• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of malnutrition among hospitalized children ranges between 12% and 24%. Although the consequences of hospital malnutrition are enormous, it is often unrecognized and untreated. The aim of this study was to identify the current status of in-hospital nutrition support for children in South Korea by carrying out a nationwide hospital-based survey. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Out of 345 general and tertiary hospitals in South Korea, a total of 53 institutes with pediatric gastroenterologists and more than 10 pediatric inpatients were selected. A questionnaire was developed by the nutrition committee of the Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. The questionnaires were sent to pediatric gastroenterologists in each hospital. Survey was performed by e-mails. RESULTS: Forty hospitals (75.5%) responded to the survey; 23 of them were tertiary hospitals, and 17 of them were general hospitals. Only 21 hospitals (52.5%) had all the required nutritional support personnel (including pediatrician, nutritionist, pharmacist, and nurse) assigned to pediatric patients. Routine nutritional screening was performed in 22 (55.0%) hospitals on admission, which was lower than that in adult patients (65.8%). Nutritional screening tools varied among hospitals; 33 of 40 (82.5%) hospitals used their own screening tools. The most frequently used nutritional assessment parameters were weight, height, hemoglobin, and serum albumin levels. In our nationwide hospital-based survey, the most frequently reported main barriers of nutritional support in hospitals were lack of manpower and excessive workload, followed by insufficient knowledge and experience. CONCLUSIONS: Although this nationwide hospital-based survey targeted general and tertiary hospitals with pediatric gastroenterologists, manpower and medical resources for nutritional support were still insufficient for hospitalized children, and nutritional screening was not routinely performed in many hospitals. More attention to hospital malnutrition and additional national policies for nutritional support in hospitals are required to ensure appropriate nutritional management of hospitalized pediatric patients.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Numerous researches have studied the association between sugar intake and obesity of children in many countries. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between beverage intake and obesity of children by reviewing a database for total sugar contents established in all foods and presented in a nutrition survey by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data of 1,520 children aged 6-11 years in the 6th KNHANES (2013-2015) were analyzed for this study. A database for total sugar intake comprises the total sugar contents of all foods included in the results of a nutrition survey using the 24-hour recall method of 6th KNHANES. Beverages were categorized into carbonated beverages, fruit & vegetable drinks, other drinks, tea, and coffee. RESULTS: The average daily beverage intake of all children was 131.75 g/day, and the average daily total sugar intake in beverages was 13.76 g/day. Carbonated beverages had the highest intake rate (58.85 g/day) and also ranked highest for sugar intake (6.36 g/day). After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds ratio for obesity in children with beverage intake of ${\geq}200mL/day$ significantly increased by 1.83 times (95% CI, 1.11-3.00) as compared to children with beverage intake of < 200 mL/day. Also, a significant increase was observed in the odds ratio for obesity in total children (2.41 times; 95% CI, 1.35-4.33) and boys (3.15 times; 95% CI, 1.53-6.49) with carbonated beverage intake of ${\geq}200mL/day$ when compared with children who consumed < 200 mL/day. CONCLUSION: A positive association is observed between beverage intake and obesity in Korean children. In particular, an intake of carbonated beverages has a positive correlation with childhood obesity in boys. This study can therefore be used as scientific evidence for reducing sugar, and for the continuous management and research on beverages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.244-257
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• 2017

