• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.49-60
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• 2011

This study was performed to develop a children's dietary life safety index required by the Special Act on Safety Management of Children's Dietary Life enacted in 2009. An analytical hierarchy process was used to obtain initial weights of dietary life safety evaluation indicators. The Delphi method was applied to develop the weights along with 98 food and nutrition professionals. Three representative policy indicators, nine strategy indicators, 11 main evaluation indicators, and 20 detailed evaluation indicators were selected for the children's dietary life safety assessment. Three policy indicators and nine strategy indicators were the following: children's food safety indicator (support level of children' safety, safety management level of children's favorite foods, and safety management level of institutional food service), children's nutrition safety indicator (management level of missing meals and obesity, nutrition management level of children's favorite foods, and nutrition management level of institutional food service), and children's perception and practice level indicator ("Dietary Life Law" perception level, perception, and practice level for dietary life safety management, perception, and practice level for nutrition management). Weights of 40%, 40%, and 20% were given for the three representative policy indicators. The relative importance of nine strategic indicators, which were determined by the Delphi method is as follows: For children’s food safety, support level of children's safety, safety management level of children's favorite foods, and safety management level of institutional food service were given weights of 12%, 9%, and 19%, respectively. For children's nutrition safety, the missing meals and obesity management level, nutrition management level of children's favorite foods, and the nutrition management level of institutional food service were given weights of 13%, 11%, and 16%, respectively. The "Dietary Life Law" perception level, perception and practice level of dietary life safety management, and perception and practice level of nutrition management were given weights of 4%, 7%, and 9%, respectively.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.535-543
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• 2021

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between the Korean healthy eating index (KHEI) and periodontal disease in the Korean adult population. Methods: The data used in the analyses were obtained from the seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). Data were analyzed by chi-square tests and t-test. Multiple regression analysis was also performed to assess the association between KHEI and periodontal disease. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for socioeconomic variables showed that medical and health behavior variables were significantly related to the KHEI 1 (<63.7, odds ratio [OR]: 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.46), KHEI 2 (63.7-79.9, OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.97-1.34), and risk for periodontal disease. Conclusions: The results showed a significant association between the KHEI and periodontal disease in the Korean adult population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.419-428
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• 2015

Purpose: The current study was conducted in order to develop the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) for assessing adherence to national dietary guidelines and comprehensive diet quality of healthy Korean adults using the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. Methods: The candidate components of KHEI were selected based on literature reviews, dietary guidelines for Korean adults, 2010 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (2010 KDRI), and objectives of HP 2020. The associations between candidate components and risk of obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic syndrome were assessed using the 5th KNHANES data. The expert review process was also performed. Results: Diets that meet the food group recommendations per each energy level receive maximum scores for the 9 adequacy components of the index. Scores for amounts between zero and the standard are prorated linearly. For the three moderation components among the total of five, population probability densities were examined when setting the standards for minimum and maximum scores. Maximum scores for the total of 14 components are 100 points and each component has maximum scores of 5 (fruit intakes excluding juice, fruit intake including juice, vegetable intakes excluding Kimchi and pickles, vegetable intake including Kimchi or pickles, ratio of white meat to read meat, whole grains intake, refined grains intake, and percentages of energy intake from carbohydrate) or 10 points (protein foods intake, milk and dairy food intake, having breakfast, sodium intake, percentages of energy intake from empty calorie foods, and percentages of energy intake from fat). The KHEI is a measure of diet quality as specified by the key diet recommendations of the dietary guidelines and 2010 KDRIs. Conclusion: The KHEI will be used as a tool for monitoring diet quality of the Korean population and subpopulations, evaluation of nutrition interventions and research.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.558-571
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the dietary intake of Korean adults with atopic dermatitis (AD) to determine whether the risk of developing AD was related to their diet. Methods: Among the participants in the 7th National Health and Nutrition Survey (2016 to 2018), 10,571 adults aged 19-64 were divided into AD (AD group, n = 366) and control groups (non-AD group, n = 10,205) to compare and analyze their nutrient intake status and Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) score. Depending on the prevalence of AD, the nutrient intake, nutrient intake per 1,000 kcal, acceptable macronutrient distribution range, and KHEI score were tested for significance by correcting for age, sex, body mass index, education, marriage, occupation, residence area, physical activity, and energy intake variables that were derived for confounding factors. Results: The acceptable macronutrient distribution range for protein was lower in the AD group than in the non-AD group. Comparing the nutrient intake per 1,000 kcal, the intakes of protein, phosphorus, iron, and potassium of the AD group were significantly lower than those of the non-AD group. In the KHEI, the scores of total vegetables, vegetables excluding kimchi and pickles, meat, fish, eggs, and legumes of the AD group were significantly lower than those of the non-AD group. In addition, as these food intake scores increased, the risk of AD significantly decreased. Conclusion: In conclusion, adult AD patients had low intakes of vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, and legumes, and it was confirmed that high intakes of these foods may be associated with low AD risk. Therefore, we suggest that an adequate intake of vegetables and foods containing protein would be necessary for the management and treatment of AD in adults.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.141-154
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• 2022

