• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.481-490
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• 2010

The shock of melamine-contained food has been known with the incident of hospitalization or death of infants at the age of 11-month old in China. The purpose of this study was to examine consumers' risk perception, attitude and purchase behavior of melamine-contained food which recently came to the fore as a social issue, focusing on the relationship between consumers' attitude and purchase behavior based on physical risk, social risk, psychological risk, financial risk, consumers' attitude and purchase behavior. Study findings are as follows. First, the four factors of risk perception of melamine-contained food were significantly different by consumers. Consumers regarded social risk as most significant and it was followed by financial risk and psychological risk. And they regarded physical risk as most insignificant. Second, as for the difference of risk perception by demographic features, such factors as gender, age, marital status and schooling had no statistically significant influence. Third, the potential risk of melamine-contained food had a negative influence upon consumers' attitude and purchase behavior. In addition, consumers' attitude and purchase behavior were decided by perceived risks. This finding implies that consumers' attitude can accompany with negative or positive behavior and consumers' behavior can be related to social, financial and physical risks. Because the risk perception of melamine-contained food can cause consumers' distrust about all kinds of food in general, domestic manufacturers of milk product-contained confectionery and food can be harmed. In order to overcome this problem and make consumers purchase all the milk products and milk-contained food without fear, governmental agencies must reestablish systems with which the safety of imported raw materials and its processing can be insured and manufactures must improve the quality of products in a diverse and discriminative manner. This study seems to be meaningful in that it examined consumers' risk perception of melamine-contained food, a current social issue, and then looked into the influence of risk perception upon consumers" attitude and behavior, thus presenting the strategy of reestablishing the system of relationship between consumers and business entities in a desirable manner.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2009

This study investigated vegetable buying behavior with the subjects of 250 housewives living in Gyeongju. According to the results, they usually buy the following vegetables by order of frequency: cucumbers (152 times), hot peppers (142 times), lettuce (140 times), and spinach (134 times). The intake frequency of fresh vegetables was 2 to 3 times per week as 50.0% responded so. All respondents considered freshness most importantly when buying vegetables regardless of age. They usually buy vegetables at traditional markets, and they think the markets are suitable for buying fresh vegetables regardless of age. And the result of analyzing relation among vegetable's vitamin C and the colors or kinds of vegetables selected by age was not statistically significant. About the improvements to use vegetables, respondents in the 20's chose useful information, ones in the 30's to 40's said diverse recipes, ones in the 50's went for the quality improvement, and ones in the 60's or more emphasized stable prices. They answered that they received nutrition information of vegetables mainly from TV or magazines, newspapers, and mass media whereas subjects in the 60's or more said they got it from neighbors or friends. For housewives to get and practice nutritional knowledge, it is necessary to develop recipes in consideration of nutritional balance and convenience and provide them with constant education of nutrition through lifelong education facilities.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.594-606
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• 2015

Acculturation may manifest dietary behavioral changes of students from overseas. This study investigated the dietary attitudes, food intakes, and dietary behaviors of 121 Chinese college students residing in Busan, Korea. Using a focus group interview and structured survey, subjects were divided into two groups (SG, LG) based on their self-rated acculturation status. The SG (n=70) and LG (n=51) groups consisted of participants that had resided in Korea for shorter than 18 months versus 18 months or longer, respectively. The SG group was more likely to point out the taste of Korean foods as being too sweet, salty, and spicy but less greasy. A food frequency questionnaire was developed to assess normal intake of Korean ethnic, Chinese ethnic, and common foods. The LG group consumed more Korean foods such as rice cake, dried laver, and radish kimchi but less Chinese foods such as bread glue ball and kidney bean. The LG group consumed more salty and fatty foods and Korean liquors, whereas the SG group consumed more fruits and noodles. Based on the exploratory factor analysis, the SG group showed significantly higher scores for "dietary regularity" but lower scores for "indulgence of unhealthful food" factors. In summation, the LG group became more accustomed to Korean foods and adopted less desirable dietary behaviors compared with the SG group. Findings suggest that the residential period of Chinese college students may be associated with their self-rated acculturation status and food acculturation process, and therefore tailored nutrition education programs are needed to support Chinese students' healthier dietary behaviors and food acculturation process.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.127-134
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• 2008

