• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.179-198
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined general characteristics, health status, accessibility to medical services, health-related quality of life, dietary behavior, and energy and nutrient intakes of the elderly at different levels of food security utilizing data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). Methods: The elderly subjects (1,721 males and 2,271 females) were divided into 3 groups (secure, mildly insecure, moderately/severely insecure) according to their food security levels. Health and nutrient status was determined using energy intake, nutrient density, the prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake, dietary behavior, and health status. Results: The elderly with food insecurities had a lower self-evaluated health status and a higher prevalence of physician-diagnosed chronic diseases such as arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis for males, and hypertension, stroke, arthritis, and osteoarthritis for females. The associated financial burden was the major reason for not accessing medical services in the food insecure group. Furthermore, the food insecure group had a higher risk of impaired health-related quality of life compared to the secure group. The proportion of subjects with an energy intake below the estimated energy requirement was higher in the food insecure group and a significantly higher prevalence of insufficient intake was observed for all the nutrients (proteins, vitamin A, vitamin B₁, vitamin B₂, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, and iron) assessed in this study compared to the food secure group. Conclusion: This study suggests that food insecurity poses a challenge to the health and nutritional status of the elderly population in Korea and needs proper management. It would be helpful to develop food and nutrition assistance programs to ensure the food stability of the elderly population and assure quality to address gaps in their nutrient intake.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.185-199
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to estimate the sites providing accurate and useful informations to the public by monitoring food and nutrition informations distributed through the internet quantitatively about 13 items of 7 necessary requisites. Total of 457 internet sites on the searching engines of Yahoo, Empas, Nate, Naver and Daum were monitored by 10 panels from May, 2004 to October. Thirty eight % of the sites got 7 & 8 total of 14 points and total sites showed a normal distribution. From the estimation of meta data, individual sites(5.19) were operated insufficiently compared with the commercial sites(6.10) and institutional sites(6.60) (p<0.000). According to administrators, sites were evaluated in the order of research institute> government organization> academic association> pharmaceutical company, club, food company, university> hospital> individual (p<0.000). While low-ranked sites were lack of authority because they didn't show the information provider and source, high-ranked ones lack of sustainable management(updating informations) and security. From this study, we suggest that 1) theme, contents and design have to prepared with variety to suit the need of target clients instead of that of site operator; 2) source and origin of information have to be provided; 3) informations have to be updated often and site to be managed sustainably.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.580-589
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the food insecurity status and dietary behavior and examine the association between the food insecurity status and consumption of processed beverage for secondary school students in Vientiane, capital city of Lao PDR. Methods: The study subjects are 714 students (boys = 307 and girls = 407) in four secondary schools (Chao_Anouvong, Phiavat, Saysetha, and Chansavang) of Vientiane, Lao PDR. Data on study subject's demographic characteristics, dietary behavior, food insecurity, and Mini Dietary Assessment (MDA) index were collected. A "Self-Administered Food Security Survey Module for Children Aged 12 Years and Older" developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was used for the food insecurity assessment. Results: As a result, 72.7% of the subjects were in a state of food insecurity, and food security was associated with higher socioeconomic status (higher life satisfaction, higher parent's education attainment, higher item ownership, fewer number of siblings, and having more lunches at the school restaurant than at home). Compared to the food insecurity group, the frequency of breakfast, self-rated diet, and the total score of MDA index were higher in the food security group. On the other hand, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that 'food security' was also associated with a higher consumption of processed beverages (OR 1.544; 95% CI 1.078-2.213; p = 0.018). Conclusion: Improving the quality of the diet is essential for adolescents in both the food insecurity and food security groups in Lao PDR. Therefore, it is necessary to provide well organized nutrition education and establish adequate nutrition policy for adolescents in Lao PDR.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1840-1841
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• 2018

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.973-981
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• 2015

