• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrition quotient (NQ) by mother's parenting style which may influence the NQ in preschool children. Methods: Subjects were 310 mothers and their 4-6 year old children. The questionnaire composed of demographic characteristics, mother's parenting style at meal time and eating behavior as measured by NQ questions. The NQ questions consisted of 19 food behavior checklist items and all items were grouped into 5 factors: balance, diversity, moderation, regularity, and practice. Mother's parenting style was classified by using words for nutrition education at meal time. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS program (Ver. 23) and the statistical differences in variables were evaluated by Student's t-test, ${\chi}^2$-test, One-way ANOVA. Results: We observed that in children whose mothers use the parenting style at meal time of 'explanation' and 'compliment & cheer up' had high dietary regularity, diversity, practice. The children of mothers who use the parenting style at meal time of 'persuasion' and 'reward' were found to have a lower degree of balance, diversity, and practice. Especially, children of 'reward' style mothers had lower moderation of dietary life. On the other hand, among the parenting style at meal time of 'comparison & demand', 'treating' and 'faire', there was no significant difference in the NQ factor by each group. NQ grade was higher among those who used more explanation (p < 0.001) and persuasion (p < 0.01) and with use of less persuasion (p < 0.01) and reward (p < 0.01). The positive association observed between the frequency of dietary education of mothers and higher NQ grade indicated the degree of dietary practices of those children. On the other hand, the children of mothers who rarely practice the dietary education at home had lower NQ grade (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In order to promote children's proper dietary behaviors, it is important to provide nutrition education to children as well as provide guidance on parenting style at meal time.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.384-394
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• 2019

Objectives: The study was performed to examine the dietary behaviors and life stress of middle school students in the Gyeonggi area. Methods: A total of 580 middle school students (295 males, 285 females) in the Gyeonggi area participated in the study between July and August in 2011. The study was a questionnaire-based survey that included dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and life stress. Results: For dietary habits, the score for drinking milk was higher in male students than in female students, whereas the score for eating fruits was higher in female students compared to male students. There were significant differences in foods eaten and preferred under stress between male and female students. Male students showed significantly less changes in the number of meals, amount of meal intake, number of snacks, snack intake, frequency of overeating, and appetite during stress than female students. Life stress score of students largely came from academic factors, and female students showed higher stress levels in personal and surrounding environment factors than male students. Life stress score was significantly lower in students with high and moderate levels of dietary habits than in students with a low level of dietary habits. Total score for dietary habits and scores for eating adequate amounts of foods for each meal, considering a combination of food groups at each meal and eating green and orange vegetables, were significantly negatively correlated with life stress score. Life stress score was significantly negatively correlated with meal regularity and positively with the level of overeating. Conclusions: This study may provide basic information on dietary habits and life stress according to gender and the relationship between dietary behaviors and life stress of middle school students, and it suggests gender-based nutrition education programs to solve undesirable dietary habits and dietary behaviors in students with higher stress.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Excessive sugar intake is one of the causes associated with obesity and several chronic diseases prevalent in the modern society. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of parenting variables based on the theory of planned behavior, on the sweetness preferences and sweets intake of children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Parents and their children (n = 103, aged 5-7 years) were enrolled to participate in a survey for this study, after providing the required informed consent. Parents were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire at their residence. The sweetness preference test for children was conducted at a kindergarten (or daycare center) by applying the one-on-one interview method. RESULTS: The children were divided into two clusters categorized by the K-mean cluster analysis: Cluster 1 had higher sweetness preference (0.42 M sugar, 35%; 0.61 M sugar, 65%); Cluster 2 exhibited lower sweetness preference (0.14 M sugar, 9.5%; 0.20 M sugar, 9.5%; 0.29 M sugar, 