• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.366-378
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a sodium index, which is a tool for estimating and assessing sodium intake easily and quickly, to assist in the prevention of various diseases induced by excess sodium intake in Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The 24-h urine collection and dietary behavior surveys were performed on 640 healthy people in 4 regions of South Korea, and an equation for the estimation of 24-h sodium intake was developed. The validity and reliability of the equation were verified with 200 adults. The sodium index was developed by converting the estimated sodium intake using the equation. Finally, the sodium intake status of 1,600 adults was assessed using the sodium index. RESULTS: The equation included sex, age, body mass index, eating habit and dietary behaviors related to sodium intake. In validity test of the equation, the mean bias between sodium intake using 24-h urine analysis and using the equation from the Bland-Altman plots was -1.5 mg/day. The sensitivity and specificity of the equation for estimation of sodium intake were 80.5% and 64.4%, respectively. In the reliability test of the equation, there was no significant difference between the first and second sodium intakes calculated using the equations, and Spearman's correlation coefficient between the 2 sodium intakes was 0.98. Sodium intake can be assessed as 'very moderate' for 75-100 on the sodium index, 'moderate' for 100-150, 'careful' for less than 75 or 150-200, and 'severe' for 250 or more. When sodium intake was assessed using the sodium index in 1,600 subjects, 54.3% and 24.3% of the subjects were assessed to be in the 'careful' and 'severe' categories, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Using a simple questionnaire, the sodium index can be used to monitor and assess sodium intake status, assisting in nutrition education and counseling in a large population.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.105-115
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary habits and snack consumption behaviors of middle school students with different obesity indexes in the Chungnam area. The survey was carried out using self-questionnaires and included 385 students(119 underweight, 193 normal weight, 66 overweight). The rate of skipping meals was higher for underweight students than overweight students; however, this difference was not statistically significant. The mean time of meal was 10 to 20 minutes and the criteria for choosing to eat a meal were 'hunger' and 'taste' in all groups. More than half of the subjects ate snacks 1 time a day, which were purchased outside. The typical snack time was 'between lunch and dinner'. The criteria of for consuming a meal were 'taste' and 'price' in all groups. In the underweight group, the snack food scores were ice cream(4.4), fruit(4.3), fried chicken(4.1), sports beverage(4.0), fruit juice(4.0), pizza(4.0) and, tteokbokki(3.9). In the normal weight group, the snack food scores were ice cream(4.3), fried chicken(4.2), pizza(4.0), sports beverage(3.9), fruit juice(3.9) and, tteokbokki(3.9) in the overweight group, the snack food scores were ice cream(4.3), fruit(4.3), fried chicken(4.2), yogurt(4.0), sports beverage(4.0), fruit juice(4.0) and, ramen(4.0). In conclusion, the snaking behaviors of the subjects were not significantly different based on their obesity index. However, this study may provide basic information on the snacking behaviors of middle school students, and the findings suggest that nutrition education or counseling can improve snack intake habits and positive behaviors toward healthy adolescents diets.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.431-443
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• 2018