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate the correlation with subjective oral health status and food preference in elderly people. Methods: Data were extracted from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey 2010-2012. The survey data included general characteristics of the subjects, food preference, and subjective oral health status. Food preference was analyzed by assigning score to 63 food categories. The subjective oral health status consisted of toothache within a month, self-perception of oral health, chewing difficulty, mastication difficulty, and speaking difficulty. Data were analyzed by frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$ test, t-test, and ANOVA using SPSS 22.0 program. Results: Elderly men had a tendency to have a liking for all food categories except for fruit. Difficulty in chewing and mastication was shown in those who had older age, lower education, lower monthly income, and national basic livelihood security. Difficulty in speaking was found in those who had older age, lower education, and national basic livelihood security. Self perception of oral health status was closely related to food preference for pulses and potatoes, fish, vegetables and others(p<0.05). Difficulties in chewing and mastication had relation to all food categories excepting cereals, lipids and sugars(p<0.05). Speaking difficulty were significantly different in pulses, potatoes, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, milk, dairy products, and others(p<0.05). Conclusions: Poor subjective oral health status was closely related to food preference. It is necessary to educate that maintenance of good oral health is to ingest the balanced nutrition in the elderly people.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.416-430
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the effects of a personalized nutritional intervention program on food security and health and nutritional status of elderly people in the city of Seoul. Methods: A total of 372 elderly adults aged 65 years or above who resided in Seoul were enrolled in this study. Personalized supplementary food supply and nutritional education based on chronic disease status, disability and cooking ability were implemented for 4 months. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, nutrient intake, food security status, anemia status, chronic disease management, and frailty status, and prevalence of malnutrition (Mini Nutritional Assessment) were examined. Results: After the program, all subjects displayed significantly increased nutrient intake. Before the intervention, all subjects were in a state of food insecurity; however, after the intervention, 37.1% of the subjects were food secure. Moreover, the rates of being at risk of malnutrition and malnutrition in subjects were decreased and instead rate of those who improved to normal increased to 29.8% from 0% of normal rate before the prevention. The rate of subjects without anemia increased from 18.7% to 28.5% after the intervention. In addition, the rate of subjects with intensive or periodic management of chronic diseases decreased, while those with occasional management of chronic diseases increased from 0% to 4.6%. Furthermore, the rates of being at risk of frailty and frailty were decreased and the normal rate increased from 0% to 9.7% instead. Age group-based analysis showed that elderly people over 80 years showed less improvement in the management of the chronic disease status and the frailty status. Conclusion: Personalized supplementary food supplies and nutritional education improved not only the nutritional status but also disease status in vulnerable older adults, and the effects were more significant in adults aged less than 80 years.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.103-121
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the entire world population in many ways. This study aimed to analyze the patterns of changes in eating, food purchasing and preparation, physical activity, and subjective health after COVID-19 outbreak by various sociodemographic factors and to understand the factors associated with changes in subjective health. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using a representative sample from Seoul was used for the analysis. The data collection was conducted from September to October 2020. A total of 3,833 citizens aged more than 18 years old participated in the Seoul Food Survey. Descriptive statistics and generalized ordinal logistic regression models were used to understand the changes in health behaviors, health indicators, and subjective general health by various socioeconomic status. RESULTS: It was shown that the changes in household income, food expenditure, food consumption and physical activities differed significantly by age, education, occupation, income, weight, and food security status. Low-income and food-insecure households were affected more severely by the pandemic. Older age, household food insecurity, income reduction, increased home cooking and frequency of having instant foods, decreased physical activity and weight gain were significant factors explaining worse perceived health during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that focusing on older populations and low-income families with food insecurity should be prioritized during infectious disease outbreaks. In addition, the role of physical activities and instant food consumption in explaining perceived health should be investigated further in this prolonged battle with the pandemic situation.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.216-227