Purpose: This study determined the relationships between maternal comprehensive feeding practices (CFP) and dietary practices of preschool children. Methods: Participants of the study were 227 mothers of children aged 3 to 5 years attending daycare centers and kindergartens in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province of Korea. The Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire was used to assess the maternal feeding practices. The Nutrition Quotient for Preschoolers (NQ-P) was measured to evaluate dietary practice and diet quality of children. Results: The balance of NQ-P for children was positively correlated with the modeling, restrictions for weight control, encouragement of balance and variety, pressure, and involvement among maternal CFP. Moderation of NQ-P was positively correlated with monitoring, modeling, teaching about nutrition, encouragement of balance and variety, environment, and involvement among maternal CFP. However, it was negatively correlated with emotion regulation, food as a reward, and child control in maternal CFP. Among maternal CFP, the environment of NQ-P was positively correlated with monitoring, modeling, teaching about nutrition, encouragement of balance and variety, environment, and involvement, and it was negatively correlated with emotion regulation. As a multiple regression analysis, maternal CFP that positively predicted balance of NQ-P indices were restricted for weight control, pressure, and involvement. Among maternal CFP, encouragement of balance and variety, and environment were positive predictors, while food as a reward, and child control were negative predictors for the moderation of NQ-P. Items of maternal CFP positively predicting environmental factors of NQ-P were monitoring and environment. Conclusion: Mothers are recommended to practice dietary guidance to their children, such as monitoring, modeling, teaching about nutritional information, recommendation of balance and diversity, healthy eating environment, and participation in meal plan and preparation, while they are advised not to conduct any adverse dietary guidance such as emotional control, compensation with food, child control, and food coercion.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a comprehensive tool for assessing dietary guideline adherence among older Korean adults, focusing on the domains of food and nutrient intake, eating habits, and dietary culture. Methods: Candidate items were selected through a literature search and expert advice. The degree of adherence to dietary guidelines was then evaluated through a face-to-face survey conducted on 800 elderly individuals across five nationwide regions. The items for dietary guideline adherence evaluation tool were selected through exploratory factor analysis of the candidate items in each of the three areas of the dietary guidelines, and construct validity was verified by performing confirmatory factor analysis. Using the path coefficient of the structural equation model, weights were assigned to each area and item to calculate the dietary guideline adherence score. A rating system for the evaluation tool was established based on national survey results. Results: A total of twenty-eight items were selected for evaluating dietary guideline adherence among the elderly. Thirteen items related to food intake, seven to eating habits, and eight to dietary culture. The average score for dietary guideline adherence was 56.9 points, with 49.8 points in the food intake area, 63.2 points in the eating habits area, and 58.6 points in the dietary culture area. Statistically significant correlations were found between dietary guideline adherence scores and food literacy (r = 0.679) and nutrition quotient scores (r = 0.750). Conclusion: The developed evaluation tool for dietary guideline adherence among Korean older adults can be used as a simple and effective instrument for comprehensively assessing their food and nutrient intake, dietary habits, and dietary culture.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.629-647
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was undertaken to develop a nutrition quotient for elementary school children (NQ-C) for evaluating the overall dietary quality and eating behaviors. Methods: The NQ-C was developed by implementing 3 stages: item generation, item reduction, and validation. Candidate food behavior checklist (FBC) items of the NQ-C were derived from systematic literature reviews, expert in-depth interviews, statistical analyses of the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, and national nutrition policies and recommendations. For the pilot survey, 260 elementary school students (128 second graders and 132 fifth graders) completed self-administered questionnaires as well as 24-hour dietary intakes, with the help of their parents and survey team staff, if required. Based on the pilot survey results, expert reviews, and priorities of national nutrition policy and recommendations, checklist items were reduced from 41 to 24. A total of 20 items for NQ-C were finally selected from results generated from 1,144 nationwide samples surveyed. Construct validity of the NQ-C was assessed using the confirmatory factor analysis, LInear Structural RELations. Results: Analyses of the exploratory factors of NQ-C identified that 5 dimensions of diet (balance, diversity, moderation, practice and environment) accounted for 46.2% of the total variance. Standardized path coefficients were used as weights of the items. The NQ-C and 5-factor scores of the subjects were calculated using the obtained weights of the FBC items. Conclusion: Our data indicates that NQ-C is a useful and suitable instrument for assessing nutrition adequacy, dietary quality, and eating behaviors of Korean elementary school children.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.143-157
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• 2021

