• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.74-80
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• 2014

Water is essential for life and plain water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages is one approach for decreasing energy intake. Due to limited data on characteristics associated with water intake among Korean adolescents, this study examined associations of demographic and behavioral characteristics with plain water intake by using nationally representative sample of South Korean adolescents. The data (2007-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) for 1,288 high school-aged adolescents (15-18 years) were used. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for factors associated with low water intake (< 4 cups/day) and very low water intake (< 2.5 cups/day). Nationwide, 38.4% and 19.0% of adolescents reported drinking water < 4.0 cups/day and < 2.5 cups/day, respectively. The mean plain water intake was 5.7 cups/day for males and 4.1 cups/day for females. Females had significantly higher odds for drinking water < 2.5 cups/day (OR = 2.2) than males, whereas adolescents with low milk consumption had significantly lower odds for drinking water < 2.5 cups/day (OR = 0.7). Factors significantly associated with a greater odds for drinking water < 4 cups/daywere being female (OR = 2.8) and not meeting physical activity recommendations (${\geq}20$ min/day on < 3 days/week) (OR = 1.6). Being underweight, overweight, and obese were significantly associated with reduced odds for drinking water < 4 cups/day (OR = 0.7, 0.4 and 0.5, respectively). However, intake of soda, coffee drinks, fruits, vegetables, and sodium and eating out were not significantly associated with low or very low water intake. These findings may be used to target intervention efforts to increase plain water intake as part of a healty lifestyle.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.321-327
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Fruit and vegetable consumption of children in the United States falls below recommendations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a national free-fruit and vegetable school distribution program designed to address this problem. This permanent, legislated program provides funding to qualified elementary schools for provision of additional fruit and vegetables outside of school meals. The objective of this study was to understand children's perceptions of FFVP after the intervention and formulate recommendations that may improve success of the intervention. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Secondary data were obtained from 5,265 $4^{th}-6^{th}$ graders at 51 randomly-selected FFVP intervention schools in Indiana. Anonymous questionnaires were completed late in the 2011-2012 academic year. Multilevel logistic regressions were used to determine associations between students' perceptions of program effects (4 close-ended items) and their preference toward the program. Content analysis was applied to a single open-ended item for program comments. RESULTS: Over 47% of students reported greater intake of fruit and vegetables due to FFVP, and over 66% reported liking the program. Student-reported program effects were positively associated with preference for the program (P < 0.01). Themes that emerged during analysis of 3,811 comments, included, students liked: the opportunity to try different kinds of fruit and vegetables, types and flavors of fruits served, and benefits of eating fruit. Fewer students liked the types of vegetables and their benefits. A small group disliked the program citing poor flavor of vegetables and quality of fruits. Important suggestions for the program include serving more dipping sauces for vegetables, cooking vegetables, and providing a greater variety of produce. CONCLUSIONS: The degree that students liked FFVP may predict the program's effects on fruit and vegetable intake. FFVP may become more acceptable to students by incorporating their suggestions. Program planners should consider these options for achieving program goals.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.342-351
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aims to develop a mobile nutritional management program for integration into the already developed web-based program, Diabetes Mellitus Dietary Management Guide (DMDMG) for diabetic patients. Further, we aim to evaluate the amended DMDMG program. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The mobile application based on an Android operating system includes three parts: 1) record of diet intake, which allows users to take pictures of the meal and save to later add diet records into DMDMG; 2) an alarm system that rings at each meal time, which reminds users to input the data; 3) displays the diet record and the results of nutrient intake, which can be also viewed through the web program. All three parts are linked to the web-based program. A survey was conducted to evaluate the program in terms of nutrition knowledge, dietary attitude, eating behavior and diet intake by non-equivalent control group design among diabetic patients with 14 DMDMG users and 12 non-user controls after a one-month trial of DMDMG. RESULTS: Non-users did not use the program, but participated in the weekly off-line nutrition classes for one month. The program users showed increased healthful dietary behavior (P < 0.01) and dietary attitude scores (P < 0.05). More DMDMG users had higher nutrition knowledge scores after one-month trial than non-users. However, dietary intake significantly increased in non-user group for calcium and sodium (P < 0.05) while the user group did not show significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: The program has created positive changes in patients' dietary life. All the users were satisfied with the program, although some expressed minor difficulties with an unfamiliar mobile app.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.328-333
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the differences in food choice, nutrition labeling perceptions, and prevalence of obesity due to meal skipping in Korean elementary school children. A national survey was performed in 2010 to collect data on food intake frequency, understanding of nutrition labeling, and body mass index from 2,335 fifth grade students in 118 elementary schools selected from 16 metropolitan local governments by stratified cluster sampling. The data were analyzed using the SAS 9.1 and SUDAAN 10.0 packages. Students who consumed three meals for 6-7 days during the past week were classified into the regular meal eating (RM) group (n = 1,476) and those who did not were placed into the meal skipping (MS) group (n = 859). The daily intake frequency of fruits, vegetables, kimchi, and milk was significantly lower in the MS group compared to that in the RM group (P < 0.001), whereas the daily intake frequency of soft drinks and instant noodles (ramyeon) was significantly higher in the MS group than that in the RM group (P < 0.05). The MS group demonstrated a significantly lower degree of understanding with regard to nutrition labeling and high calorie foods containing low nutritional value than that in the RM group. The distribution of obesity based on the percentile criteria using the Korean growth chart was different between the MS and RM groups. The MS group (8.97%) had a higher percentage of obese subjects than that in the RM group (5.38%). In conclusion, meal skipping was related to poor food choice, low perception of nutrition labeling, and a high prevalence of obesity in Korean fifth grade children.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.238-245
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• 2012

