• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate high school students' sugar intake behaviors, the status of consuming sugary processed foods, the awareness of sugar, and the experience and interest in sugar-related education based on the level of sugar-related nutrition knowledge. Methods: In this study, five high schools were selected in Seoul, Korea, and a survey was conducted in 400 students on the level of sugar-related nutrition knowledge and sugar intake status. A total of 349 questionnaires were used for the final analysis. For statistical analysis, descriptive statistics was performed; a t-test, ${\chi}^2$ test, and Friedman test were used for comparative analysis. Results: The study results showed a positive association between the knowledge level of sugar and the appropriate sugar intake behavior and sugary food choices. The group with more nutrition knowledge on sugar was found to have good eating habits and to eat less sugary food. The main sources of sugar were beverages, confectionary, and bakery goods in the corresponding order, irrespective of the level of nutrition knowledge related to sugar. A significant difference was found in the groups' awareness of the sugar content of the drinks with 89.4% for the higher-knowledge group, and only 81.5% for the lower-knowledge group (p < 0.05). Results also showed that 43.9% of the higher-knowledge group and 36.4% of the lower knowledge group were interested in participating in education on sugar. Conclusions: This study result indicated the need to help adolescents to avoid excessive sugar intake from only certain favorite foods. Therefore, it is necessary to seek a systematic foundation for participatory education in order for them to maintain a low sugar intake in daily life and lead healthy eating habits by increasing their level of sugar-related information and knowledge.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.127-142
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• 2022

This study was undertaken to investigate the association between maternal nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes, and behaviors related to sugar intake and sugar intake reduction in preschool children. Eighty-three children aged 5 to 6 years attending kindergartens in Hongseong and their mothers participated in this study from October 2020 to February 2021. The average age of the mothers was 38.7 years, and 53.0% of the children were male. As child age increased, nutrition knowledge of sugar intake reduction increased, but no relation was found between age and, dietary behavior and preference related to sugar intake reduction. For children whose mothers perceived that their child's sugar preference was high, the behavioral score of sugar intake reduction was low. The more mothers allowed their children to eat sweet food; the higher was their child's preference for sweet food, which was also significantly associated with an increased risk of high sugar intake. When mothers were provided education that encouraged reducing children's sugar intakes, knowledge about reducing sugar intake in children was significantly increased. The study emphasizes the importance of the roles of mothers and primary caregivers regarding reducing the sugar intakes of preschool children.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to find out the level of knowledge on sugar-related nutrition among mothers with preschool children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study conducted a survey on 350 mothers whose children attended daycare. The dietary lives of the children and the nutritional knowledge of the mothers on sugar were checked. In order to analyze results, SPSS 18.0 was used. ANOVA and t-test were also performed to analyze recognition and educational needs. RESULTS: When the degree of nutritional knowledge was measured and analyzed, the results showed about 11 average points out of 15. The higher a group's nutritional knowledge, the better the dietary habits and activities were and the activities were more ccommon. The group with a low level of nutritional knowledge consumed more foods with high sugar content, but this difference was not statistically significant. Also the children from the group of mothers that provided nutritional education to their children were more likely to engage in better dietary habits and activities. CONCLUSIONS: 66.5% respondents did not know about policies to reduce sugar consumption, but most indicated that education on reducing sugar consumption is needed. Therefore, a government-driven search for efficient methods to campaign and publicize sugar reduction is needed in order to continuously provide appropriate education.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.228-237
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• 2017

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the smoking status among adult workers, and current status of sugar intake. Methods: The survey included 500 men working in Gyeonggi-do from October to November in 2016. Questionnaire items covered their age, working status, smoking status, eating habits, eating behaviors, snack consumption status, habits and behaviors related to sugar intake. All data were analyzed by SPSS program (Ver. 23) and descriptive statistics was performed; a t-test, ${\chi}^2$ test, One-way ANOVA and Scheffe test were used for post-hoc test. Results: The study results showed that eating habits and behaviors of non-smokers were better than those of smokers. The frequency of daily snack consumption was the highest in smokers compared to and non-smokers. The smokers' favorite taste after smoking was 'Sweet'. The average score of sugar-related nutrition knowledge was higher in non-smokers compared to smokers. Non-smokers had better recognition of 'sugar reduction', and smokers were more likely to eat sweet foods, respectively. On the other hand, non-smokers could observe that they were trying to control themselves for health reasons. According to the results of the study, non-smokers showed better eating habits and dietary habits and consumed less sugar. Also, it was found that non-smokers tried to drink more water than beverages and refrain from eating sweets to reduce their sugar intake. Further, the most of the bread, coffee and beverages were also consumed at a lower frequency by non-smokers compared to smokers. Conclusions: This study results showed that smoking and sugar consumption were closely related. Therefore, adult workers should actively promote and learn so that they can maintain healthy and suitable dietary habits through reduction of sugar consumption.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.303-318