81%). Cluster 1 had a higher frequency of sweets intake (P < 0.01), and lower sweets restriction (P < 0.05) and nutrition quotient score (P < 0.05). Sweets intake was negatively correlated with the nutritional quotient (r = -0.204, P < 0.05). The behavioral intention of parents was higher in cluster 2 (P < 0.05), while affective attitude, feeding practice, and reward were higher in cluster 1 (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, behavioral intention of parents showed a negative correlation with affective attitude (r = -0.282, P < 0.01) and feeding practice (r = -0.380, P < 0.01), and a positive correlation with subjective norm (r = 0.203, P < 0.05) and parenting attitude (r = 0.433, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the sweetness preferences and sweets intake of children is related to the parent's affective attitude, feeding practice and reward. We suggest that to reduce the sugar consumption of children, guidelines for access to sweets and pertinent parenting practices are required.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.124-140
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• 2023

Objectives: This study examined the changes in dietary habits, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and mental health problems in the regional areas of the Republic of Korea before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to provide evidence of the status of regional health inequalities. Methods: This study analyzed Korean adults aged 19 or older who participated in the Korea Community Health Survey (n = 686,708) and Consumer Behavior Survey for Foods (n = 19,109) from 2018 to 2020. The participants were classified according to their residence area (Seoul metropolitan area, Metropolitan cities, Provinces); 2018-2019 were defined as before COVID-19, and 2020 as after COVID-19. The dietary behaviors, chronic diseases, and mental health problems were measured using a self-report questionnaire. Results: After COVID-19, the eating-out usage rate in the Seoul metropolitan area and Provinces decreased compared to before COVID-19 (P < 0.001), and when responding that they eat out, the frequency of eating out with household members in the Seoul metropolitan area increased (P = 0.024). The deliveries/takeout usage rate in the Provinces decreased after COVID-19 compared to before (P < 0.001). After COVID-19, the prevalence of obesity decreased in all regions (P < 0.001), and the prevalence of hypertension increased significantly in the Provinces (P = 0.015). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus increased continuously before and after COVID-19 in all regions (P < 0.002). High-risk subjective stress levels increased significantly in the Seoul metropolitan area (P < 0.001), and sleep duration significantly increased in all regions (P < 0.001). Major depressive disorder was reduced significantly in Metropolitan cities (P = 0.042) and Provinces (P < 0.001). Conclusions: After the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of chronic diseases and mental health problems showed regional differences along with changes in dietary habits. It is necessary to reflect the regional differences in dietary habits in future policies resolving regional health inequalities.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.3-13
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to estimate the nutrient intakes and food habits among preschool children in Kyungjoo city. The subjects were 210 preschool children, aged 4 - 6 years. Measurements of the weight, height, chest circumference, and head circumference of the children were conducted. And general home environment and factors related to eating habits for preschool children were collected using a questionnaire that included information about family income, parents' education and occupations. The average weight-length index (WLI) for the subjects was $103.9\%$. Using the WLI, $20.0\%$ of the preschool children were underweight, $48.6\%$ were normal, $19.0\%$ were overweight, and $12.3\%$ were obese. On the R$\ddot{o}$hrer index, $13.8\%$ of the preschool children were underweight, $38.5\%$ were normal, and $47.7\%$ were over weight or obese. The average daily intake ($\%$ of RDA) of energy and each nutrient was 1323.5 kcal ($81.3\%$), Ca 484.3 mg ($80.7\%$), Fe 7.05 mg ($88.1\%$), vitamin A 420.0 RE ($105\%$), vitamin $B_{2}$ 0.76 mg ($95.0\%$), vitamin $B_{2}$ 0.87 mg ($87.0\%$), and vitamin C 53.1 mg ($106.2\%$) , respectively. In particular, older subjects had lower intake in RDA $%$ of calcium and iron. The energy intake ratio from snacks was much higher than the recommended level of the preschool children. With regard to frequency of regularity of breakfast, $1.9\%$ of preschool children skipped every morning and $7.6\%$ of the children skipped more than 5 per week. With regard to the intake frequency of vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, and milk, $13.3\%$, $19.9\%$, $22.8\%$, and $41.8\%$ of the children ate more than 5 times per week. The eating habit score was positively correlated (r = 0.18, P < 0.05) with household income. This study suggests that nutrition education to increase fruit and vegetable consumption for preschool children should be emphasized. Also a nutrition education program is needed to enhance consuming calcium and iron intake for adequate growth.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.841-848