This study investigated the preference and intake frequency of a list of 15 commonly available high sodium Malaysian foods/dishes, dis cretionary salt use, and their possible association with demographics, blood pressures and anthropometric measurements among 300 Malaysian university students (114 males, 186 females; 259 ethnic Chinese, 41 Indians; 220 lean, 80 overweight). French fries and instant soup noodle were found to be the most preferred and most frequently consumed salty food, respectively, while salted fish was least preferred and least frequently consumed. Males had a significantly higher intake frequency of at least 6 of the salty foods, but the preference of most salty foods was not significantly different between genders. Ethnic Chinese significantly preferred more and took more frequently traditional and conventional Malaysian foods like asam laksa (a Malaysian salty-sour-spicy noodle in fish stock), salted biscuits and salted vegetable, while Indians have more affinity and frequency towards eating salty Western foods. Body Mass Index was significantly negatively correlated with the intake frequency of canned/packet soup and salted fish while waist circumference was significantly positively correlated with the preference of instant noodle. Also, an increased preference of potato chips and intake frequency of salted biscuits seemed to lead to a decreased WHR. Other than these, all the other overweight/obesity indicators did not seem to fully correlate with the salty food preference and intake frequency. Nevertheless, the preference and intake frequency of asam laksa seemed to be significant negative predictors for blood pressures. Finally, increased preference and intake frequency of high sodium shrimp paste (belacan)-based foods like asam laksa and belacan fried rice seemed to discourage discretionary salt use. In conclusion, the preference and intake frequency of the high sodium belacan-based dish asam laksa seems to be a good predictor for ethnic difference, discretionary salt use and blood pressures.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2012

This study was conducted to identify dietary factors that may affect the occurrence of gastric cancer in Koreans. Preoperative daily nutrition intake and diet quality of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer were evaluated. Collected data were comparatively analyzed by gender. The results were then used to prepare basic materials to aid in the creation of a desirable postoperative nutrition management program. The subjects of this study were 812 patients (562 men and 250 women) who were diagnosed with gastric cancer and admitted for surgery at Soonchunhyang University Hospital between January 2003 and December 2010. Nutrition intake and diet quality were evaluated by the 24-hr recall method, the nutrient adequacy ratio, mean adequacy ratio (MAR), nutrient density (ND), index of nutritional quality (INQ), dietary variety score (DVS), and dietary diversity score (DDS). The rate of skipping meals and eating fast, alcohol consumption, and smoking were significantly higher in males than those in females. The levels of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, and cholesterol consumption were significantly higher in males than those in females. Intake of fiber, zinc, vitamin A, retinol, carotene, folic acid were significantly higher in females than those in males. MAR in males was significantly higher (0.83) than that in females (0.79). INQ values were higher in females for zinc, vitamin A, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin $B_6$, and folic acid than those in males. The average DVS was 17.63 for females and 13.19 for males. The average DDS was 3.68 and the male's average score was 3.44, whereas the female's average score was 3.92. In conclusion, males had more dietary habit problems and poor nutritional balance than those of females. Our findings suggest that proper nutritional management and adequate dietary education for the primary prevention of gastric cancer should be emphasized in men.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.212-217
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• 2007

