• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.453-463
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• 2004

In order to investigate food purchase frequency of elementary school children and its related ecological factors, 431 4th, 5th and 6th grade elementary school children and their mothers, living in Seoul and Daejon, small city and rural area of Chungnam Province, were participated in this study. The subjects and their parents were surveyed by a self-recording questionnaire about food purchase frequency and some ecological factors. Average height and weight of the subjects by gender and grade were similar to or a little bit more than the 1998 Korean Growth Standard. According to relative body weight, 30.6% and 10.8% of the subjects belonged to under-weight and obesity categories, respectively. Of the subjects, 46.9% used PC telecommunication or internet, 53.8% of them used it for less than an hour per day, and 46.4% watched TV for 2 to 4 hours a day. About 42% of the subjects spent 500 Won or less daily to buy snacks. A half of the subjects took snacks once a day because of hunger. Mothers' nutrition knowledge score was averagely 8.16 out of 13 full score and the average attitude score was 43.22 out of 50 full score. Foods purchased more than once a week were milk and yoghurt, cookies, ice-cream, ramyun, and gum in order. Family income, parents' education level, mothers' nutrition knowledge and food attitude score, students' snacking frequency and TV watching time showed significant correlations with purchase frequencies of some individual food items. In conclusion, the elementary school children considered taste most important rather than nutrition in buying snacks and most frequently bought carbohydrate foods and concentrated sugars except milk. Ecological factors such as mothers' nutritional knowledge and food attitude, TV watching time and snacking frequency had influenced the children's food purchase frequency. Accordingly, it is necessary to educate both children and their mothers about good food purchase and the importance of snacking.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.150-159
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• 2007

Since the 1980's, despite the conclusion of a number of studies in Western countries focusing upon weight maintenance there has been no similar research in Korea which takes into account the contrasts of culture and eating habits between east and west. In order to identify eating, snacking and exercise behaviors, 24 female university students who have maintained weight for at least a year were enrolled fur an 11 day study. Participants were required to sign into the program and complete the questionnaire, answering questions by concerning what they ate and did everyday. After excluding unanswered questions, data over 11 days were exported into the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, then both ANOVA and Kendall's tau correlation were applied with SPSS. 75% of weight maintainers had normal BMI (18-23.5) in relation to Korean standard, and appeared to eat a main meal smaller than moderate in portion size. Only two days showed that amount of breakfast eaten negatively correlated with lunch (p < 0.05), while no correlations between amounts of lunch and dinner eaten over all study period. Compared with breakfast or lunch, dinner was usually larger in portion size, but some variables such as TV viewing, restaurant meals, number of people at dinner table seemed not correlated with amount of dinner eaten. In addition, the weight-maintainers reported they rarely consumed snacks or sweetened beverages. Unlike their western counterparts, ffw participants reported that they took part in regular exercise during the day, which may lead us to the conclusion that these young female weight maintainers seem to maintain their weight with eating behaviours such as 'eat small portion', 'avoid snacking' and 'avoid soft drinks' rather than doing regular exercise. The study did not include a control group, and was foreshortened due to technical difficulties so it may be necessary to repeat the study while considering these two points.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to survey several aspects of food-related knowledge, attitude and behavior of college students. Seven hundred male and female students in Seoul and Kyunggi-do area were randomly selected. And self-administered questionnaires were used. It was consisted of weight concern, nutritional knowledge, meal frequency, preference of snacks and psychological aspects of eating behaviors. The results were as followes: 1. The 66.5% of males and 87.9% of females were concerned about weight control. While 42% of male respondents wanted weight gain and 43% weight loss, most of female respondents wanted to lose weight. 2. The score of nutritional knowledge of males was significantly lower than the score of females (p<0.01). 3. The meal frequency was 3.4 times a day for male students and 3.6 for female students. But males showed higher frequency rates in three regular meals and females showed higher rates in snacking. Both male and female students considered that supper was the most important meal of the day and skipped breakfast frequently. 4. Fruits, beverage and milk were favorite snacking items for college students. But there were some differences in selection of food items by snacking time. Carbonated drinks and coffee were frequently selected by morning male and female snackers. Noodles and cookies were preferred by males and cookies were preferred by females as afternoon snack. Fruits were most often preferred by both males and females in the evening. 5. Physical tiredness and/or psychological factors were observed to influence the amount of food intake. After increase of food intake, male students felt more comfortable than female students who were afraid of their weight gain.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

We compared the dietary behaviors and living habits of Han Children living in both China and Korea to find any influences from the different living environments. Three hundred $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ -grade children in China and two hundred thirty three $5^{th}$ and $6^{th}$ -grade children in a Chinese school in Korea were surveyed via questionnaire. Mean BMI was higher and sleeping hours were lower in the children living in Korea compared to the children living in China. Mean age and education level of the parents were higher in the children living in Korea. Most of the dietary behaviors discovered via the questionnaire showed similar tendencies in the two groups. However, in terms of skipping breakfast, deviating in food habits, snacking before sleeping, and snacking right after eating a meal, the children living in Korea showed significantly higher frequencies. Also, children living in Korea showed significantly lower frequencies of overeating, snacking while watching TV or using the computer, and eating food when stressed, than children living in China. In living habits, children living in Korea do less regular exercise and use buses or cars more frequently for short distance transportation and spend more time to watch TV or computer than the children living in China. Therefore, it seems that different living environments may somewhat influence the dietary behaviors and living habits of children even if they have the same ethnic background.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.25-43
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• 2003

