• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2012

Dietary intakes and plasma concentrations of retinol and carotenoids were estimated in assessing the vitamin A status of Korean adults living in Seoul and the metropolitan area. Three consecutive 24-h food recalls were collected from 106 healthy subjects (33 males and 73 females) aged 20-59 years. Fasting blood samples of the subjects were obtained and plasma retinol and carotenoids were analyzed. The daily vitamin A intakes ($mean{\pm}SD$) were $887.77{\pm}401.35{\mu}g $ retinol equivalents or $531.84{\pm}226.42{\mu}g$ retinol activity equivalents. There were no significant differences in vitamin A intakes among age groups. The retinol intake of subjects was $175.92{\pm}129.87{\mu}g/day$. The retinol intake of the subjects in their 50's was significantly lower than those in their 20's and 30's (P<0.05). Provitamin A carotenoid intakes were $3,828.37{\pm}2,196.29{\mu}g/day$ ${\beta}$-carotene, $472.57{\pm}316.68{\mu}g/day$ ${\alpha}$-carotene, and $412.83{\pm}306.46{\mu}g/day$ ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin. Approximately 17% of the subjects consumed vitamin A less than the Korean Estimated Average Requirements for vitamin A. The plasma retinol concentration was $1.22{\pm}0.34{\mu}mol/L$. There was no significant difference in plasma retinol concentrations among age groups. However, the concentrations of ${\beta}$-carotene, lycopene, and lutein of subjects in their 50's were significantly higher than those of in their 20's. Only one subject had a plasma retinol concentration < $0.70{\mu}mol/L$ indicating marginal vitamin A status. Plasma retinol concentration in 30% of the subjects was 0.70- < $1.05{\mu}mol/L$, which is interpreted as the concentration possibly responsive to greater intake of vitamin A. In conclusion, dietary intakes and status of vitamin A were generally adequate in Korean adults examined in this study.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.477-493
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• 2016

