even during pharmacotherapy, to minimize weight regain.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.892-904
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• 2005

This study was carried out to assess the food habit index of the long-lived elderly who were aged over 85 years living in Ganghwa-gun. A survey was conducted during December 2003. Dietary nutrient intake data was obtained through the 24-hr recall method. The subjects were 96 (32 males, 64 females) aged people and divided into three groups based on food habit index scores. Such as group A: good $16\∼20$, group B: fair $11\∼15$, and group C: poor $5\∼10$. The three groups of the subjects were 90.7 years of age and $21.3\;kg/m^{2}$ of BMI on average. Healthy eating index scores of the subjects were $9.4\%$ in group A, $54.2\%$ in group B and $36.5\%$ in group C. Their level of education were lower and their levels of living standards tended to have been middle and lower of the middle class. The percentage of living together with their families or spouses in all groups were over $60.0\%$ and the rates of the subjects who have responsibility for their meal preparations were also very high in all groups. Most subjects tended not to drink nor smoke, and spend $8\~10$ hours for their sleep. The percent of number of diseases in group A was lower than in groups B and C. Their dietary habits such as taking three meals a day regularly have shown that they have good eating habit in general. There was a positive correlation between the eating behaviors and nutrient intakes. The protein, animal protein, fat, PUFA, vitamin E, vitamin $B_{2}$, niacin, P and K intaks in group A were significantly higher than that of the groups B and C. For group A of good food habits aged had no sufficient intake of Ca and vitamin A than the Korean RDA and long-lived elderly of group C in Ganghwa areas had worse nutrients intakes, especially Ca, vitamin A, vitamin $B_{2}$ and vitamin E. According to this research having a good eating habits could be considered as increasing of the health and nutritional status. (Korean J Community Nutrition 10(6) $892\∼904$, 2005)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.629-647
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was undertaken to develop a nutrition quotient for elementary school children (NQ-C) for evaluating the overall dietary quality and eating behaviors. Methods: The NQ-C was developed by implementing 3 stages: item generation, item reduction, and validation. Candidate food behavior checklist (FBC) items of the NQ-C were derived from systematic literature reviews, expert in-depth interviews, statistical analyses of the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, and national nutrition policies and recommendations. For the pilot survey, 260 elementary school students (128 second graders and 132 fifth graders) completed self-administered questionnaires as well as 24-hour dietary intakes, with the help of their parents and survey team staff, if required. Based on the pilot survey results, expert reviews, and priorities of national nutrition policy and recommendations, checklist items were reduced from 41 to 24. A total of 20 items for NQ-C were finally selected from results generated from 1,144 nationwide samples surveyed. Construct validity of the NQ-C was assessed using the confirmatory factor analysis, LInear Structural RELations. Results: Analyses of the exploratory factors of NQ-C identified that 5 dimensions of diet (balance, diversity, moderation, practice and environment) accounted for 46.2% of the total variance. Standardized path coefficients were used as weights of the items. The NQ-C and 5-factor scores of the subjects were calculated using the obtained weights of the FBC items. Conclusion: Our data indicates that NQ-C is a useful and suitable instrument for assessing nutrition adequacy, dietary quality, and eating behaviors of Korean elementary school children.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.826-837
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• 2007

Gallstone composition has changed over the past decades in the Korean with a prominent increase in the prevalence of cholesterol gallstone. This trend is possibly due to the westernization of dietary habits. The purpose of this study was descriptive of GB patient's health related eating behaviors and nutrient consumption patterns. One hundred and six gallstone patients who have had cholecystitis surgery enrolled in this study. Anthropomertic indices, such as height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured and calculated BMI and WHR. As the biomarker, TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, FBG level and SBP/DBP were measured and analyzed the relationship with GB stone formation. The structured checklist of health related eating behavior and the semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire after pre-test was used in the face to face interview study. The mean age was $54.9{\pm}13.3$ and gallstone disease was more frequent in the fifties and sixties. Mean BMI was $24.3{\pm}2.8$ in males, and $23.4{\pm}3.9$ in females, the average of waist circumference was $91.1{\pm}7.0cm$ in males and females were $85.4{\pm}9.6cm$. The WHR of men and women was $0.93{\pm}0.0,\;0.90{\pm}0.1$, respectively. The obesity and overweight trend was observed in gallstone patients. The mean blood sugar was researched at $114.5{\pm}35.0mg/dL$. And the ratio of both symptoms DM and gallstone was 26.4%. The rate of dramatic eating repast was significantly higher in the females (p<0.01). Males tended to more frequently consume meat, of high fat content meats and greasy food consumption when eating out. The CPF ratio was 57:16.5:26.5. There was a significant positive correlation between WC and energy (r=0.252, p<0.05), carbohydrate (r=0.255, p<0.05) and niacin (r=0.227, p<0.05). In addition, carbohydrate were significantly correlatied with TC (r=0.230, p<0.05). BMI appeared positive in correlation of protein (r=0.201, p<0.05) and fat (r=0.205, p<0.05). These findings provide a little association that dietary habits are related with cholesterol gallstone formation.