In Korea, changes in children's diet patterns accelerate their physical growth and development: frequent snacking has been presumed to be a major cause of increasing dental caries. The present study attempts to clarify the relationship between the physical development of growing children and their tooth decay. For this purpose, 632 six-grade children in 4 elementary school located in Urban(Seoul) and Rural(Po-gok, Yang-In) were classified into three groups based on the Weight Length Index(WLI), known to reflect the nutritional conditions of school-age children, and the relationship was analyzed between each group and the variables considered to be related with dental caries. The result is as follows: The average weight and height of the male is $44.88{\pm}10.89$ kg, $148.49{\pm}7.33$ cm and female is $43.35{\pm}9.60$ kg, $149.23{\pm}6.73$ cm, respectively, which are in the similar level with the Korean Physical Standard. The classification of the children by the WLI reveals a relatively high distribution of over-weighted child ren - 212 persons, 335% of the entire population. The DMFT Index was a little high in the rural area(3.15 teeth in urban and 3.31, in rural). Among the groups of children classified by the WLI, the over-weight group have the highest DMFT index(3.69 teeth). The relationship between the frequency of taking in basic nutrients and the DMFT index is also found: the relationship is not evident in case of the foods containing rich calcium, protein, as well as fruits and vegetables. But, in the protein-rich food, higher frequency of its intake means significantly lower DMFT index in the normal-weight group of the urban children. In case of carbohydrate, higher frequency of its intake means significantly higher DMFT index in all the groups of the rural children. The DMFT index has some correlations with the relevant variables: the index has a positive correlation with the frequency of snacking, and a negative correlation with the economic status. That is, the higher the frequency of snacking is, and the lower the economic status is, the higher the DMFT index may be. In the logistic multiple regression analysis conducted with the presence of DMFT as a dependent variable, only the frequency of tooth brushing is turned to be a variable affecting the presence of either decayed, missing, or filled teeth. Based on the above result, the variables affecting the DMFT index are a time spent on eating, frequency of intake of protein and carbohydrate for a week, frequency of snacking, regular dental check-ups, preventive behaviors for oral health(fluoride gargling, tooth brusing after each meal, proper tooth brushing method). These variables have a relationship with the DMFT index, but the degree is somewhat different between the groups classified either by the region or by the WLI. Therefore, appropriate nutrition management should be conducted according to the individual's nutritional conditions when the services like nutritional education are provided based on the closely-examined characteristics of each target group. And, at the same time, oral health education should be strengthened, and its importance should also be emphasized so that people can pay attention to their own oral health.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.11-27
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to investigate snacking behavior of high school students. The subjects were 1,587 students (684 male, 903 female) in Seoul and Paju. The highest number of eating snacks was 'once(39.9%)' per day, and they preferred 'milk and cookies' and 'fruit.' For the result of reasons for choosing a snack, they chose 'what I want to have (59.6%)' most and 'snacks don't affect eating meals (48.0%).' Also, compared with the ones with 'an elementary school diploma,' the percentage of those with 'a middle school diploma' was higher in 'having snacks once or three times' according to father's education level(p<0.05). In snack types and general characteristics, they chose 'milk and cookies' when their expenses range 'under 50000 won' and '100,000 won' and 'fruit' when '70,000won' and 'over 100,000 won (p<0.05).' In the reasons for choosing a snack, younger mothers(30-50ages) said 'what I want to have' while elder mothers($$\geq_-51ages$$) 'depending on my mood.' Also, the respondents whose mothers had 'a high school diploma' answered 'what I want to have' the most (p<0.05). Especially, in case of effects after eating snack, they answered 'poor meals (35.5%)' whose mother's job was professional. These results suggest that the general characteristics of family environment may affect snacking behavior among high school students. They need a guideline to help select healthy snacks for desirable eating behavior.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.513-524
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• 2010