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• 2013

Background: The incidence of various types of cancers including the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has increased during the recent years. Diet and lifestyle factors have been reported to play an important role in the etiology of NHL. However, no such data are available from the Middle Eastern countries, including Oman. Materials and Methods: Forty-three histologically confirmed cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) diagnosed at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) and the Royal Hospital (RH), Muscat, Oman and forty-three age and gender matched controls were the subjects of this study. Frequency matching was used to select the control population. Information on social and demographic data as well as the dietary intake was collected by personal interviews, using a 117-items semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Results: A non-significant increased risk of NHL was observed with higher body mass index (BMI) (OR=1.20, 95%CI: 0.45, 2.93), whereas a significantly decreased risk of NHL was associated with a higher educational level (OR=0.12, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.53). A significantly increased risk was observed for higher intake of energy (OR=2.67, 95%CI: 0.94, 7.57), protein (OR=1.49, 95%CI: 0.54, 4.10) and carbohydrates (OR=5.32, 95%CI: 1.78, 15.86). Higher consumption of daily servings from cereals (OR=3.25, 95%CI: 0.87, 12.09) and meat groups (OR=1.55, 95%CI: 0.58, 4.15) were also found to be associated with risk of NHL, whereas a significantly reduced risk was associated with higher consumption of vegetables (OR=0.24, 95%CI: 0.07, 0.82). The consumption of fruits, milk and dairy products however showed no significant association with the risk of developing NHL. Conclusion: The results suggest that obesity, high caloric intake, higher consumption of carbohydrate and protein are associated with increased risk of NHL, whereas a significantly reduced risk was observed with higher intake of vegetables.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.570-577
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of bone mineral density on life styles, dietary habits and nutrient intakes among the male college students. The subjects were divided into four groups; $Q_1$ (calcaneus BMD < 25 percentile, n = 117), $Q_2$ (25 percentile $\le$ calcaneus BMD < 50 percentile, n = 118), $Q_3$ (50 percentile $\le$ calcaneus BMD < 75 percentile, n = 118) $Q_4$ (calcaneus BMD $\ge$ 75 percentile, n = 116). And they were asked about general characteristics, life style, dietary habit, and nutrient intake using questionnaire and 24-hr recall method. They were measured the bone mineral density of calcaneus using quantitative ultrasound. The average age of the subjects of the study was 23.0 yews and the average height, weight, and BMI were 174.7 cm, 69.0 kg, $22.5 kg/m^2$. The bone mineral density in calcaneus was $0.43 g/cm^2$ in $Q_1,\;0.50 g/cm^2$ in $Q_2,\;0.56 g/cm^2$ in $Q_3$, and $0.69 g/cm^2$ in $Q_4$ (p < 0.001). The results showed that $Q_1$ tended to have irregular exercise compared to the other three groups. Compared with $Q_1$ and $Q_2$, the frequency of skipping breakfast was lower in $Q_3$ and $Q_4$. Also the results showed that the $Q_4$ was significantly more often to drink coffee compared with the other three groups (p < 0.01). The mean daily energy intake was 2210.6 kcal ($88.4\%$ of RDA). The intake of energy, vitamin $B_2$, calcium, and zinc did not meet the Korean RDA. Also the $Q_2$consumed significantly lower intakes of protein (p < 0.05) and plant protein (p < 0.05) compared to the $Q_3$ and $Q_4$. The $Q_1$ and $Q_2$ consumed significantly lower intakes of vitamin $B_2$ (p < 0.01) compared to the $Q_3$ and $Q_4$. In conclusion, male student in lower bone mineral density appeared to have unhealthy life styles and dietary habits in terms of irregular exercise, high frequency of skipping breakfast and lower intakes of protein, vitamin $B_2$ showing a strong need proper education on meal practices and exercise habits for the bone health.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.217-230
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the diet intake status and quality of adults from North Korea who had lived in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, using the nutrition quotient (NQ) for Korean adults. Methods: A number of 166 adults aged from 20 to 64 years were enrolled as study subjects. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on their demographic characteristics, food consumption frequency, eating behaviors, and NQ. The NQ score was then used to measure the overall diet quality. The NQ score was composed of four major age-based categories. 