This research was conducted to investigate the performance of a weight control program in university students in Daejeon during 3 months from November 2014 to February 2015. This program measured body measurement and composition analysis, nutritional education, and counseling every month. The status of students' weight control was surveyed before and after the program. The participants were 17 males (24.5 years old) and 15 females (20.8 years old). Their weights before the program were 78.2 kg (male) and 57.2 kg (female), whereas after the program, weights were 77.6 kg (male) and 56.2 kg (female). Weight reduction in students was 53.1%, and weight increase was 40.6% by the weight control program. Body mass index (BMI) tended to decrease after the program. Body fat % and muscle masses were not significantly different by program practice. Body image decision of females showed mainly 'normal' status while that of male was 'over fatty constitution', Before and after the program, the most prevalent method of weight control was exercise for all students. The most selected exercise was 'walking and jogging' during the program. For the most effective weight control method, female acknowledged both 'reducing amount of meals' and 'increasing exercise' while males selected 'increasing exercise.' On the side effects of weight control, over 40% of all students chose 'no experience' and 'loss of volition'. The degree of student's goal achievement was largely 20 ~-20% compared with their goal weights. Accordingly, this program didn't show significant effects. For effective weight control, it is recommended to conduct nutritional education. Students can exercise regularly and control diet to sustain a healthy and satisfactory body status.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.307-318
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Relocation to new environments can have a negative impact on health by altering body weight and dietary patterns. This study attempted to elucidate changes in body weight, food security, and their current food and nutrient consumption in adult North Korean refugees (NKR) living in South Korea (SK). SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study analyzed data on 149 adult NKR from a North Korean refugee health in SK cohort at four time points (leaving North Korea, entering SK, first examination, and second examination). Body weight was self-reported at the two earlier time points and directly measured at the two later time points. Food security, diet-related behaviors (dietary habits and food consumption), and sociodemographic information were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Nutrient intake information was obtained by one-day 24-hour recall. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS ver 23.0. RESULTS: Body weight increased during relocation by an average of 4 kg, although diversified patterns were observed during the settlement period in SK. Approximately 39.6% of subjects maintained their body weight between the first and second examinations, whereas 38.6% gained and 22.1% lost at least 3% of their body weight at the first examination by the second examination. Food security status improved from 12.1% food secure proportion to 61.7%. NKR showed generally good food and nutrient consumption (index of nutrient quality: 0.77-1.93). The body weight loss group showed the most irregular meal consumption pattern (P < 0.05), and eating-out was infrequent in all three groups. Consumption frequencies of food groups did not differ by group, except in the fish group (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: This study observed considerable body weight adjustment during the settlement period in SK after initial weight gain, whereas food security consistently improved. More detailed understanding of this process is needed to assist healthy settlement for NKR in SK.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.11-36
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to analyze health behavior by comparing the difference between self-perceived health status and health examination results. The study subjects consist of 7,702 people aged over 20, surveyed by Health Interview survey, Health Examination survey, Dietary Life survey, Health Consciousness and Behavior survey. Data used in the study are drawn from raw data from a 1998 National Health and Nutrition survey. General characteristics variables are sex, age, education level, residential area, marital status, occupation, and living standard while dichotomous variables, ‘not healthy’ and ‘healthy’ are used to measure self-perceived health status. Variables for health examination results are high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, liver diseases, liver inflammation, kidney diseases, normal weight, regular diet, optimum sleeping time(7-8 hours), regular health examination and health behavior practice group. Major findings of the study are as follows: 1) Analysis of self-perceived health status and health behavior by disease: Variables significantly correlated with high self-perceived health status have strong associations with high health behavior practice, which supports the hypothesis that as one has high self-perceived health status, one is more likely to practice health promoting behavior. The results of analysis of health behavior differences by dividing subjects into two categories, ‘cases of illness’ and ‘cases of no illness’ indicate that drinking, sleeping time, health examination are significant variables (p〈0.001, 0.05) whereas smoking, weight control, regular exercise, regular diet are not significant. 2) Analysis of disparity patterns between self-perceived health status and health examination: The hypothesis that health behaviors would be different according to the disparity pattern between self-perceived health status and health examination is supported as a result of χ2 test. Among Type I : Self-perceived health status is high and actual health status is good (no disease) Type II: Self-perceived health status is high and actual health status is poor(have disease) Type III: Self-perceived health status is low and actual health status is good(no disease) Type IN: Self-perceived health status is low and actual health status is poor(have disease) Type I and Type IV show no disparity, Type I shows the highest health promoting behavior whereas Type IV shows the lowest health promoting behavior. Type II, and III, compared to Type I, practise lower health promoting behavior. Multi-logistics regression analysis was conducted to find out the degree of impact on health behavior. Independent variables are general characteristics, self-perceived health status and health examination result and presence of illness, while the dependent variable is health promoting behavior. The analysis of the impact of self-perceived health status on the health promoting behavior shows that smoking, drinking, weight control, regular exercise, health examination practice, and/or regular diet are significantly correlated to self-perceived health status. High self-perceived health status is inversely related to high health promoting behavior. This finding supports the hypothesis that the higher one perceives one's health, the more likely one is to practice health promoting behavior. On the contrary, the presence of illness has little impact on health promoting behavior. 3) Multiple logistics analysis on how disparity patterns between self-perceived health status and health examination affect health behavior: The results of multiple logistics analysis made on health behavior variables compared to the standard variable are as follows: When analyzed on the standard of Type I, smoking is a significant risk factor for the Type IV. In case of drinking, all the patterns show a high probability of relative risk ratio. With regard to weight control, it is a risk factor for Type II while all the patterns show high probability of not practising when analyzed on the standard of type IV. Type III and IV show high probability of not doing regular exercise while Type IV, shows a high probability of not taking appropriate sleeping time. When analyzed on the standard of type IV, all the patterns show a high probability of not taking health examinations. Type III and IV show a high probability of not having regular meals. As for overall health promoting behavior, Type III and IV show a high relative risk ratio. These two groups have low self-perceived health status. It implies that self-perceived health status has significant impact on health promoting behavior. This is also supported by the fact that Type I with high self-perceived health status and no illness shows a high practice rate of health promoting behavior. Types II and III the groups with high disparity between self-perceived health status and health examination results, show a low practice rate of health promoting behavior when compared to Type I. Type IV, that is the group with low self-perceived health status and actual illness, shows the lowest practice of health promoting behavior. It is highly probable that this type proves to be the poorest health group.

• 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.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.200-218
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• 2015

The purpose of the present study was to examine daily lives of elderly welfare recipients and their experiences with social welfare services. Researchers collected and analyzed data through individual interviews with 11 elderly welfare recipients. A major theme in the time context was "Daily lives enduring physical and mental sufferings alone and mismatches of social welfare services": 'Starting same tedious days: trading diligent work for basic living assistance', 'Forced ritual of having meals', 'Struggle with depressing night: not attentive welfare services at closing hours', 'Welfare services suspended in holidays', 'Mind and body withered by economic hardship in winter', 'Social support for enduring weary lives'. In the space context, a major themes was "Inadequate welfare services and social interaction in the context of social isolation": 'Unhygienic and unsafe living environment', 'Hiding places: spending tedious days in vacant lots', 'Community welfare centers useful only for healthy elderly', 'Differences and similarities of elderly in urban and rural areas', 'Receiving restricted medical services at hospitals', 'Hard-to-reach public institutions', 'ambivalence about living as welfare recipients'. Based on the findings, the researchers proposed implications for policy and practice to improve elderly welfare recipients' quality of life.

