• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.299-310
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• 2011

To establish good dietary behavior for middle school students, this study was conducted to analyze the needs of nutrition education and eating attitudes of 373 middle school students(boys 171, girls 202) in Hwaseong city. Using questionnaires, results were gathered and analyzed. Dietary behavior, food group intake and the needs of nutrition education were scored by a five-point Likert scale. Chi-square and student t-test were done for significant gender difference. The correlation between the needs of nutrition education with dietary behavior and food group intake was obtained by Pearson's r. The dietary attitude of 'try to eat first' and 'eating fast' were higher score in boys than in girls(p<0.05). Most of the students thought they didn't have any nutritional problems(71.8%). Nutrition education was considered necessary(54.9%) for proper growth and development(53.0%) in middle school. But 45.1% of students did not suggest by the reasons of 'short time to change'(28.2%), 'more effective in home'(27.4%). The appropriate time of nutrition education was pre-school(28.2%) or elementary school(27.4%), once a week(boys 51%, girls 71.3%) in frequency(p<0.001), and the information acquired by TV/Radio(30.0%) and internet(26.6%). Students(46.0%) wanted to know about 'growth and nutrition'. They were to learn information on the 'healthy growth'(4.10) and 'adolescent nutrition'(4.03). The vegetables group consumption and the thought of dietary attitude 'try to modify bad eating habits' were correlated with almost all categories of desired nutrition education. Through these results, good eating habits would be attained by nutrition education. A nutrition education program would require an expert teacher for middle school students.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.803-811
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Nutrition knowledge has been reported to have a weak positive effect on healthy eating behavior. This study aimed to determine if there was a difference in nutrition knowledge depending on the choice of science subject in high school and whether that affected the actual eating habits of college students in Japan. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were 514 college students, the majority first-year students, in 3 cities in Japan. A questionnaire survey was conducted on elective subjects in science in high school, diet (11 items), lifestyle (5 items), and nutrition knowledge (34 questions). The preliminary survey was conducted on 47 students in the fall of 2019, and the full-scale survey was conducted in May-June and October-November 2021 at the end of lectures for the first-year students. RESULTS: The students in the high-score group (24-31 points, n = 180) had a higher intake of vegetables (odds ratio [OR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-2.82; P = 0.015) and breakfast (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.03-2.60; P = 0.035), and a reduced intake of fast food (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.14-0.51; P < 0.001) than those in the low-score group (6-19 points, n = 150). Only the biology and chemistry students had significantly higher nutrition scores than the other groups (all: P < 0.001), but no significant difference was found between the other groups. Understanding nutrition learned in elementary and junior high school is appropriate, while molecular structure, recommended amount, and food poisoning were insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of nutrition appears to have a positive effect on the actual eating habits of college students. Although biology and chemistry in high school may help students understand the foundations of good nutrition, specialized food education may be required to make informed dietary choices.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.283-294
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• 1988

To study the factors related to childhood obesity, 75 subjects were selected as an obese group and 75 subjects were selected as a control group according to their obesity index and BMI among the 583 children of 5th and 6th grade in elementary school in Seoul. For each subject, skinfold thickness was measured, information on the characteristics of family, nutrient intake and activity time of the subjects were obtained by questionnarie. The results were summarized as following: 1) Parents' obesity indices of obese group were significantly higher than those of control group(Father's Obesity Index : P<0.01, Mother's Obesity Index : P<0.05). 2) Questions about eating rate and behavior showed that subjects in obese group were significantly faster in their eating rate(p<0.05) and always more eager to eat food(p<0.001) compared to control group. 3) Dietary intake data showed that average daily intake of all the nutrients exceeded Korean recommended dietary allowances for the age group. In female children, fat intakes of obese group were significantly higher than control group(P<0.05). There was no such significant difference in male subjects. 4) Activity time record of subjects reveal that there was a trend for males to spend more time in moderate and high activity and less time in light activity compared to females. Subjects in obese group spent significantly more time for light activity(P<0.001) and significantly less time for moderate activity (P<0.001) compared to subjects in control group. The difference of activity was more pronounced in male subjects. 5) Correlation matrix of the variables showed that obesity index, BMI, and skinfold thickness of the subjects were highly correlated with each other. These indices were positively correlated to parent's obesity indices and the time spent for light activity, but negatively correlated to the time spent for moderate activity. Nutrient intakes were not significantly correlated to obesity indices. Form the results shown above, although both obese and control groups are from high socioeconomic class, obese children tended to come from family with fat parents. They eat fast and are always eager to eat. They tend to eat more fat but are very different from controls in nutrient intake. Obese children are significantly lower in their actinity compared to controls. So, for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, it seems to be more important to increase their activity levels.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.23-38
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• 2014