This study was designed to evaluate the nutritional status and dietary problems of obese elementary students consuming unbalanced diets. Blood parameters, body-image perceptions, taste preferences, and nutrient intakes of 40 obese elementary students with unbalanced diets were compared to those of 40 additional obese elementary students as a control. The averages for age, height, weight, and obesity index were 11.5 years, 142.0 cm, 51.0 kg, and 35.4% in the study group and 11.8 years, 144.0 cm, 53.5 kg, and 36.3% in the control group, respectively. The major disliked foods by the students in the study group were vegetables (65%) particularly Kimchi (15%), as well as fish(15%), and pulses (10%). Mean serum cholesterol, blood glucose, GOT/GPT, and hemoglobin levels were 175.1 mg/dL, 89.2 mg/dL, 24.1/18.9 IU/L, and 14.3 g/dL in the study group and 182.8 mg/dL, 91.3 mg/dL, 28.3/33.9 IU/L, and 14.7 g/dL, in the control group, respectively. Approximately 60${\sim}$80% of the subjects responded that they eat a meal everyday, and the remainder skipped at least one meal. The preference for salty tasting foods was significantly lower in the study group, but the preference for hot tasting food was higher as compared to the obese control group(p<0.05, p<0.05). The daily energy intakes of the study and control groups were 1,768.3 kcal and 1,572.7 kcal, respectively, but there was no significant differences between them. Daily intakes of animal protein, fat, animal fat, and vitamin $B_2$ were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. In conclusion, this study found that obese children consuming unbalanced diets strongly disliked vegetables, particularly Kimchi, as well as hot tasting foods; however, they preferred salty foods. Daily intakes of animal protein and fat were higher in the study group as compared to obese children not consuming unbalanced diets.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.452-462
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• 2012

The study was conducted to investigate the dietary behaviors and lifestyles of Korean university students and Chinese international students in the Jeonbuk area. Self-administered questionnaires were collected from 241 Korean university students and 198 Chinese international students. Statistical data analysis was completed using SPSS v. 12.0. Breakfast-skipping among subjects was very common, and the most frequently given reason for skipping this meal was 'lack of time'. More than 85% of Korean male students and 75% of Korean female students reported regularly eating lunch in university canteens or restaurants around campus, whereas 86% of Chinese male students and 82% of Chinese female students regularly ate their lunches in university canteens or at home. About 62% of Korean male students, 72% of Korean female students, 48% of Chinese male students, and 70% of Chinese female students responded that they do not regularly eat dinner, the main reasons cited for this being 'irregularity of lifestyle' and 'part-time work'. Snack intake by the subjects was high. Beverages were the snack item most frequently consumed by Korean and Chinese male students, whereas cookies and fruits were most frequently consumed by Korean and Chinese female students. About 28% of Korean male students and 44% of Chinese male students were smokers, respectively. Half of Chinese female students drank alcohol once or twice a week. About 42% of Korean male students and 65% of Chinese male students played sports, respectively. Dietary behaviors and lifestyles of Korean and Chinese students tended to be very similar. Chinese students performed more health-oriented activities in comparison to Korean students. In conclusion, a practical and foreigner-friendly nutritional education program should be devised in order to correct the dietary behaviors and health-related lifestyles of Korean and Chinese students.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.153-170
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• 2013

This study examined awareness and information acquisition behavior regarding food hygiene and safety of university students to improve safe dietary practices and to get basic information to develop educational materials for food safety. It was conducted among 276 university students of Qingdao University and Liaocheng University in Shandong province, China through a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS Windows V.19.0. To describe characteristics of the respondents, frequency distributions were used. In addition, t test, one-way analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range tests were conducted. The results were as follows: The respondents were generally interested in food hygiene and safety. However, the level of awareness regarding the food hygiene and safety system in China was not high. Almost forty-five percent of the respondents did not think that foods produced and distributed in China were safe. For the reasons for their distrust, most of the students replied that they did not trust the safety 'because of distrust for hygiene of the food process', followed by 'because of distrust for food distribution' and 'because of excess or illegal use of food additives on food process'. The respondents answered for the concern level toward food hygiene and safety foodborne disease threatened food safety the most, followed by heavy metal contamination and endocrine disruptors. The respondents acquired most information from electronic media including TV and radio. Most of the students wanted to participate in food hygiene and safety education. Finally, when they found hazardous or foreign materials in food the most frequent reaction was 'paying attention in the next purchase', followed by 'notifying others', and 'letting it go this time but never buying that product in the future'.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.133-140
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to investigate perception and awareness of yaksun and willingness to eat yaksun in the future, and to examine the factors affecting intake behavior of yaksun of adults in Daegu and Gyeongbuk region. The data were collected in April, 2011 through a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square test, t test, and binary logistic regression were conducted by SPSS Windows V.19.0. The results were as follows. Almost sixty-six percent of the respondents answered that they knew yaksun. The perception level of yaksun for the intake respondents was higher than that of non-intake respondents. Additionally, many respondents agreed to varied menu development and convenient-food development of yaksun. Intake respondents showed higher level of agreement for the varied menu development of yaksun than non-intake respondents. On the other hand, four fifths of the respondents showed that they would be willing to eat yaksun in the future. The level of willingness to eat yaksun in the future for the intake respondents was higher than that of non-intake respondents. Additionally, the respondents who knew yaksun showed higher level of willingness to eat it than those who did not know it. Finally, the result of binary logistic regression analysis for intake behavior of yaksun showed that gender, educational level, and the awareness of yaksun were significant. On the basis of these results, not only the promotion of yaksun to consumers but also the development of convenient foods, varied menus for different age groups, and menus with cheap prices are needed to raise yaksun popularity.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.542-550
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• 2004