This study compared obese children's food group intakes with the new Dietary References Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) food guides for 5th-6th grade school children. This study also determined the extent of sedentary life styles related with obesity in this area of children. This is it cross-sectional study of 799 school children. The dietitian sent a survey form describing the project and a questionnaire to the subject's family. The questionnaire included child demographics, family history of chronic diseases, the daily servings of five food groups, such as grains, meat and beans, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables. The daily or weekly hours of physical activity, television viewing, and computer usage were also surveyed. Obesity index (%) of the subjects was calculated, and children with an obesity index (%) equal to or greater than 20 were classified as the obese. Among the 799 participants, 50.7% were female. The percentages of the normal and the obese were 691 (86.5%) and 108 (13.5%) respectively. Obese children reported eating less vegetables (p<0.05), more high sugar snacks (p<0.05), and high fat snacks (p<0.05) than normal children. No significant differences in food servings of grains, meats and beans, and fruits, and dairy products between the normal and the obese were shown. Obese children reported fewer hours of physical activities (p<0.05) and more hours of computer usage (p<0.05) than normal children. Girls showed less likelihood of being obese (odds ratio, 0.575, CI (0.38, 0.87), p<0.05). More hours of physical activity significantly decreased the likelihood of being obese (odds ratio, 0.572, CI (0.35, 0.92), p<0.05). Family history of obesity almost doubled the likelihood of obesity in children (odds ratio, 2.653, CI (1.660, 4.241), p<0.05). In conclusion, frequent snacking, inadequate vegetable consumption, and sedentary lifestyle increased significantly the likelihood of obesity in children, which suggest that obesity intervention in this age group should focuse more on those variables.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.527-537
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the practice of oral hygiene behaviors and oral health status of long-term care facility residents and to analyze the factors related to salivary hemoglobin level which can predict active periodontal disease. Methods: From 30th October 2015 to 7th January 2016, a questionnaire was provided to 63 participants and their dental plaque and saliva samples were collected to assess the levels of salivary hemoglobin and dental plaque acidogenicity. In order to analyze the factors related to salivary hemoglobin level, multiple linear regression analysis was performed. Results: Toothbrushing was most frequently performed by the participants themselves (98.4%) and toothbrushing was performed after eating breakfast (81.3%). 68.8% of participants reported brushing their tongue. 35.9% of participants perceived having bad teeth, and 87.5% had high dental caries activity. The percentages of participants with hyposalivation and ${\geq}0.20{\mu}g/ml$ salivary hemoglobin level were 45.3% and 59.4%, respectively. The salivary hemoglobin level was significantly higher in the group in which stimulated salivary flow rate was ${\leq}0.70ml/min$, dental plaque acidogenicity was superior, and perceived having bad teeth (p<0.05). There was also a tendency for the salivary hemoglobin level to increase with age (p<0.05). Conclusions: Oral health status of the long-term care facility residents was still not improved, and the characteristics of salivary volume and dental plaque were important factors affecting salivary hemoglobin level. Therefore, it is necessary to operate an oral hygiene intervention program by oral health professionals in such facilities in order to provide residents with effective oral care aligned with their respective needs. Furthermore, it is necessary for caregivers to complete mandatory oral health education to improve the oral hygiene status of the long-term care facility residents.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.616-622
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Argentina, obesity prevalence rose from 14.6% in 2005 to 20.8% in 2013. Although the number of studies on noncommunicable diseases and dietary patterns as a unique dietary exposure measure has increased, information on this topic remains scarce in developing countries. This is the first population-based study investigating the association between diet and obesity using a dietary pattern approach in Argentina. We aimed (a) to identify current dietary patterns of the population of $C{\acute{o}}rdoba$ city, (b) to investigate its association with obesity prevalence, and (c) to identify and describe dietary patterns from the subgroup of people with obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The $C{\acute{o}}rdoba$ Obesity and Diet Study (CODIES) was conducted in $C{\acute{o}}rdoba$ city by using a random sample of n = 4,327 subjects between 2005 and 2012. Empirically derived dietary patterns were identified through principal component factor analysis. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association of dietary patterns with obesity. RESULTS: Four dietary patterns were identified, called "Starchy-Sugar", "Prudent", "Western", and "Sugary drinks". High scores for the "Western" pattern (with strongest factor loading on meats/eggs, processed meats, and alcohol) showed a positive association with obesity (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.06-1.67, for third versus first tertile of factor score). "Meats/Cheeses" and "Snacks/Alcohol" patterns emerged in people with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that high adherence to the "Western" pattern promoted obesity in this urban population. In addition, people with obesity showed characteristic dietary patterns that differ from those identified in the overall population.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.193-211
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• 1997

The study was designed to gain necessary basic data in order to grasp the health knowledge, attitude, and practice level of students and teachers of elementary, middle and high schools. This study was conducted through interviews of 3,400 students and 1,022 teachers attending 14 different schools large, middle and small cities and rural towns during a period of nine months (from Oct. 2 1995 to Jun. 30 1996). By the results of this study, the recommendations can be summarized as follows: 1. A school health development committee should be established of 10 members: school health related teachers (physical trainers, nurses, and teachers in charge of health), parents, persons related to health administration, local medical doctors, and student reprensentatives in order to support and immplement school health development plans. 2. Like advanced countries, a health class of 2~4 hours should beplaced in middle and high schools. A nurse majoring in health from a university should be the teacher. 3. A curriculum of health should contain the following: education on health, sex, alcohol, tabacco, the misuse of the drugs, the structure and function of human body, the growth of the body, mental health, safety and emergency care, the prevention of disease, proper eating habits and nutrition, daily health life, family health education, society health, community health, environmental pollution and individual responsibility. 4. Create a school health promotion center, with a nurse's office, and a sports center which has health machines (bars, aerobics, training, twist machine, belt massage, running machine, bench press, chest waist, hack hip extension machine) as well as a physical strength measuring machine (muscular strength, alertness, flexibility, endurance, lung functions and so on), so that the teaching staff and students can use them and train their bodies. 5. Through a refresher education program, urge teachers to understand school health promotion services. 6. Regulate a standard and establish a system of monitoring the physical enviroment of the school (the height of desks and chairs, illumination facilities, ventilation facilities, safe drinking water). 7. Create a check list of health to evaluate improvement.