Nutrition labeling can provide information in order for people to select products suitable for their own health, and sodium content labeling for processed foods is important since sodium is one of the main causes of cardiac diseases. This study had carried out to propose the desirable sodium content labeling by conducting surveys on the awareness of sodium content in processed foods, understanding of sodium content labeling, and requirements for new sodium comparative claims. The survey period was from 12th of September, 2016 through the 24th, during which a self-administered questionnaire survey was given to 1,003 persons through demographic quota sampling by age and region. As a result of the survey, 66.0% of respondents assuring nutrition labeling answered they check sodium content labeling, whereas 83.2% were aware of excessive intake of sodium having a negative effect on health. Exactly 49.9% of respondents answered that the current system for nutrition labeling on processed foods does not help one to understand the content of sodium, whereas 72.9% answered they wanted to compare sodium contents with those of other products when buying or taking processed foods. As 92.5% cited the importance of sodium comparative claims made by processed foods, preparation of a new system for food labeling should be considered by which consumers can easily compare sodium contents with those of other similar products.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.403-416
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the practice of nutrition education and perceptions for implementing nutrition education in elementary schools. In this survey, 833 dietitians, 808 principals and 3,141 teachers across the country were asked about the present status and problems as well as necessity, methods, education time, education subjects and the proper nutrition educator ratio. The results of the survey showed that only 4.2% of dietitians implemented nutrition education during regular school hours or through special activities. Many subjects responded that the reasons for not practicing nutrition education were systematic problems of lack of time due to too much food service work. Especially, many rural area dietitians responded that the reason was lack of time due to joint management and cooking. Many dietitians, principals and teachers responded that the placement of one nutrition teacher in every school is needed to resolve these problems. Other solutions suggested were the introduction of a dietitian internship, and the modernization of foodservice facilities for principals and teachers. Of those surveyed 98.4 percent of principals and 95.5 percent of teachers responded that nutrition education is urgently needed. Many subjects also responded that the first three years of elementary school are the most proper time for nutrition education and it is best that these lessons are reinforced at least once a month through discretional or special activities. Survey participants responded that the proper ratio for nutrition educators is 400-800 persons for dietitians compared to less than 400 persons for principals. In conclusion, it is hoped that this study will be able to provide a foundation of data for implementing a systematic nutrition education program by nutrition teachers in elementary school.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.193-199
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• 2006

There have been many studies indicating increased salt intake is related to elevated blood pressure (BP). Hypertension and pre-hypertension are prevalent in Korea. A national survey showed that the Korean average daily salt consumption was 12.5g, which is more than twice the current recommendation in the UK or USA. This study was performed to understand which aspects of the Korean diet contributed to high salt intake and elevated BP in Korea. The subjects consisted of 1,110 Korean adult men aged 30 to 49 years who were selected from the data of 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, a nationwide cross sectional survey. The relationship of BP with sodium and high sodium food intakes were analyzed. After categorizing subjects according to their BP, the socio-demographic information and food and nutrients intakes were analyzed. BP increased with a larger amounts of sodium intake and the trend was significant with diastolic BP. However, the trends of BP for sodium densities of the diet were not. People with hypertension significantly tended to be older, larger, and less educated than people with normal BP. And they consumed more foods from the fats, oils & sweets group and larger amounts of discretionary sodium than normal people. The current report advocates that public health intervention, which improves the awareness of the role of salt on elevated blood pressure for the public, should be implemented in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2016

Objectives: This study compared the nutritional status of child-bearing age women between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Methods: The data presented in the DPRK Final Report of the National Nutrition Survey 2012 was utilized for the nutritional status and food intake of North Korean women. To produce the South Korean women's data comparable to those of North Korean women, the data from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey were analyzed and the data presented in the 2010 Report of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards were utilized. Results: The prevalence of maternal anemia (blood hemoglobin < 12.0 g/dL) was over 30% in all the age groups of North Korean women and 8.9%, 14.2%, 16.4% in 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 year old South Korean women, respectively. The prevalence of maternal protein-energy malnutrition (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference < 22.5 cm) was 25.2%, 21.4%, 21.8% in 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 year old North Korean women, respectively and less than 10% in all the age groups of South Korean women. Result of dietary diversity comparison showed that North Korean women consumed less food than South Korean women at all food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy. Percentage of North Korean women having consumed protein rich foods-meat and fish, eggs or dairy products-were much lower than those of South Korean women. Conclusions: The striking disparity of nutritional status between South and North Korean women indicates that nutrition support for North Korean women is essential in the process of preparation for a unified nation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.431-440
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• 2019