This study was designed to examine nutrition label use, self-efficacy, snacking and eating behaviors of middle school students, and to investigate if these characteristics were different by nutrition label use. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to 348 middle school students in Kyunggi, Korea. About a third of subjects read nutrition labels when they purchased snacks/packaged foods. Most nutrition label users were interested in reading information on calories, fat and trans-fat. Self-efficacy of eating/selecting snacks or general nutrition behavior was moderate (mean score: 44.4 out of 60), with significantly higher score in nutrition label users compared to nonusers (p < 0.001). Nutrition label users felt more confident in 9 items out of 15 items of self-efficacy, such as "taking fruits instead of cookies/candy for snack" (p < 0.001), "choosing milk instead of soft drink" (p < 0.01), "not having snacks after dinner" and "avoiding processed foods for snacks" (p < 0.05). Subjects had snacks 1.3 times a day, and nutrition label nonusers consumed snacks more frequently than the counterparts (p < 0.01). About 55% of nutrition label users and 64.7% of nonusers mainly purchased snacks for themselves (p < 0.05). Commonly purchased snacks by adolescents were ice cream, cookies/chips, breads and ramen. Major considerations in purchasing snacks were taste (46.9%) and price (34.6%). In selecting snacks, the influence of friends and parents was greater than the other sources. Based on eating frequency of snacks, nutrition label users were more likely to consume healthy snacks, such as fruit juices, vegetables, milk, yogurt, and potato/sweet potato than nonusers (p < 0.05). Eating behaviors measured by 15 items scored 33.6 out of 45. Nutrition label users showed better eating behaviors, such as "eating meals slowly", "eating foods cooked with plant oil", and "eating out less frequently" (p < 0.05). Study results showed that majority of adolescents did not read nutrition labels, selected snacks for themselves and had somewhat unhealthy foods for snacks. This study also showed the differences in self-efficacy, snacking and eating behaviors between nutrition label users and nonusers. In nutrition education, it is necessary to stress the importance and skills for reading nutrition labels. It is also needed to help adolescents to select healthy snacks and have desirable eating behaviors, as well as increasing self-efficacy.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.102-113
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship among dietary behavior, meal balance, and clinical symptoms related nutritional status and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD) in preschool children. The survey was conducted using questionnaires and the subjects were 3~6 years old preschool children in Samcheok. Subjects were divided into an ADHD dispositions group(n=88) and a normal group(n=129) based on assessments conducted by the children's mother using the Abbreviated Conners's Parent Rating Scale. There was no significant difference in meal frequency, meal speed, meal regularity or meal balance between children with ADHD dispositions and the normal groups. The ADHD disposition group had a higher proportion of children with picky eating(p<0.05), too much snacking(p<0.05) and over eating (p=0.05) habits than the normal group. In addition, the ADHD dispositions group had a higher frequency of clinical symptoms such as 'breathlessness when going up stairs', 'sleeplessness', 'anxiety' and 'tiredness'. Overall, there was a significant relationship between ADHD disposition and dietary problems and clinical symptoms related to poor nutritional status in preschool children. Therefore, to prevent and treat ADHD in preschool children, proper dietary management such as correcting of picky eating, over snacking and overeating is needed.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.710-719
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• 2015

This study was undertaken to identify factors affecting school food waste generation using a questionnaire. The subjects were 254 high school students (male; 156, female; 98) in Sacheon, Gyeongnam divided into three groups of low (${\leq}1/week$), moderate (2~3/week), and high (${\geq}4/week$) according to the frequencies of food waste. The questionnaires consisted of general characteristics, anthropometric values, dietary habits, health-related behaviors, self-perceptions of food waste, snacking patterns, and nutrition knowledge. The main reasons behind food waste were 'too much food' in the low (20.9%) and moderate (32.2%) groups, and 'no appetite' in the high group (p<0.01). The main types of food waste were rice (44.2%) > fish (18.6%) > vegetables (14.0%) in the low group, rice (54.2%) > Kimchi/vegetables (15.3%) in the moderate group, rice (56.0%) > vegetables (20.0%) > Kimchi (16.0%) in the high group (p<0.01). School food waste was significantly affected by age, gender, monthly allowance, school grade, weight, BMI, regularity of meals, time of meals, type of breakfast, starting age of smoking, and cost for snacking.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2007

In order to investigate the ecological factors affecting milk intake frequency of adolescents, the questionnaire survey was conducted with 929 middle and high school students living in Chungnam urban area through October and November 2004. The subjects consumed milk 8.6$\pm$6.7 times per week, other beverages 4.4$\pm$4.1 times per week and drinking water 3.7$\pm$2.1 cups per day. Of the students 77.3% took balanced meals, 72.8% ate regularly and 36.2% ate adequate amount. About 61% had breakfast everyday and nearly a half students snacked once a day. Nutritional knowledge scores about milk was 7.2$\pm$1.7 and milk attitude scores was 28.1$\pm$6.5. The subjects spent daily 1.8$\pm$1.1, 1.9$\pm$1.1, and 1.0$\pm$0.5 hours for computer use, TV watching and exercise, respectively. Milk intake frequencies were positively correlated with excercise, snack frequency, meal balance and regularity, breakfast frequency, food attitude score and milk preference, while showed negative correlationships with TV watching and computer use. Intake frequency of fruit-tasted and chocolate milk showed inverse correlation with nutritional knowledge. Subjects without either school store or vending machine took milk more frequently than those with one or both did. Of the correlated variables, milk preference was the most important influencing factor to milk intake frequency according to the stepwise linear regression analysis, which presented other 5 important influencing factors as food attitude, school vending facilities, excercise, snacking frequency and watching TV. In conclusion, the improvement of milk preference is the most important and effective way to promote milk consumption in adolescents. The favorite ways of drinking milk, nutritional benefit of milk, healthy beverage and good snacking should be taught in nutrition education. Also physical activities should be recommended to students rather than watching TV, computer use and vending facilities selling soft drinks should be limited to be established inside school.