• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.175-181
• /
• 2012

The widespread pursuit of a thin physique may have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of preadolescents. The influence of body image distortions on the lifestyles, dieting behaviors, and psychological factors was investigated in 631 fifth and sixth grade children in Kyeonggi-do, Korea. Children were classified into three weight groups (underweight, normal, and overweight) and three perception groups (underestimation, normal, and overestimation). Necessary information was obtained by questionnaire, and each subject's weight status was determined by the Rohrer index calculated from the annual measurement records, which were obtained from the school. According to their current weights, 57.4% of children were normal and 32.2% were overweight or obese, 16.6% of the children overestimated their body weight, and 55.2% had an undistorted body image. Overweight children had desirable lifestyles and dietary habits and presented reasonable weight control behaviors. Compared to those without distortion, the overestimated group had greater interest in weight control ($P$ = 0.003) and dissatisfaction with their body weights ($P$ = 0.011), presented unhealthy reasons to lose weight ($P$ = 0.026), and had higher scores for "feeling sad when comparing own body with others" ($P$ = 0.000) and for "easily getting annoyed and tired" ($P$ = 0.037), even though they had similar obesity indices. More subjects from the overestimation group ($P$ = 0.006) chose drama/movies as their favorite TV programs, suggesting a possible role for the media in body image distortion. These findings suggest that body image distortion can lead preadolescents to develop stress about obesity and unhealthy dieting practices, despite similar obesity indices to those without distorted body images. These results emphasize the importance of having an undistorted body image.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.36-42
• /
• 2010

A cross-sectional survey was used to investigate the rates of overweight and obesity (BMI$\geq$25), and eating attitudes among college students. Data were collected at a large southeastern university. Adolescents (ages 18-25) self-reported weight and height (to calculate BMI), and, in addition to demographic information, completed the eating attitudes (EAT 26) scale to assess dieting tendencies. Significance of the mean BMI differences between gender and ethnic background were assessed by one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA). Chi-square was used to determine whether the rate of those with BMI$\geq$25 between gender and ethnic background was statistically significant. While 52.7% of the students' BMI were within the normal weight category, 15.2% were underweight, 21.3% were overweight, and 10.8% were obese. The rate of BMI$\geq$25 differed by gender and ethnicity, with males and African Americans having higher rates. About 12 % of the participants reported disturbed eating behavior, which is lower than previously reported. Even so, results support the generally held belief that disturbed eating attitudes and unhealthy dieting are common among college students, especially among females. At the same time, disturbed eating attitudes are not just the domain of young female students; about 10% of college males reported disturbed eating attitudes. Findings of this study call for obesity prevention/intervention and lifestyle modification outreach programs among college students. Weight status and unhealthy eating behaviors of college. students should be a concern to health care professionals. While obese young adults will likely remain obese throughout their adult life, excessive dieting among students, which is linked to eating disorders and other health hazards, does not provide healthy and adequate alternatives for maintaining a normal BMI. Implications for obesity prevention programs are discussed.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.124-138
• /
• 2010