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the effects of nutritional education related to sugar in elementary school children on nutritional knowledge, attitude, and dietary behavior. Methods: A questionnaire survey on the knowledge, attitudes, and intake related to sugar was conducted on 572 students in grades 4-5, who were attending five elementary schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Results: Among the survey subjects, 270 (49.8%) were cognitive in education, and 302 (50.2%) were non-cognitive. The sugar-related knowledge score was 3.67 points in the cognitive education group, which was significantly higher than the 3.55 points in the non-cognitive group. The rate of checking the sugar content in the nutrition label was 31.2% in the cognitive education group, which was significantly higher than in the non-cognitive group, 15.4%. The cognitive education group had a higher intake frequency of unsweetened candy, jelly, and raw fruits, and higher sugar intake of unsweetened bread, white milk, and raw fruits than the non-cognitive group. In the case of the cognitive education group, the total knowledge score showed a positive correlation with the food behavior scores, and a negative correlation with the frequency of purchasing snacks after school, and the average sugar intake per day. In the cognitive education group only, the education of nutrition teachers was analyzed as a factor to reduce the total sugar intake. The cognitive group of sugar education tried to eat foods with a lower sugar content than the non-cognitive group, and nutrition education was an important factor affecting the sugar intake. Conclusion: To reduce the sugar intake of elementary school students, it will be necessary to practice oriented-nutrition education by nutrition teachers continuously. In addition, it is important to develop and disseminate various types of nutrition education materials related to sugar that can be utilized easily by nutrition teachers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.325-335
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the consumption behaviors of sugar-sweetened beverages and blood lipid profiles according to food-related lifestyles of adults in Incheon. Methods: Subjects were recruited from 19 to 64 year old adults residing in Incheon who visited for the purpose of a health examination at D hospital. A total of 110 subjects consented to participate in this study and to allow their health examination records to be used at D hospital. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and anthropometric data, and blood lipid profiles were collected from health examination records. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 20.0 program. Results: In the factor analysis, food-related lifestyles were categorized into four factors: planned purchase seeking, taste seeking, well-being seeking, and convenience seeking. Using the K-average clustering method, food-related lifestyles of subjects were categorized into two groups: health and rationality-oriented group (HRG) and convenience purchase-oriented group (CPG). Average total scores of sugar-related nutrition knowledge in the HRG were significantly higher compared to the CPG, and average scores of consumption habits regarding sugar-containing foods in the HRG were significantly lower compared to the HRG. When subjects chose sugar-sweetened beverages, the CPG showed a significantly higher frequency of checking food labeling and considering nutrition compared to the CPG. Drinking frequency of carbonated beverages in the CPG was significantly higher compared to the HRG. Conclusion: There were significant differences in sugar-related nutrition knowledge and consumption habits of sugar-sweetened beverages between the two food-related lifestyle groups. These results could be useful for establishing guidelines for reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. In addition, it is necessary to continue sugar-related nutrition education by considering the food-related lifestyles of adults.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.488-500
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a mobile app-based program to reduce the dietary sugar intake according to the stages of the behavioral change in dietary sugar reduction in female college students. Methods: The program used in this study can monitor the dietary sugar intake after recording the dietary intake and provide education message for the reduction of dietary sugar intake. In an eight-week pre-post intervention study, 68 female college students were instructed to record all the food they consumed daily and received weekly education information. At pre-post intervention, the subjects were asked to answer the questionnaire about sugar-related nutrition knowledge, sugar-intake behavior, and sugar-intake frequency. For statistical analysis, ANOVA and a paired t-test were used for comparative analysis according Precontemplation (PC), Contemplation Preparation (C P), and A M (Action Maintenance) stage. Results: Significant differences were observed in the frequency of snacking, experience of nutrition education, and preference for sweetness according to the stages of behavior change in dietary sugar reduction. After finishing an intervention, the sugar-related nutrition knowledge score was increased significantly in the stages of Precontemplation (PC) and Contemplation Preparation (C P). The score of the sugar intake behavior increased significantly in all stages. The intake frequency of chocolate, muffins or cakes, and drinking yogurt decreased significantly in the PC stage and the intake frequency of biscuits, carbonated beverages, and fruit juice decreased significantly in the C P stage. Subjects in the PC and C P stages had an undesirable propensity in nutrition knowledge, sugar-intake behavior, and sugar-intake frequency compared to the A M stage, but this intervention improved significantly their nutrition knowledge, sugar-intake behavior, and sugar-intake frequency. Conclusion: This program can be an effective educational tool in the stages of PC and C P, and is expected to further increase the usability and sustainability of mobile application if supplemented appropriately to a health platform program.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.230-238
