• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.509-520
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated whether a mobile health (mHealth) application can instigate healthy behavioral changes and improvements in metabolic disorders in individuals with metabolic abnormalities. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Participants were divided into an mHealth intervention group (IG), which used a mobile app for 24 weeks, and a conventional IG. All mobile apps featured activity monitors, with blood pressure and glucose monitors, and body-composition measuring devices. The two groups were compared after 24 weeks in terms of health-behavior practice rate and changes in the proportion of people with health risks, and health behaviors performed by the IG that contributed to reductions in more than one health risk factor were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Preference for low-sodium diet, reading nutritional facts, having breakfast, and performing moderate physical activity significantly increased in the mHealth IG. Furthermore, the mHealth IG showed a significant increase of eight items in the mini-dietary assessment; particularly, the items "I eat at least two types of vegetables of various colors at every meal" and "I consume dairies, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, every day." The proportion of people with health risks, with the exception of fasting glucose, significantly decreased in the mHealth IG, while only the proportion of people with at-risk triglycerides and waist circumference of females significantly decreased in the control group. Finally, compared to those who did not show improvements of health risks, those who showed improvements of health risks in the mHealth IG had an odds ratio of 1.61 for moderate to vigorous physical activity, 1.65 for "I do not add more salt or soy sauce in my food," and 1.77 for "I remove fat in my meat before eating." CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the additional use of a community-based mHealth service through a mobile application is effective for improving health behaviors and lowering metabolic risks in Koreans.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.783-791
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to compare nutrients intake, eating behavior, and health indices according to intake frequency of wheat-based foods, using results from the 2013~2015 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Subjects were 882 men age 40~64. According to intake frequency of wheat-based foods per week, two groups (Low intake group (LG); less than four times, High intake group (HG); more than four times) were divided, and their percentages were 54.0% and 46.0% respectively. Frequency of consuming wheat-based foods per week was 4.80, and there was significant difference (p<0.001) in both groups. Intake frequency according to wheat-based foods was high in noodles, cookies, and breads. Daily energy intake was higher, approximately 630 kcal in HG than LG (p<0.001). Also, energy ratio of fat and protein was higher in HG. There were significant differences in nutrient density per 1,000 kcal of minerals and vitamins between the two groups (p<0.01, p<0.001), except calcium, phosphorus, and niacin. In dietary behavior, frequency of meals (daily) was significant. In total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol of health indices, HG was higher than LG (p<0.01). Results of this study reveal that frequent intake of wheat-based foods has negative effect on nutrition and health.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.562-570
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• 2019

This study examined the factors affecting the underweight of Korean adolescents using data from Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey, which are national health statistics. This is a second data analysis study using the 13th Korea youth risk behavior web-based survey. The subjects were 48,242 adolescents who range from the first-year middle school students to the third-year high school students. The measurement variables were classified into demographic, physical activity, dietary, and mental health characteristics. The collected data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The factors affecting the underweight of Korean adolescents were sex, school type, academic performance, economic level, physical activities, weight control efforts, ramen intake, confectionary intake, stress, and subjective sleep fulfillment rate. Based on the results of this study, we need to search for the measures to help underweight adolescents recover their proper weight.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.570-580
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the multilateral weight control program provided by the university health care center for female college students. The program was 8weeks long and composed of nutrition consultation, exercise, and behavior modification. Nutrition education focused on a low calorie and balanced diet, increasing the intake of protein and micronutrients and reducing carbohydrate and fat consumption. Evaluations were made upon completion of an 8-week program and upon follow-up at 6 months after the end of program. A total of 92 women completed the 8-week program, while 20 completed the follow-up survey. Upon completion of the 8-week program, significant decreases in body weight, BMI, body fat (kg), and %body fat were observed, and muscle mass was also reduced. The total energy and carbohydrates intake were also significantly decreased in subjects with weight loss, while the percentage of subjects whose consumption of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin $B_1$, $B_6$, and niacin did not meet the EAR, were decreased. The blood values of glucose, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were decreased. The follow-up survey revealed that the subjects continued to lose weight after completion of the program. In addition, a Mini nutrition assessment revealed that diet quality improved, especially with respect to reductions in the consumption frequency of fried, greasy and salty food. In conclusion, the multilateral weight control program with diet education for female college students was effective for long lasting weight control and improved dietary behavior. Nutrition education for weight reduction should focus on balanced nutrition as well as lowering the total caloric intake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.665-672