This study aims to investigate the effect of hotel and restaurant employees' eating habits on their dining-out behavior. 309 workers from die hotel and restaurant companies participated in the survey, and SPSS 14.0 was used to perform frequency analyses, factor analyses, f-tests, ANOVA and multiple regression analyses. An exploratory factor analysis revealed three eating habits; unhealthy, healthy and ideal eating habits with 62.250% of the cumulative variance explained. The factor analysis included the priority on menu items, atmosphere and location of a restaurant with 60.658% of the total variance explained The results of the t-tests gave partial supports for the hypothesized gender difference in eating habits and for the hypothesis that eating habits would differ according to marital status. The result of ANOVA gave a partial support for die hypothesized age difference in eating habits. The result of the multiple regression analysis showed that all eating habits, unhealthy($\beta$=0.326, p<0.000), healthy($\beta$=0.290, p<0.000) and ideal($\beta$=0.305, p<0.000), had a significant effect on the priority on menu items. Eating habits explained 13.1% of die total variance in the importance of restaurant atmosphere and location. The influence of unhealthy eating habits was not statistically significant ($\beta$=0.002, p<0.965) while the influence of healthy($\beta$=0.309, p<0.000) and ideal eating habits($\beta$=0.189, p<0.000) was statistically significant Consequently, there was a partial support for the hypothesis that eating habits would influence die priority of restaurant atmosphere and location as a factor when dining out.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.257-278
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study is to explore factors influencing them and properties of exercise behaviors among rural elderly in Korea. To implementing it, data were gathered from a total of 356 elderly aged 65 and over living at the Seniors Well-being Villages being developed by the Rural Development Administration in Korea, using the structured questionnaires. also, data were analyzed by the SPSS / windows program. Results show that the exercise behavior of rural elderly was medium level as the average of 3.06 score($1{\sim}5$ score) and 44.2 percent among them didn't exercise regularly and 66.8% didn't participate in sports groups. Second, there were the difference in exercise behavior according to sex and age. Specifically, elderly men exercised more regularly and were aware of proper exercise methods than elderly women. However, there were no difference in exercise behavior according to age. Third, when we analyzed the difference in exercise behavior with the regularity of execution, the elderly who exercise regularly showed higher preference, awareness of necessity, regularity of execution, execution of stretching, participation in sports gatherings and awareness of proper methods than the counterparts. Fourth, we found that unhealthy elderly were more aware of necessity of exercise, exercised regularly, and participated in sports groups frequently than healthy elderly. Also, there was a positive influence of regularity of execution on exercise behavior. These results suggested that regular exercising is very important in health of rural elderly. Therefore, to improve their health, above all, exercise program must be developed

• Journal of Fashion Business
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.113-122
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine and understand body image, appearance behaviors, and eating disturbances among females in the Diet Center. Subjects for this research were 40 females enrolled at the Diet Center in Seoul. They were interviewed for this study using an interview schedule at September in 2004. As a result, most of the subjects (87%) were dissatisfied with their bodies, especially their lower body such as hip, thighs, legs, stomach. Subjects tended to use dieting and fasting (46.3%) as the most common appearance management behaviors in relation to the body parts. Make-up (32.9%) was also used as routine appearance behaviors, while 37.5% of subjects have had cosmetic surgery on eyes, nose and liposuction. Sixty percent of subjects had participated in Diet center programs more than twice. This may mean that society pressures women to have a slim body, which then will result in more self-confidence. Subjects tend to engage in unhealthy eating behaviors, such as 'fasting', 'inducing vomit', 'using diet pills or laxatives', and 'after chewing, spit out'. Based on these results, socio-cultural body image regarding ideal beauty would be discussed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.39 no.6
• /
• pp.888-898
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine and compare clinical manifestations and predicting factors for treatment-seeking delay among patients <65 and ${\geq}65\;yr$ with first-time acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: A total of 288 patients who were diagnosed with ACS were individually interviewed at C university hospital in G-city from November 2007 to December 2008. Results: Median pre-hospital delays for younger and older patients were 5 and 12 hr, respectively. Younger patients were more likely to be current smokers, heavy drinkers, obese, stressed, and have an unhealthy diet and family history, and to complain of chest pain, left shoulder and arm pain, perspiration, and nausea. Older patients were more likely to have hypertension and diabetes, and to complain syncope and dyspnea. Logistic regression analyses showed that after adjustment for age, gender and education, progressive onset of symptom and no attribution to cardiac problem significantly predicted pre-hospital delay >3 hr in both younger and older patients. Low perceived health status was a significant independent predictor in older patients only. Conclusion: Health care providers should be concerned with different manifestations between younger and older adults, and educate people at risk for heart attack about symptoms and actions to get immediate help.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.340-353
• /
• 2001