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• 2022

Background: Food insecurity may contribute to mental health indicators such as stress, anxiety, or depression. We investigated whether food insecurity was associated with mental health indicators and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a representative sample of the Korean population. Methods: This study enrolled 12,987 adults without a history of medically serious disease from the 2012, 2013, and 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Household food security status was categorized as "food security," "mild food insecurity," and "moderate/severe food insecurity." The association between mental health and HRQoL was evaluated using a multivariate logistic regression model with food security as the reference group. Results: The adjusted odds ratio of adverse mental health or low HRQoL increased significantly in mild or moderate/severe food insecurity compared to food security. In the moderate/severe food insecurity group, it was 1.98% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-2.99) higher for perceived stress, 3.58% (95% CI, 2.44-5.26) higher for depression symptoms, 4.16% (95% CI, 2.68-6.45) higher for suicidal ideation, and 2.81% (95% CI, 1.91-4.15) higher for quality of life. Conclusion: Food insecurity was strongly associated with negative mental health status and poor HRQoL. There is a need for a dietary support program that provides psychosocial support to those experiencing food insecurity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.149-164
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The economic recession caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic disproportionately affected poor and vulnerable populations globally. Better uunderstanding of vulnerability to shocks in food supply and demand in the Asia Pacific region is needed. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Using secondary data from rapid assessment surveys during the pandemic response (n = 10,420 in mid-2020; n = 6,004 in mid-2021) in India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, this study examined the risk factors for reported income reduction or job loss in mid-2021 and the temporal trend in food security status (household food availability, and market availability and affordability of essential items) from mid-2020 to mid-2021. RESULTS: The proportion of job loss/reduced household income was highest in India (60.4%) and lowest in Indonesia (39.0%). Urban residence (odds ratio [OR] range, 2.20-4.11; countries with significant results only), female respondents (OR range, 1.40-1.69), engagement in daily waged labor (OR range, 1.54-1.68), and running a small trade/business (OR range, 1.66-2.71) were significantly associated with income reduction or job loss in three out of 4 countries (all P < 0.05). Food stock availability increased significantly in 2021 compared to 2020 in all four countries (OR range, 1.91-4.45) (all P < 0.05). Availability of all essential items at markets increased in India (OR range, 1.45-3.99) but decreased for basic foods, hygiene items, and medicine in Vietnam (OR range, 0.81-0.86) in 2021 compared to 2020 (all P < 0.05). In 2021, the affordability of all essential items significantly improved in India (OR range, 1.18-3.49) while the affordability of rent, health care, and loans deteriorated in Indonesia (OR range, 0.23-0.71) when compared to 2020 (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term social protection programs need to be carefully designed and implemented to address food insecurity among vulnerable groups, considering each country's market conditions, consumer food purchasing behaviors, and financial support capacity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.507-518
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the association of food security with the total and individual flavonoid intakes among Korean adults. Methods: Study subjects were 13,454 men and 19,563 women aged 19 years and older who participated in the 2007~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Subjects were classified into food-secure and food-insecure groups using the answers to a self-reported question on food sufficiency of subjects' household. The total and individual flavonoid intakes were calculated by linking 24-h dietary recall data of subjects with a flavonoid database. Mean differences in dietary outcomes by food security status, and major food sources of total flavonoids were examined. Results: In this cross-sectional study, 5.8% of male adults and 6.6% of female adults were in food insecure households. Mean daily intakes of total flavonoids, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, isoflavones, and proanthocyanidins were significantly lower in food-insecure groups than food-secure groups among both male and female adults. The differences were maintained in total flavonoids, flavones, flavanones, and flavan-3-ols after adjusting for total energy intake. Mean intakes of fruits and vegetables were significantly lower in food-insecure groups and the total flavonoid intake from fruits and vegetables was also significantly lower in food-insecure groups. The major food sources of total flavonoids were apples (20.7%), mandarines (12.0%), and tofu (11.5%) in the food-secure group, and apples (14.9%), tofu (13.3%), and mandarines (12.6%) in the food-insecure group. Conclusion: This study showed that food insecurity was associated with lower intakes of flavonoids and reduced intakes of fruits and vegetables in a representative Korean population.