• 한국노년학
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.373-396
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• 2021

This study aims to examine the effect of housing characteristics of older adults on the willingness to continue living in local communities in order to realize the Aging in place of the elderly in Korea. Considering that the health status of the elderly is important for aging in place, both healthy and unhealthy cases were analyzed in the analyses. Housing characteristics include home ownership, housing cost burden, housing convenience, housing satisfaction, and residential environment satisfaction. The study sample is 9,798 elderly people from the 2017 survey on the elderly. Key findings are as follows: First, while 6,704 older adults (68.4%) chose to continue living in the community, 3,094 (31.6%) of the elderly did not choose to live in the local community. Second, the elderly who chose to stay in the local community are likely to have more real estate assets and less burden of housing expenses than the elderly group who did not. Third, the results report that older adults with more real estate assets and lower the housing cost burden are likely to choose sustainable living in the local community. The findings suggest that the majority of the elderly actually preferred Aging in place. This study concludes with practice and policy implications for realizing aging in place considering the elderly's needs.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.688-694
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent research regarding vitamin $B_6$ status including biochemical index is limited. Thus, this study estimated intakes and major food sources of vitamin $B_6$; determined plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP); and assessed vitamin $B_6$ status of Korean adults. MATERIALS/METHODS: Three consecutive 24-h diet recalls and fasting blood samples were collected from healthy 20- to 64-year-old adults (n = 254) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, cities of Kwangju and Gumi, Korea. Vitamin $B_6$ intake and plasma PLP were analyzed by gender and by vitamin $B_6$ supplementation. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine associations of vitamin $B_6$ intake and plasma PLP. RESULTS: The mean dietary and total (dietary plus supplemental) vitamin $B_6$ intake was $1.94{\pm}0.64$ and $2.41{\pm}1.45mg/day$, respectively. Median (50th percentile) dietary intake of men and women was 2.062 and 1.706 mg/day. Foods from plant sources provided 70.61% of dietary vitamin $B_6$ intake. Only 6.3% of subjects consumed total vitamin $B_6$ less than Estimated Average Requirements. Plasma PLP concentration of all subjects was $40.03{\pm}23.71nmol/L$. The concentration of users of vitamin $B_6$ supplements was significantly higher than that of nonusers (P < 0.001). Approximately 16% of Korean adults had PLP levels < 20 nmol/L, indicating a biochemical deficiency of vitamin $B_6$, while 19.7% had marginal vitamin $B_6$ status. Plasma PLP concentration showed positive correlation with total vitamin $B_6$ intake (r = 0.40984, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, vitamin $B_6$ intake of Korean adults was generally adequate. However, one-third of subjects had vitamin $B_6$ deficiency or marginal status. Therefore, in some adults in Korea, consumption of vitamin $B_6$-rich food sources should be encouraged.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-154
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• 2010

The purpose of this research was to determine barriers that prevent participation in an employee wellness program, Wellness Wednesdays: "Eat & Meet" About Healthy Living, conducted at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina. All ECU ARAMARK employees (n = 481) over the age of 18 were eligible to participate in the wellness program. Weekly 30 minute classes, taught by a Registered Dietitian, on various nutrition- and health-related topics were conducted for 10-weeks. Five question knowledge quizzes were administered to participants at the end of each class to determine the comprehension of material presented. Qualitative interviews (n = 19) were conducted with employees (participants and non-participants) and the program organizer after the completion of the 10-week program to identify barriers to program participation. A total of 50 (10.4% of the total number of potential participants) ECU ARAMARK employees, managers, and leadership team directors attended Wellness Wednesdays at least once during the 10-week program. Employees, on average, scored 71-100% on the weekly knowledge quizzes administered at the end of each class. The most common barriers to participation reported included (most often to least often reported): insufficient incentives, inconvenient locations, time limitations, not interested in topics presented, undefined reasons, schedule, marketing, health beliefs, and not interested in the program. Results showed that employee wellness programs can be effective in increasing knowledge of employees on nutrition- and health-related topics. However, program planning that addresses identified barriers including insufficient incentives, inconvenient locations, and time limitations may facilitate higher participation in future worksite wellness opportunities.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.312-318
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Due to recent changes in social structure, single-person households are on the rise worldwide and therefore the interest in the quality of life of singles is increasing, but the research on the relationships related to their diet-related quality of life is scarce. This research analyzes the structural relations in the effect of convenience food satisfaction and quality of life according to dietary style of Korean, Japanese and Chinese singles. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The targets of this study were Korean, Japanese, and Chinese singles, identified as adults between the ages of 25 and 54, having economic capabilities or working and living alone, either legally or in actuality having no partner. A statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS12.0 for Windows and SEM using AMOS 5.0 statistics package. The reliability of these findings was supported by a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.6 and higher for all the factors. In an attempt to study the level of satisfaction with convenience food in accordance to dietary style and the quality of life of singles, a structural equation model was constructed and analyzed. RESULTS: Of the three countries, regarding the effect of dietary style on singles' quality of life, the convenience-oriented style was found to have a negative effect on Korean singles' overall quality of life, but a positive effect on Japanese singles' overall quality of life, and a negative effect on Chinese singles' positive psychological aspect of quality of life. In addition, although Chinese singles have a high level of interest in health, they have an overall high level of satisfaction regarding fast food and its nutritional value. CONCLUSIONS: The number of singles in Korea, Japan, and China has been consistently increasing in recent years, and there is a need for continuous interest in their healthy dietary lifestyles in terms of convenience, economy, and taste.