The aim of this study was to investigate health-related and eating-related behaviors as part of self-recognized health status. The survey was conducted among 304 elderly people in Chunchon city in 1999. Fifty two percent(52%) of the respondents recognized they were healthy, 32% felt so-so and 16% thought themselves unhealthy. When they felt healthy, they engaged in more social work and regular exercise, had better appetites, lower conflict scores with their children, lower depression, higher satisfaction in life, better physical condition(eye, ear, tooth, mentality and walking), and higher ability of ADL(activities of daily living) and IAD(instrumental activities of daily living). Also, the self-recognized group consumed each food groups (meats, green, yellow and white vegetables, fruits, milks, seaweeds, beans) more often and showed a higher preference of food. The results of this study indicate that self-recognized health status affects every pattern of life among the elderly. As a result, comprehensive education(such as nutrition, health, physical and psychological education) should be offered to the elderly.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.117-124
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Dyslipidemia is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. The purpose of this study was to compare serum lipid levels in college students and pre-graduates. Methods: Data were obtained from student health examination in one university located in Kyunggi-province. Participants were 440 college students and 1973 pre-graduates. The data were collected in May of 2010. T-test, Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and multiple regression with dummy variables using SAS version 9.1 were performed. Results: Pre-graduates showed significantly higher level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL than college students. There was no significant difference in alcohol drinking between college students and pre-graduates. However, smoking and diet behavior were significantly different; pre-graduates were more likely being current smoker and recommended to change diet behavior. When adjusting covariates including general and behavioral characteristic, pre-graduates had significantly higher total cholesterol (p<.001), triglyceride (p=.003), and LDL (p=.003). Among covariates, smoking was significantly related to triglyceride, particularly past smokers. Conclusion: There is a need to develop a lipid-reducing program targeting pre-graduates. This program should be considered behavioral factors, particularly smoking. In addition, given the fact that pre-graduates had unhealthy habits compared with college students, interventions for correcting health behaviors in this population are required.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.3773-3779
• /
• 2012

Objective: Despite government efforts to increase participation in gastric cancer screening, the rate is still suboptimal in Korea. Therefore, we explored barriers to and predictors of gastric cancer screening participation among a nationally representative sample. Methods: We used the Health Interview Survey sub-dataset derived from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008 (KNHANES IV) to evaluate participation in gastric cancer screening and factors associated with attendance in individuals age ${\geq}40$ years. We enrolled 4,464 subjects who completed the questionnaire and were not previously diagnosed with gastric cancer. Four groups of factors were considered potential predictors of gastric cancer screening in a multivariate analysis: sociodemographic, health behavior, psychological and cognitive, and dietary factors. Results: Overall, 41.3% complied with the gastric cancer screening recommendations. Younger age, lower education level, living without a spouse, frequent binge drinker, and current smoker were significantly associated with less participation in gastric cancer screening. Conclusions: To improve participation in gastric cancer screening, more focused interventions should be directed to vulnerable populations, such as groups with low socioeconomic status or unhealthy behavior. In addition, there should be new promotional campaigns and health education to provide information targeting these vulnerable populations.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.70-75
• /
• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Association between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and obesity is universally a controversial issue. This study was undertaken to examine the beverage consumption pattern of Korean adolescents. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data was collected from the 2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey involving 65,528 adolescent respondents. A list of the most frequently consumed beverages was analyzed, and the consumption frequency of carbonated beverages, SSBs, and energy drinks during the past seven-days was assessed. The main reasons for the adolescents to consume the beverages were also determined. RESULTS: The beverage preference of adolescents were carbonated beverages (31.0%), 'fruit and vegetable beverages (17.7%)', 'milk (13.6%)', and 'coffee (12.7%)'. Carbonated beverages and SSBs were consumed more than three times a week by 27.1% and 41.1% of the respondents, respectively. About 86.2% of adolescents did not take of any energy drinks during the last seven-days. Taste was the most common reason that adolescents considered when choosing a drink. Carbonated beverages consumed more frequently by boys than girls, and high school students drank coffee more frequently than middle school students. CONCLUSIONS: Boys had a higher preference for unhealthy beverages than girls, whereas consumption of high-caffeine drinks was greater amongst high-school students than middle school students.