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• 2003

Television is a powerful and persuasive teacher. It has the potential to influence perceptions, knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors, thus nutritionists need to be aware of the nutrition-related information (NRI) in television programming and the effect this information has on viewers. The purpose of this article was to review research published in peer-reviewed journals between 1988 and 2003 that examined the NRI embedded in American television programming, which is exported to over 125 nations, and its impact on nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and/or behaviors. This review revealed that, for the past 15 years, NRI was commonly included in both television advertisements and shows. Advertised foods were mainly high in fat, sodium, and/or sugar. In addition, the NRI embedded in food advertisements tended to be misleading or inaccurate. Prime-time television shows included numerous NRI containing scenes every hour, with situation comedies having the most and real-life re-enactment shows the least. Overall, low nutrient density foods accounted for approximately 40 percent or more of all food references on prime-time television shows. In television shows, foods were mostly consumed as snacks rather than meals and children often ate more nutritious foods than adults. Although relatively few studies have examined the impact of television programming on viewers, those that do exist indicate that as children watch more television, nutrition knowledge and understanding declines while misconceptions about nutrition increase. Advertising influences children's food purchase requests and subsequent purchases by adults, with the most requested and purchased foods being high in sugar, fat, and/or salt foods. Existing research indicates that television must be acknowledged as a major source of NRI and a potentially powerful influence on dietary practices.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.923-934
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to provide the basic information for developing sugar related nutrition education programs for children in child-care facilities and their parents. The results showed that the total score of parent's dietary attitudes towards sugar-rich foods was 17.94 and the total score of parent's nutritional knowledge was 3.67. A positive relationship was observed among items of parent's dietary attitudes (p<0.01), and some correlations were also observed between the total score of parent's nutritional knowledge and the total score of parent's dietary attitudes (p<0.05 or p<0.01). The total average score of children's eating behaviors for sugar-rich foods was 23.98, and the item with the highest score was 'I often eat candy, chocolate and jelly'. For children, food that received the highest preference was chocolate, and soft drinks received the lowest preference. The most frequently consumed food item was candy or caramel, and the least frequently consumed food item was soft drinks. There were positive correlation among the total score of children's eating behaviors, food preferences, and food intake frequency (p<0.01). When parent's tried to reduce the sugar intake, children's total score of eating behaviors (p<0.001) and food intake frequency (p<0.001) for sugar-rich food was lower. We conclude that parent's dietary attitudes may influence children's eating behaviors, food preferences, and food intake frequency for sugar-rich foods.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.120-135
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• 2024

Purpose: This study examined the factors affecting sugar intake in adults based on social cognitive theory. Methods: An online survey regarding the intake frequency of sugar-source food, factors related to sugar intake based on social cognitive theory, perceptions of sugar intake, and health-related factors was conducted in October 2019 with 1,022 adults (502 men and 520 women) aged 19-49 years. The intake frequency of sugar-source food was divided into tertiles using percentiles based on the daily frequency. Results: The daily intake frequency of sugar-source foods was 4 times, with beverages (1.87 times/day) and sweetened coffee (0.81 times/day) being the highest among the food groups and types, respectively. The group with a high intake frequency of sugar-source food had a high negative outcome expectation for reducing sugar intake, and was in a home and social environment with easy access to sweet food. Women in this group showed low self-efficacy and poor behavioral capability in reducing sugar intake. Self-control had the lowest average score among the factors of social cognitive theory (2.56/5 points), followed by nutrition knowledge related to sugar (5.42/10 points). As a result of regression analysis, the social cognitive factor affecting the intake frequency of sugar-sourced foods was found to be home environment for both men and women. On the other hand, factors contributing to reducing sugar intake were positive outcome expectations for men and behavioral skills for women. Conclusion: Dietary education and nutritional interventions for adults, including changes in the home environment with easy access to sweet foods, can reduce sugar intake and raise positive expectations for reduced sugar intake.