This study analyzed and verified the effects of a dietary education program for Korean young adults in single-person households. The dietary education program was conducted for five weeks (from November 10 to December 8, 2020) for Korean young adults in single-person households living in Seongbuk-gu, via four face-to-face education sessions and one online education session, including both theoretical lectures and practice. The effect of the dietary education program was analyzed through the Nutrition Quotient (NQ) questionnaire for adults provided by the Korean Nutrition Society, a dietary evaluation checklist questionnaire developed by the researchers, and photovoices. The average of 'Nutrition' score increased from 51.81 to 53.20, but there was no statistically significant difference. However, there was a significant change in the 'Moderation' category (p<0.05). As for the researcher-developed dietary evaluation, the average of the 'Importance' area rose from 3.77 to 3.99, but there was no statistically significant difference. The average of the 'Practice' area rose from 3.03 to 3.57, significant results were found (p<0.05). When the pre-/post-tests were compared by the sub-categories, four elements of 'Importance', i.e., balanced meals and avoided foods, and all five elements of 'Practice' were significantly improved (p<0.05). A total of 200 photovoices were analyzed according to Social Cognitive Theory. As a result of the analysis, the deterrents that help people eat healthy homemade food were 48% environmental factors, 30% behavioral factors, and 22% individual cognitive factors. The deterrents found to hinder participants from eating healthy homemade food were 72% environmental factors and 14% individual cognitive and behavioral factors. The results suggest that the dietary education program for Korean young adults in single-person households can be an effective tool that promotes self-motivation, behavioral changes, and improvements of the surrounding environment.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.378-394
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• 2016

Purpose: Screening of preschool-age children for nutrition programs to improve dietary intake and behaviors requires cost-effective and easily administered validated assessment tools. The purpose of this study was to develop a parent/caregiver-administered instrument for measuring diet quality and behaviors of preschoolers as a nutrition quotient for preschoolers (NQ-P). Methods: Development of NQ-P was carried out in three steps: item generation, item reduction, and validation. The 24-h dietary record was selected as the gold standard reference tool. The 38 items of the NQ-P checklist were derived from a systematic literature review, expert in-depth interviews, statistical analysis of the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, and national nutrition policies and recommendations. Self-administered questionnaires were delivered to parents who recorded 24-h dietary intakes of 100 responders aged 3~5 yr. Pearson's correlation was used to measure the level of agreement between questionnaires. Item reduction was performed, and 20 items were selected based on survey results, expert reviews, and priorities of national nutrition policy and recommendations. The 412 nationwide subjects sampled through daycare centers completed the 20-item checklist questionnaire. The construct validity of the NQ-P was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, LISREL. Results: After analyses of exploratory factors, NQ-P items identified three dimensions of diet (balance, moderation, and environment). The three-factor structure accounted for 49.28% of the total variance. Standardized path coefficients were used as weights of the items. The NQ-P and three-factor scores of the subjects were calculated by the obtained weights of the questionnaire items. Conclusion: A food behavior checklist for preschoolers' NQ would be a useful and suitable instrument for evaluating nutrition adequacy and dietary quality of Korean preschoolers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.483-495
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• 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the dietary quality of food consumed by the elderly is influenced by the consumption of healthy functional foods using Nutrition Quotients for the Elderly (NQ-E). Methods: The study subjects were 250 adults aged ≥ 65 living in Seoul or Gyeonggi-do. Those who had consumed healthy functional food for more than 2 weeks within the previous year were classified as healthy functional food consumers, and the quality of their meals was evaluated using the NQ-E. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.4, and sex and age-associated differences were adjusted before comparing differences based on healthy functional food intake. Results: The average age of the study subjects was 70.8. The scores for each area and the Nutrition Quotient (NQ) score were as follows: balance 43.3 points, moderation 56.7 points, practice 65.7 points, and NQ 52.5 points. When comparing differences according to healthy functional food intake status, healthy functional food consumers had significantly higher balance and NQ scores than non-consumers. When considering each NQ item score, healthy functional food consumers had significantly higher scores than non-consumers for fruit, fish and seafood, eggs, nuts, and whole grain rice, and a higher score for effort to maintain a healthy diet. Conclusion: Dietary quality as assessed by Nutrition Quotients for the Elderly was better for healthy functional food consumers than non-consumers.