'Balance', 'Diversity', 'Moderation', and 'Dietary behavior' were utilized as scores for measurements within each of the four categories. The scores for all four categories were summed up, resulting in the total NQ score. Participants' age groups were stratified by 20's, 30's, 40', and over 50's. A χ² test and generalized linear regression (GLM) model were used to assess a significance for difference of subject distribution in categorical and continuous variables in the food consumption frequency, eating behaviors, and NQ scores. Results: Participants in younger age groups were more likely to report consumption of ramyeon, fast food, sweet and greasy baked products, processed beverage, delivery food, and night snacks than the older age groups. Most importantly, participants in 20's age group were less likely to report the total NQ and moderation score than the 50's age group. Conclusion: In this study, the 20's age group displayed a lower NQ characteristic for an unbalanced diet. Therefore, it is imperative for adults from North Korea to be given individualized diet instructions along with nutritional education programs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.357-365
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• 2006

The purpose of the study w3s to investigate the consumption pattern of the Korean traditional foods of the elementary schoolchildren living in urban and rural area. For the investigation, 373 fifth-grade elementary schoolchildren in Incheon and Gangwhado were surveyed by a questionnaire and the data were analyzed by the SPSS 10.0 program. As for the frequency to take the Korean traditional foods, bab and kimchi are taken almost everyday, and gug, jjigae, jorim, gui, namul are taken frequently. And juk, jeongol, jeon, sanjeog, jutgal, hangwa and umryo were shown to be taken occasionally. There were statistical differences in the frequencies of the Korean traditional food consumption by the residence and the gender. The students in urban area take hinbab, jabgokbab, hobakjuk deonjanggug, sangsunjorim, jangiorim more frequently than the students in rural area. The students in rural area take mandu, kuksoo, yeongunjorim and kongiorim more frequently than the students in urban area Female students take sangsunjorim, jangiorim, sangsungui, bulgogi, sangsunjeon, hobakjeon, sukchae, jutgal and oiji more frequently than male students. Most of the schoolchildren answered that in the future they would like to take the traditional foods more frequently than now. There was statistical difference by the gender. As for the food such as bibimbab, gug, jjigae, jeon, namul and jang-aji, female students responded to take more frequently than male students. The 39.1% of them responded that the taste is the point to be most improved in the future. But there was no statistical difference by gender and the residence In order to make the taste of traditional food more attractive to modem people, the 37.8% of them replied it does not need to change the traditional preparation method. However, similar percentage of the schoolchildren(35.7%) answered it is needed to change partly the traditional preparation method. As for the effect of traditional foods on health, the 68.4% of schoolchildren thought that the our traditional foods are healthier than western foods.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.105-119
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• 2024

Purpose: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is gaining recognition as a superior predictor of coronary artery disease. This study examined the relationship between the AIP and the intake of various food groups in Korean adults, using the baseline data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study-The Health Examinees (KoGES-HEXA) study. Methods: This study included 133,381 adults (46,288 men, 87,093 women) who completed the nutrition survey and biochemical tests of the KoGES-HEXA study. The AIP was calculated as the log (triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) and was divided into quintiles according to sex for further analysis. Data on food group intake were obtained using the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and daily food group intake (g/d) was evaluated for each individual. The association between the food group intake and the AIP was examined using the linear regression analysis after adjusting for the confounding variables. Results: In this study population, there was a positive correlation between energy intake and the AIP in men whereas an inverse assocation was shown in women (p < 0.001). In women, a rise in the AIP significantly correlated with an increased percentage of energy intake derived from carbohydrates but decreased percentages of energy from protein and fat (p < 0.001). In men and women, the consumption of grains and kimchi/pickles increased as the AIP rose, while the intake of legumes, nuts, meat and its products, eggs, fish, and milk and dairy products decreased. Among men, individuals in the highest AIP group showed higher intake of wheat products than those in the lowest group of the AIP. In women, the AIP was inversely correlated with potatoes and beverages consumption. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of a balanced diet, including various protein sources, milk and dairy products, legumes, and nuts, for preventing cardiovascular diseases. Further research into sex-specific dietary patterns is essential for tailoring appropriate dietary recommendations.