This study was aimed for examining the changes of eating habit and behavior according to the degree of stress of elementary school students. It was tried to identify their daily stress levels and their relevances with the changes of their eating habits and behaviosr. The subjects were 500 students from fifth and sixth grades in three elementary schools in Seoul. The students surveyed showed to get moderately stressed in general. The stress level of girls were higher than that of boys(p<0.001) in the individual area. The breakfast ratio of the low stressed group(LS) marked higher(p<0.001) than those of both the middle-(MS) and highly-stressed group(HS). In other words, the LS group had regular breakfast. The main reason why they were skipping breakfast was lack of time. The amount of a meal in the HS group was noticeably bigger than the other two groups(p<0.05) and the amount of salt and spices used was higher(p<0.01). The amount of food taken when they got stressed was increased remarkably higher in the HS group and students in that group had snacks as the way of relieving the stress. The HS group displayed higher ratio of the unbalanced diet habit. There were noticeable differences in the eating habit and behavior, i.e. the amount of meals, of salt used and whether eating breakfast or not, in accordance of the levels of stress.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.221-232
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• 1997

This study is investigate the eating behavior between the elderly living at home and the elderly at nursing home in Inchon City. This survey was carried out by questionaires. The result are summarized as the followings: 1. Both the elderly living at home and the elderly at nursing home are not smoking and drinking. They are in good health. 2. The elderly living at home and the elderly at nursing home have diseases like neuralgia, hypertension, diabetes etc. 3. Both the elderly living at home and the elderly at nursing home have methods of health care of a regular eating and a good sleeping. The elderly at nursing home have a regular medical examination but the elderly living at home do not. 4. Health giving drugs are depression of blood pressure, a medicine for the stomach and bowels, an anodyne. And health giving sports are walking and jogging. 5. The elderly living at home and the elderly at nursing home are significant relationship on knowledge of nutrition. 6. The elderly living at home and the elderly at nursing home prefer to taste sweet, boiling, korean foods. 7. elderly living at home have meats once a week and the elderly at nursing home have twice a week. Both the elderly living at home and the elderly at nursing home have fish, fruits, vegetables twice a week. The elderly at nursing home have milks twice a week. 8. The frequency of snack intake is higher the elderly at nursing home than the elderly living at home. 9. The elderly living at home and the elderly at nursing home are satisfied their dietary life.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.711-719
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was 1) to investigate the food intake, dietary habits and life behavioral characteristics, and 2) to examine the relationship among these factors in a sample of adult Korean women. In October 2010, self-reported questionnaire survey was distributed to 200 women aged 30 to 65 in Gyunggi Province. Overall, 177 women participated and completed the survey. Most participants were married (97.2%) and housewives (83.6%). About 85% of respondents lived with their children. For comprehensive analysis, all respondents were divided into three age groups; 30~39, 40~49, and 50~65. The percent of intake of high protein foods such as meat and fish, eggs, and milk products was higher younger age groups (p<0.05). Moreover, age 30~39 group were more likely to eat potatoes (p<0.05) than age 50~65 group. However, age 50~65 women more frequently consumed seaweed than other age groups (p<0.01). Women who ate breakfast or dinner consumed a significantly higher frequency of vegetables, seaweed, potatoes, and kimchi (p<0.01). Additionally, women who ate breakfast with family more frequently consumed vegetables, fruit and kimchi. Furthermore, older women were likely to have less sleeping time than other groups. In conclusion, there were western dietary patterns among adult women and these dietary patterns were partly related to different life behavior and dietary habits. Considering that negative dietary habits of adult women can influence their family and health for the rest of their life, nutritional education programs based on changes in lifestyle should be developed.