Objectives: Normal weight obesity (NWO) is defined as excessive body fat in the context of a normal body mass index (BMI). This condition carries a greater risk of developing noncommunicable chronic disease and has been associated with early inflammation. This study was conducted to compare the anthropometric measurements, eating behaviors, and blood clinical indices among four groups: underweight, normal, normal weight obesity and obesity. Methods: The subjects included 215 female college students. A questionnaire was administered regarding general characteristics, dietary behaviors, food consumption frequency. Anthropometric measurements and blood clinical indices were also investigated. Results: The average BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, fat-free mass, and muscle mass were highest in the obesity group (p<0.05). Most subjects had tried to lose weight and perceived that their health was worse than before they became college students. The ratio of students in the NWO group who thought their health was very poor was significantly higher than in the other three groups (p<0.05). The obesity and NWO groups seemed to eat more and their eating speed was significantly faster than the other groups (p<0.001). The consumption frequency of caffeinated beverages was significantly higher in the NWO group than in the other three groups (p<0.01). WBC was significantly higher in the obesity group (p<0.05). Serum levels of TG and total cholesterol were also significantly higher in the obesity group (p<0.05). Serum GPT was significantly higher in the obesity group (p<0.05) while BUN level was highest in the NWO group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The obesity group showed the most health problems while the NWO group seemed relatively healthy. However, NWO can lead to problems such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in later life if poor dietary habits are maintained. Therefore, education in appropriate eating habits is needed for these subjects.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.441-455
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to describe beverage patterns among healthy Korean adults and investigate their association with prevalence and components of metabolic syndrome. Methods: Subjects consisted of 6,927 Korean adults, aged 19-64 years in the $6^{th}$ Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2013-2015). Beverages were regrouped into twelve groups based on food codes and beverage intake (g/day) was assessed by 24-hour recall. Factor analysis was used to obtain beverage patterns. Waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) were used as anthropometric data; fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and blood pressure were used as biochemical indicators. The odds ratio (OR) for prevalence of metabolic syndrome and components of metabolic syndrome was assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results: Three beverage patterns were identified using factor analysis: 1) carbonated soft drinks 2) coffee (without added sugar or powdered creamer), and 3) alcoholic beverages. Subjects with high scores for the carbonated soft drink and coffee without added sugar or powdered creamer patterns were younger and subjects with high scores for the alcoholic beverage pattern were older. There were significant differences in gender distribution in all three beverage patterns, with men more likely to have high scores for carbonated soft drink and alcoholic beverage patterns. On the other hand, women were more likely to have higher scores for coffee without added sugar or powdered creamer pattern. Within each pattern, there were significant differences in sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics such as education, household income, frequency of eating out, and smoking status according to the quartile of pattern scores. Alcoholic beverages and carbonated soft drinks patterns were associated with an increased levels of metabolic syndrome components, but coffee without added sugar or powdered creamer was not associated with any of metabolic syndrome components in healthy Korean adults after adjusting for age, sex, education, BMI, weight management, household income, smoking status, frequency of eating out, and energy intake. Conclusions: Alcoholic beverages and carbonated soft drinks patterns are associated with increased levels of metabolic syndrome components while coffee without added sugar or powdered creamer pattern is not associated with any of metabolic syndrome components in healthy Korean adults.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.71-86
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• 1997

The 297 middle school girls in Inchon were devided into three groups according to body mass index(BMI), the under weight group, the normal weight group and obese group to find out relationship between their food habits, food preference, and obesity. The average height and weight are 159.40cm, 67.02kg for obese group, 158.17cm, 39.11kg for under weight group, 156.93cm, 53.78kg for normal weight group. Obese group feels that they are healthy and fat, and their parents are fat also than the other groups. Obese group took more exercise. Total Food habits scores of obese group were lower than the other two groups. In terms of supper, bedtime-smack, unbalanced diet, balanced intake of five basic food groups obese group had lower scores. Especially, intake of carbohydrate, protein, milk group were irregular. There is no significant different in size of meal, overeating eating speed. The preferences of fast food, instant food, high caloric density food were lower in obese group than in the other two groups. The mother of obese group prepared meals according to food composition and prepared little snakes.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 1998

Nutrition during childhood is essential for growth and maintenance of health. Good food habits developed during the childhood will contribute both to the healthy growth and the prevention of the degenerative disease of later life. Both parents and the providers in child care centers play an important role for children's good eating behavior. Therefore all child care programs should achieve recommended standards for meeting children's nutritional and educational needs in a safe, sanitary, and supportive environment to promote the healthy growth and development of children. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the foodservice management practices and assess the needs for a Central Production Unit by contacting the child care center' providers. This approach was achieved using a variety of qualitative and quantitative information including the general foodservice management practices and the needs for a Central Production Unit. An indepth face-to-face interview with structured-questionnaires was undertaken at 32 representative child-care centers in Seoul. Statistical data analysis was done using the SAS program for descriptive analysis and ANOVA. The number of national/public and private sectors were 11 respectively, followed by 10 licensed home day-care centers. Total average number of children in child-care centers was 54.3 $\pm$48.5. The foodservice productivity index in child-care centers was 4.8 minutes per meal for public child care centers, 6.0 for private child-care centers, and 9.8 for home child care centers. Home child care centers were found to have the lowest productivity index which indicated inefficient foodservice practice. The important factors in group purchasing were menus(39.6%) or close distance(39.6%) > type of foodservice operation(32.8%) > total number of meals(19.9%) > food costs(16.2%) in order. Average score of the efficiency for central food production in child-care centers was 3.80 $\pm$0.84 out of 5.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.338-345
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• 2012

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is increasing in Korea owing to the westernized eating habits and changes in living environment. However, very few studies have been made to determine the standard value of the prostate volume as a diagnostic reference. Also, most of the previous studies have been focusing on the elder population over 40 years old. This study retrospectively analyzes the results of prostate volume measured by transrectal ultrasonography in the healthy Korean men in their 30's who visited our institution's center for health promotion for routine checkups. The mean age of the total of 157 men enrolled was $34.6{\pm}2.9$ years, and the mean prostate volume was $19.4{\pm}4.0ml$. Prostate volume of these men was correlates proportionally to their age, prostate specific antigen, body mass index, body surface area, and abdominal girth. Among these, the strongest correlation is between the prostate volume and the abdominal girth (r=0.317, p<0.001).

