• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.510-516
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• 1995

A multidisciplinary weight control program was conducted for obese women. The major components of the program included low calorie diet therapy, exercise, behavior modification and nutritional education and counseling. Sixteen healthy volunteers in excess of body fat, above 30%, were enrolled in the group support program. But 5 person were dropped out in the 2nd week of treatment. During the 1st week of group orientation, individual cause of obesity was assessed through a computer program including survey of dietary intake, activity, eating habits and life styles. During the 5 weeks of treatment, 4.8kg of average weight loss was accomplished using a following program ; low calorie diet(1200kcal/day with all essential nutrients), low impact aerobic exercise(50~60% of $VO_{2max}$, 1 hour/day in a group, 3~5 days/week), behavior modification of individual life styles and eating habits causing obesity and nutritional education concerning nutrition, role of exercise such as brisk walking, importance of slow eating in regular meal pattern and internal motivation for weight reduction, health risk of obesity and rapid weight loss, weight recycling and yo-yo syndrome, etc. Nutritional conseling was conducted 3 times per week with checking self-records of foods, activity, emotional state and tiredness. Before and immediately after 5 weeks of treatment, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride were measured and comparied with paired t-test. After 5 weeks of treatment, body weight, body mass index, body fat and circumferences of waist, upper arm and hip were significantly decreased. Also LDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased after obesity treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.290-297
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of a by-product feed-based silage (BF silage) feeding on behavior patterns of growing Hanwoo steers. A total of 10 Hanwoo steers (11 months old, 302kg of body weight) were assigned to 2 dietary treatments: the control (concentrate mix + free access to rice straw), and the treatment (concentrate mix + free access to BF silage). The behavior patterns were observed for 48 hours. The intakes of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of the treatment group were higher than those of the control group. Eating time, ruminating time and resting time were not different between the control and treatment. But, the intake time per kg DM was higher for the control than treatment. The number of bolus, total chewing frequency, number of ruminating per bolus and number of bolus per minute were not different between the control and treatment. But the chewing frequency per bolus was higher in the treatment than control (p<0.05), and feed value index was lower in treatment than control (p<0.05). Frequencies of drinking and defecating were not different between the two groups, but the frequency of urinating was higher for the treatment (p<0.05) than control. Eating rate, ruminating efficiency and chewing efficiency were much higher in the treatment group than control (p<0.05). These results indicate that the replacement of conventional rice straws with the BF silage (physically effective NDF, about 25%) did not affect the ruminating behaviors of Hanwoo steers significantly.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.277-287
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• 2023

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the eating behavior (EB) and nutritional status of university students in Gwangju, and to compare their nutrition quotients (NQs) and problems according to their EB types. Methods: The subjects were 219 (127 female and 92 male) undergraduate students from Gwangju. The Student's t-test was used to compare the EB levels according to gender, and Pearson's χ² test was used to compare the distribution of EB types by gender. A gender-adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to examine the difference in NQs by EB types. Results: First, there were significant differences in the EB scores and the distribution of EB types according to gender. Female students showed higher levels of emotional (Emo) and external (Ext) EBs than the male students, and Emo, Ext, and combined (Com) EB types were more evident among female rather than male students. Second, there was a difference in NQs according to the EB types. The Emo EB type subjects had a lower NQ than those of the restrained (Res) EB type and showed significant differences in diversity and dietary behavior. Specifically, the Emo EB type subjects displayed significantly lower efforts to maintain a healthy diet and subjective health status than the Com EB type and their levels of checking nutrition labels, hand washing, and water intake were significantly lower than that of the Res EB type. The Ext EB type showed significantly lower moderation of Ramyeon and sweetened drink intake than the Res and Com EB types. Conclusion: The level of EBs and the distribution of EB types varied according to gender, and the NQs were different according to EB types. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the establishment of customized strategies for improvement by identifying major nutritional problems by gender and the EB types of university students.

• Journal of Korean Dental Hygiene Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

Objectives: This study attempted to identify the eating habits and oral health behaviors of Korean teenagers, studying their relationship with oral health status. The findings serve as fundamental data to enhance proper eating habits and oral health-related projects, ultimately improving teenagers' oral health. Methods: It was analyzed through the original data of the 16th (2020) online survey of youth health behavior in Korea, Frequency analysis, complex sample cross-analysis, complex sample logistic regression analysis were conducted using the SPSSwin 21.0 program. Results: As a result of the study, was associated with the consumption of all sweet drinks, fast food intake, and the frequency of daily brushing over the past 7 days Teeth pain is noted with the consumption of soda, sweet drinks, fast food, and the frequency of daily brushing over the past 7 days. Gum bleeding is noted with the consumption of sweetened products, fast food intake, and the frequency of daily brushing over the past 7 days. Conclusions: Eating habits and oral health behaviors should be considered for the oral health management of middle and high school students. Specific measures should be sought to provide proper dietary education and systematic oral health education to improve the oral health of middle and high school students.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.335-343
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the food behavior and nutritional status of elementary school students in the Jeju area using Nutrition Quotient (NQ). Methods: The subjects were 440 students (235 boys and 205 girls) in the fifth and sixth grade at four elementary schools located in Jeju. Demographic, lifestyle, and environmental information was collected using a self-reported questionnaire. The food behavior checklist for children's Nutrition Quotient (NQ), consisting of 19 items, and nutrition education related information were also obtained. Results: The mean score of the children's NQ was poor, reaching 60.3 points. The percentage distribution of NQ grade was 19.8% (lowest), 18.6% (low), 45.0% (medium), 10.7% (high), and 5.9% (highest) and the factor scores for balance, diversity, abstinence, regularity, and practice were 56.6, 68.4, 71.3, 57.4, and 54.8 points, respectively. Compared with the NQ cut-off points for defining malnutrition (balance; 57, diversity; 87, abstinence; 66, regularity; 69, and practice; 67 point), average score of abstinence factor was only above the cut-off point and scores of the other factors were below the cut-off point. Subjects with higher NQ scores tended to have higher levels of exercise activity (p < 0.001), frequency of family meals (p < 0.01), and father's educational levels (p < 0.01) compared to those with lower NQ score. NQ score showed positive association with nutrition education experience and practice (p < 0.001). Conclusion: NQ score of elementary school students residing in Jeju was lower than the national average. More opportunities should be provided for participation in nutrition education, which incorporates a range of program strategies, as well as communication and education activities.