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the eating habits and eating behaviors, nutrition knowledge of students in 4, 5 and 6th graders of elementary school in Jeonju Area. The subjects for questionnaire were 2,568 elementary school students (boys 1,364, girls 1,204). The results were analyzed by SPSS program, and were as follows. In anthropometric data, there were significant differences between boys and girls. In eating habits and eating behaviors, there were significant differences in the rate of 'Hasty eating habit(p<0.01)', 'Most heavy meal(p<0.01)', 'Eating when receive stress(p<0.05)', and 'Frequency of snack eating per day(p<0.01)' between boys and girls. In total scores of nutrition knowledge, there were significant differences between boys and girls. In nutrition knowledge, there were significant differences in the rate of 'Carbohydrate and fat give heat and force.(p<0.001)', 'Carbohydrate is nutrient that make muscle and blood of our body.(p<0.01)', 'Overeating of carbohydrate does not contribute gain of weight. (p<0.05)', To intake vitamin, it is good to eat fresh fruit and vegetable.(p<0.01)', 'Calcium deficiency is leading to anemia.(p<0.001)' between boys and girls. In conclusion, systematical educational programs need to be developed at elementary school. These should include information about achieving a balanced diet, good eating habit and behavior, meal management and Korean dietary culture. Also, nutritional education at home must be emphasized.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1155-1169
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Unhealthy food choices among young adults are common globally, and the incidence of chronic diseases, such as obesity, is rising. Food literacy (FL) is important for improving and maintaining individual health in a rapidly changing food environment and can form the basis for following a sustainable diet. Therefore, it is essential to improve FL among young adults, particularly college students, who are in the formative years of their lifelong food habits. This study examined the facilitators and barriers of FL and related dietary behavior among college students in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study recruited 25 college students with different residence types using convenience and snowball sampling. In-person, telephone, and video interviews were conducted from March to November 2021. The interview data were analyzed using framework analysis based on the socio-ecological model. RESULTS: At the individual level, prior good experiences with food were the most frequently mentioned facilitator. In contrast, the major barriers were a lack of knowledge, financial hardship, irregular schedules, and academic stress. At the interpersonal level, the influences of family and peers, such as early exposure to healthy eating habits and opportunities to have easy accessibility to farms and farming, are major facilitators, but the lack of a sense of community was the major barrier. At the environmental level, the major barriers were unfavorable food environments at home and in neighborhoods, such as the absence of kitchens in housing and large packaging of produce at markets. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors affected the students' FL and related healthy eating practices. These findings suggest that a campus-based FL program should be developed by reflecting on these facilitators and barriers.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.81-96
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate arterial stiffness index, physical activity, and food and nutrient intake in middle-aged adults over 40 years when the incidence of cardiovascular disease begins to increase. Methods: This study included 106 subjects (48 males and 58 females) aged between 40 and 64 years. The arterial stiffness index (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV], and ankle-brachial index [ABI]) were measured using a blood pressure pulse wave testing device. Physical activity was assessed using the Korean version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire, and food and nutrient intake was calculated using the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 54.4 years. Although the ABI of the subjects was within the normal range, they were divided into tertiles to compare physical activity and food and nutrient intake. In males, the time spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was significantly higher in T3 (600.6 min/week) than in T1 (304.4 min/week). In females, the time spent in sedentary behavior was significantly lower in T3 (294.5 min/week) than in T1 (472.1 min/week). In addition, the frequency of fish consumption was significantly higher in T3 (1.27 frequency/day) than in T1 (0.64 frequency/day) in females. Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and ω-3 fatty acid intake, adjusted for energy intake, were significantly positively correlated with ABI (r = 0.200 and r = 0.218, respectively). Conclusions: High MVPA (in males), low sedentary behavior (in females), and PUFA and ω-3 fatty acid intake through fish consumption may be associated with low peripheral artery stiffness. Therefore, arteriosclerosis can be prevented through physical activity and proper dietary therapy.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.41-63
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional knowledge and eating behavior of middle school students in Gwangju area in order to provide basic data for the development of home economics curriculum that can help the students form healthy eating habits. For this purpose, a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to middle school students in Gwangju area. A total of 330 questionnaires were collected by convenience sampling and analyzed using SPSS(Statistics Package for the Social Science) Version 20.0 for Windows. Results of this study are as follows. First, school curriculum session ranked top(31.82%) on the list of sources for middle school students to acquire nutrition knowledge. Second, the mean score of nutrition knowledge of all respondents was moderately high(14.33 points out of maximum 20 points). In terms of nutrition knowledge by gender, female students had a higher level of nutrition knowledge in the 'Food' domain than their male counterparts(p<0.05). With regard to nutrition knowledge by grade, Grade 