Objectives: Since juveniles' unhealthy diets, and their problematic behavior resulting from drinking cause serious harm to those who are in a period of growth, we attempted to find out the relationship between juveniles' dietary habits and their drinking alcohol. Methods: The data was collected from 74,186 people in a 2012 web-based survey of Korean juveniles' health behavior, which was jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korea Centers for Disease Control. This study conducted a logistic regression analysis using SPSS 18.0. Results: Juveniles who consume fast food at least once in a day have a significantly higher chance of binge drinking (OR=3.063, 95% CI=2.332~4.023), problematic drinking(OR=6.041, 95% CI=4.947~7.379) than those who don't. It also indicates that juveniles who don't eat breakfast have a significantly higher chance of binge drinking (OR=1.358, 95% CI=1.158~1.593), problematic drinking(OR=1.762 95% CI=1.548~2006) than those who eat breakfast every day. Conclusions: Irregular breakfast or a frequent intake of fast food causes problematic drinking, and binge drinking. Therefore, when planning programs for the prevention of juvenile drinking, it seems necessary to include education of healthy dietary habits.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to compare convenience food purchasing behaviors and food habits. The study, which asked surveyed 131 female college students in Daejeon, in 2011, on how they used nutrition labels. The subjects were divided into two groups, in terms of the way they checked examined nutrition labels: a "Check" group(n=62, 47.3%) and a "No check" group(n=69, 52.7%). Reasons given for not reading nutrition labelings were "a habit of buying" for 72.2%, and "too small or rude" for 19.1%. The "Check" group reported higher interest in nutrition(p<0.001) and hygiene(p<0.01) than the "No check" group. Those who used the labels had higher cereal(p<0.01) and vegetable(p<0.01) consumption and a lower intake of fast foods(p<0.05). But however, most of the subjects(65.6%) chose by taste, at the time they purchased the convenience foods. The subjects considered "expiry date"(n=87, 66.4%) to be more important information on food labels than "nutrient composition"(n=11, 8.4%). The number of products whose nutrition labels were checked by over 50% was five out of 12. In conclusion, our study suggests that proper use of nutrition labeling may improve food choices and enable healthy dietary practices. Further efforts are needed to provide the public with nutrition education programs on how to read nutrition labeling. Modifying nutrition labels to make them easier for the public to understand should also be considered.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.87-98
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• 2007

Background: Health promotion services should be provided based on clients' health promotion needs. To provide health promotion services for elementary students in Korea, health promotion needs by geographical regions should be analyzed. Purpose: To analyze elementary students' health behaviors by regions. Method: Elementary students of 4018 from large cities, 1636 from medium sized cities, 328 from rural areas were included. Data collection was done using items from National Health and Nutrition Survey and was collected by mail from schools. For data analysis, Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were utilized. Result: From comparison of health behaviors, there were no significant differences between large cities and medium sized cities. However, there were significant differences between urban students and rural students in terms of fast food intake, breakfast, soft drink intake, sleeping hours, tooth brush, and obesity. Conclusion: Health promotion services, especially correcting unhealthy eating behaviors for rural elementary students should be focused.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.47-58
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• 2019