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.142-162
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• 2014

Objectives: To evaluate the critical environmental factors on healthy-aging of Korean people, we investigated the significant factors influencing health status of septuagenarians living in rural area of Jeonla province, known to be one of the representative longevity regions in Korea. Methods: We divided subjects into healthy group (36M/25F) or poor-health group (26M/73F) based on self-reported health status, body mass index, a number of prescription, and blood test data. General characteristics, physical measurements, lifestyle, dietary behavior and nutrient intake, physical health and mental health data were statistically compared between the two groups. Results: Average age was not different between healthy group and poor-health group in men and women, respectively. In men, significantly favorable factors to health were observed to be higher education, regular exercise, higher grip strength and walking function, body mass index (${\geq}18.5kg/m^2$), moderate frequency of drinking and eating-out, non-smoking, normal red blood cell (RBC) count, higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) level, good digestive function and appetite, normal hearing function, regular meals, adequate vegetable and fruit intake, diverse food intake, adequate energy and nutrients (protein, vitamin $B_1$, $B_6$, C and E, folate, niacin, P, Zn and K) intake, higher mini-nutrient status assessment (MNA) score and low level of depression. On the other hand, in women, those were literacy, living arrangement, moderate frequency of drinking, healthy teeth, higher grip strength and walking function, bone mineral density, normal RBC and white blood cell (WBC) count, higher DHEAS concentration, higher MNA score, normal cognition and memory function, having snack and adequate fruit intake. Conclusions: These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase health-life expectancy of Korean old people living in rural areas.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.215-231
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• 2018

Attitudes to the health and dietary life of teachers affect their students. The purpose of this study was to investigate dietary and education awareness, eating habits and dietary management competency of the preliminary teachers and teachers. Data was collected from 812 pre-service teachers and teachers in South Korea using a 5-Likert self-administrated questionnaire in October to December of 2017. Data was analyzed using factor analysis, reliability, one-way analysis of variance, and correlation. The results of this study are as follows. Dietary and education awareness was classified into dietary concern and dietary management stress. Eating habits composed of healthy eating habit and bad eating habit. Dietary management competency was sub-grouped into dietary knowledge, cooking, dietary sanitation and safety, and environment. The all factors of pre - service teachers and teachers showed a significant difference except for the environmental ability factor (p <0.01). All factors were significantly different according to the age and the number of meal preparation (p <0.05). The eating habits were not significantly differences from sex. The major and health condition showed significant differences except dietary management stress and cooking factors (p <0.01). The obesity index showed significant difference in the dietary concern, bad eating habits, and cooking factors (p <0.01). In conclusion, it was required to education and develop education materials that can help the STEAM education using the dietary area. The dietary education program for the pre - service teachers and the teachers should increase the number of participating in the meal preparation considering the difference according to the general characteristics, so that the dietary management competency and the healthy eating habits should be formed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.707-718
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• 2019

This study assessed the nutrient consumption of children from lunch at day care centers and kindergartens. A total of 184 lunch plates were selected in two child day care centers and two kindergartens in Seoul. Weights of the menus in planned meals were measured and amount of served and consumed lunches were calculated using a digital photography technique. Nutrients of the planned, served, and consumed lunches were assessed using CAN-Pro 4.0 and the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) was calculated for each meal. Compared with the estimated energy requirement for lunch for 3-5 year old children, the planned meals of the child day care centers and kindergartens contributed 42.8% and 98.8% of the daily energy requirements, respectively. At a child day care center, a served meal provided more nutrients than a planned meal since some children requested more servings after eating the served meals. This showed that the planned meal did not meet children's needs as well as the nutrient requirements. At the other child care center, children were served less than the planned meal by 6.8%, which resulted in serving less energy, calcium, potassium, and vitamin C than the required nutrients for lunch. Kindergarten A served meals with the energy requirement for lunch of 101.8%, but Kindergarten B served a meal with the energy requirement of 83.5%. Since the served portions were too small to meet nutrient requirements of the children, they consumed almost all the food served, and their nutrient consumption was similar to the nutrients served. Even though they consumed all the food served, their nutrient consumption did not meet their nutritional requirements. When assessed by INQ, the quality of the meal was good; children could consume enough nutrients when served proper quantity. Teachers who are responsible for serving meals need to be educated on proper portion sizes and how to encourage children to practice healthy eating. To promote healthy eating among children, parents need to provide children with messages consistent with what they have learned at institutions and to be a good role model in daily dietary life.