9 showed a higher score than Grade 7 and 8(p<0.001). Third, the mean score of eating behavior of all respondents was at an average level(69.75 out of 100 points). In terms of eating behavior by gender, male students showed a higher score than their female counterparts(p<0.05). In particular, male students had higher scores than female students for the following items: "I exercise regularly after school"(p<0.001); "I regularly eat meal three times per day"(p<0.01); "I don't skip breakfast"(p<0.01); and "I don't eat sweet food often"(p<0.01). In terms of eating behavior by grade, Grade 9 showed higher scores than Grades 7 and 8 for the following items: "I eat meal out of thankfulness for those who have prepared food"(p<0.01) and "I eat grains for every meal"(p<0.01). Finally, with regard to eating behavior depending on the level of nutrition knowledge, the 'Upper' and 'Middle' groups had higher scores for eating behavior than the 'Lower' group, indicating that a lower level of nutrition knowledge resulted in a lower score in eating behavior. Based on the above results, home economics teachers responsible for dietary education should have a greater sense of mission and pride and make more efforts to improve nutrition knowledge and eating behavior of middle school students.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.222-229
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• 2001

This study describes the application of the stages of change construct to fat intake by examining the associations of the stages of change with nutritional status and beliefs on health behavior. Data were obtained from apparently healthy 596 adults(326 females and 270 males) residing in large cities. Stages of change assessed by an algorithms based on 6 items were designed each subject into one of the 5 stages: precontemplation(PC), contemplation(CO), preparation(PR), action(AC) and maintenance(MA). Beliefs on health behavior were assessed by self efficacy as well as 4 belief scales from the Locus of Illness Control(LIC) developed using factor analysis such as internal disease cure and prevention and external disease cure and prevention. Energy and fat intakes were measured by a 39 item short form food frequency questionnaire. Regarding the 5 stages of change, MA stage comprised the largest group(37.9%), followed by Ac(30.7%), PC(11.4%), CO(10.4%) and PR(9.6%). Subjects who were females, older or healthier were more likely to belong to either AC or MA. Stage assignment of individuals was corroborated by their nutritional variables. Those in PC had the most energy and fat and those in MA ate the least for females. BMI was higher in PR than any other stages for both males and females. Those in PC were distinctive in that they were more externally oriented in terms of health control showing higher scores on external disease prevention(for males) and external disease cure(for females), and lower score on internal disease cure. On the other hand, those in MA received the highest scores on internal disease prevention and self efficacy, which suggested that they were more internally oriented. Canonical discriminant function analysis indicated that the 5 stages were importantly discriminated by BMI, self efficacy, internal disease prevention and external disease prevention for males and by fat intake, self efficacy and external disease cure variables for females. The results of our study confirm differences in stages of change in fat intake in terms of nutritional status and beliefs on heath behavior and indicate the need for taking these phases of change into account in nutrition advice. (Korean J Nutrition 34(2) : 222-229, 2001)

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.51-72
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• 2002

This research was conducted to understand and analyze the health-related behaviors of middle school students and get fundamental research data essential to provide efficient student guidance and public health service at school. The interview using Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System(YRBSS). Translation and modification for Korean students of the YRBS. The Korean version of YRBS(Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System) that translation and modification for Korean students of the YRBS developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)was used to assessment to health-related behaviors of youth. The interviewees were 1040 enrolled students at middle school in Daegu metropolitan city. YRBSS monitors six categories of priority health behaviors among youth and young adults behaviors that contribute to unintentional and intentional injuries; tobacco use; alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases(STDs)(including human immunodeficiency virus infection); unhealthy dietary behaviors; and physical activity. The result shows that over 30% of students rarely or never used safety belt and almost students were rarely or never wore a bicycle helmet. During the 12 months preceding the survey, 21.9% female students had felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for $\geq$ 2weeks in a row that they stopped doing some usually activities 20.5% of male middle school students have ever tried cigarette smoking. 26.2% of male students and 27.2% do female students had had over one drinks of alcohol during their lifetime(lifetime alcohol use). 47% of male students had had over one drinks of alcohol on $\geq$ 1 of the 30 days preceding the survey(current alcohol use). Over one half of female student were thought they were overweight. These results suggest that some risk behaviors be very prevalent in a korean middle school students and priority health-risk behaviors, which contribute to the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among youth and adult, often are establish during middle school age, extend into adulthood, are interrelated. Among both children and adults, the leading causes of death are closely linked to these behaviors. Among adults, chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes are the national leading killers. Practicing healthy behaviors, such as eating low-fat, high-fruit-and-vegetable diets, getting regular physical activity, and refraining from tobacco use, would prevent many premature deaths. Because health-related behaviors are usually established in childhood, positive choices need to be promoted before damaging behaviors are initiated or become ingrained.