Purpose: Regarding the rapid growth of the obesity in Korea's youths, environmental factors as well as biological tendencies have been major focus of years of study. Methods: This study, as a secondary analysis research, bases its source upon the raw data from the 13th on-line survey of the Korean adolescents' health behaviors. In particular, it is a descriptive research for clarifying the relevance of the Korean youths' smart phone use with their health behaviors and obesity. Results: In logistic analysis, variables showing a significant difference are as follows: soft drinks frequency(p<.001), sweet drinks intake frequency(p<.001), fast food intake frequency(p<.001) and smoking status (p=.005). Based on the amount of time the teenagers using smart phones, there have been different results in the risk of obesity. Four to six hours a week of smart phone use (p=.002) has a 1.132 times higher risk, six to eight hours(p<.001) are 1.212 times higher, over eight hours(p=.020) are 1.132 times higher, than less than two hours'. Conclusion: This study has significance in that it has emphasized the new lifestyle, teenagers' smart phone use, as an additional important factor for the increased risk of obesity.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.521-529
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting periodontal disease-related symptoms in adolescents using raw data from the 16th (2020) online survey on adolescent health. Methods: Data were collected from the survey entries, and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 21.0. A multi-sample chi-square test was performed to determine periodontal disease-related symptoms according to demographic characteristics, lifestyles, exercise habits, and psychological factors. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors affecting periodontal disease-related symptoms. Results: Periodontal disease-related symptoms were higher in female, high school-age adolescents, and those with lower economic status. Increased alcohol intake, having breakfast 3 days or less a week, ingesting sweet drinks and fast food three or more times a week, and zero water intake were found to have a greater effect on periodontal disease-related symptoms. Higher levels of stress, fewer hours of sleep, and feeling less healthy were also factors leading to increased periodontal disease-related symptoms. Conclusions: Adolescents have various factors that are associated with periodontal disease. A method to reduce rates of periodontal disease in adolescents should be developed, along with a school oral health education program.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.sup1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Curfew due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could influence health behaviors in people, especially in children, who can easily acquire unhealthy eating habits. This study aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on weight, health behaviors including eating habits, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in children aged 6-15 years in Saudi Arabia. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that included 280 children aged 6-15 years in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 curfew. The survey included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measures, and health behaviors including eating habits, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. RESULTS: We observed a significant difference in the body mass index before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (P < 0.001). Children significantly tended to skip breakfast, along with a decreased intake of dairy products and fast food (P < 0.001). Moreover, children were less physically active and significantly tended to be involved in leisure screen-based activities, including watching TV and use of computer/games (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for the negative influences of the COVID-19 curfew on health behaviors, including eating habits, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in children in Saudi Arabia.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.226-242
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• 2012

Consumption of foods with high energy and low nutrient values has been linked to various health issues including obesity and chronic diseases. This study investigated the high-energy/low-nutrient food consumption status and its relationship with obesity status and intake of energy and nutrients, using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS). The prevalence of overweight and obesity among 2-18 year-olds was 8.4% and 10.8% in 2008 and 8.5% and 9.0% in 2009, respectively, in KNHANES. The prevalence of obesity among 12-18 year-olds was 13.9% in 2008 and 11.4% in 2009 in KNHANES, while it was 8.1% in 2008 and 8.2% in 2009 in KYRBWS. Consumption patterns of high-energy/low-nutrient foods were diverse depending on the particular food type. High-energy/low-nutrient foods such as cookies were most often consumed more frequently (2~3 times per week), but fast food type foods were generally consumed less frequently (once per week or less). No significant relationships between highenergy/ low-nutrient food consumption and level of energy and nutrient intakes were found in either datasets. Adolescents who were not obese more frequently consumed ramen (p < 0.001), cookies (p < 0.001) and fast food (p < 0.001) than those who were obese in KYRBWS, however, such relationships were not found in KNHANES. This direction of the relationship could be probably attributed to the cross-sectional nature of the datasets. This study was limited by the cross-sectional nature of the data, therefore, further longitudinal research using various study techniques would be necessary to understand the effects of high-energy/low-nutrient foods on child obesity.