Purpose: No national survey has yet described the guidelines followed by Korean pediatricians to treat acute gastroenteritis (AGE). An online survey was performed to investigate the management of AGE followed by members of The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, and the results were compared between pediatric gastroenterologists (PG) and general pediatricians (GP). Methods: Questionnaires were sent to pediatricians between June 2 and 4, 2018 regarding the type of hospital, indications for admission, antiemetic and antidiarrheal drugs and antibiotics prescribed, and dietary changes advised. Results: Among the 400 pediatricians approached, 141 pediatricians (35.3%) responded to the survey. PG comprised 39% of the respondents and 72.7% worked at a tertiary hospital. Both PG and GP considered diarrhea or vomiting to be the primary symptom. The most common indication for hospitalization was severe dehydration (98.8%). Most pediatricians managed dehydration with intravenous fluid infusions (PG 98.2%, GP 92.9%). Antiemetics were prescribed by 87.3% of PG and 96.6% of GP. Probiotics to manage diarrhea were prescribed by 89.1% of PG and 100.0% of GP. Antibiotics were used in children with blood in diarrheal stool or high fever. Dietary changes were more commonly recommended by GP (59.3%) than by PG (27.3%) (p<0.05). Tests to identify etiological agents were performed primarily in hospitalized children. Conclusion: This survey assessing the management of pediatric AGE showed that the indications for admission and rehydration were similar between GP and PG. Drug prescriptions for diarrhea and dietary changes were slightly commonly recommended by GP than by PG.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.502-508
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• 1992

From 1969, when the National Nutrition Survey started, to 1989, survey methods are studied for each year. survey methods are examined about the area surveyed, the size and the contents of survey. The National Nutrition Survey are supervised by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs (MOHSA). The department in charged are changed according to the reorganization of the ministry. Items of the physical examination in the contents of survey are decreased. Sampling methods are changed two times. Until 1974, area and household surveyed are smaller than 1,000 households. From 1989, the number of households surveyed are 2,000. The number of subject surveyed are changed at 1974, 1983 and 1988. From 1988, the number of subject surveyed are about 8,000. Seasons for the survey are summer before 1978 and fall after that. The result suggests that careful attention should be paid to analyzing results of survey because of variation in seasons.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.91-99
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• 1997

We have studied the major food sources of minerals and vitamin based on the data from the National Nutrition Survey in 1993. The most important food sources was anchovy for calcium, spinach for vitamin A, and kimchi for vitamin C. The primary source of iron, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin was rice. Number of foods providing 90% of individual nutrient intake were 54 items for calcium, 40 items for iron, 20 items for vitamin A, 25 items for thiamin, 29 items for riboflavin, 39 items for niacin and 18 items for vitamin C. Among regions, amount of nutrients from same foods(10 more important food source) didn't show any significant differences (p>0.05) in minerals and vitamins studied. Over all rice was found to be the most important sources of minerals and vitamins.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.233-247
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe the development process of the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The components of KHEI were selected based on Dietary Guidelines for Koreans, domestic and overseas dietary quality indices, and results of the analysis of association with chronic diseases. The standards for scoring of KHEI were selected based on the 2015 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRI). The KHEI scores of Korean adults were calculated using a 1-day 24-h recall data in the 2013-2015 KNHANES. RESULTS: The KHEI included eight adequacy components evaluating the proper intake of recommended foods such as fruit, vegetable, and milk and three moderation components evaluating the consumption of food that limit intake such as sodium and saturated fatty acid. In addition, three balance components assessing the balance of energy intake were included. The KHEI score was defined to range from the minimum of 0 point to the maximum of 100 points. Among Korean adults, the total KHEI score was 63.2 out of 100. Gender and age differences were found in the average of total KHEI scores. Women showed higher score than men (61.7 in men and 64.7 in women, respectively). By age group, 20s and 30s showed the lowest scores with 57.4 and 61.1 respectively, and the scores increased with age by peaking at 67.8 in ages 60-69 and slowed down again in ages 70 or over. CONCLUSIONS: The KHEI can be useful for establishing and assessing national nutritional policies and in epidemiological studies to assess the relationship between overall dietary quality and chronic diseases. KHEI will need to be continuously updated to reflect changes in dietary guidelines and the KDRI.