• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.5
• /
• pp.363-375
• /
• 2023

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with adolescent obesity, as well as any new factors that correlated with a change in the rate of obesity over time. Methods: The study used 5-yearly data collected by the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey starting from the year 2006 up until 2021 (data from 2nd, 7th, 11th, and 17th surveys were analyzed). Factors such as demographics, dietary factors, health behavioral factors, and mental health factors were studied. All data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 27.0, employing chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: This study included data from a total of 255,200 participants. Factors contributing to obesity varied with time. Over the survey duration of 15 years, low academic achievement, parents with low levels of education, low frequency of fruit consumption, low frequency of fast food intake, long periods of being seated, and high levels of stress were significantly associated with a high rate of obesity. Factors that showed a new correlation with an increase in obesity rates included living with single parents, low frequency of muscle strengthening exercises, and experiencing intense sadness and despair in the past year. Factors that were correlated with a change in obesity rates over time included household economic status, frequency of carbonated beverage consumption, frequency of intense physical activity, and frequency of alcohol consumption. Breakfast intake and smoking were not significantly associated with obesity rates in the 15-year period. Conclusions: While several factors associated with obesity remained consistent over time, several new factors have emerged in response to social, economic, and environmental changes contributed to a change in obesity rate over time. Therefore, to prevent and manage adolescent obesity, continuous research into the new emergent factors contributing to obesity is needed.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.57-69
• /
• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition and health-related behavior on quality of life in some adolescents. Methods: The subjects of this study were total 243 middle school students in Deagu, Korea. A self-administrated questionnaires were used to obtain general characteristic, health-related behaviors, nutrition status, and quality of life. The height and weight of participants were measured, then calculated body mass index(BMI). To assess an association between nutrition and health-related behavior and quality of life, an univariate and multivariate analysis were applied using PASW Statistics 18(SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA). Results: As the perceived general health and subjective happiness were better, there were a higher score for all subscales of quality of life. The adolescents, the highest of total intake of energy and overweight, were more likely to have lower quality of life score but there were no statistically significant. Factors related to the adolescents's quality of life were found to be gender, perceived general health, subjective happiness and physical activity. Conclusions: Various factors were related to quality of life in adolescents. To improved the quality of life in adolescent, it is need to develope a physical activity program and counseling of mental condition as well as adequate diet programs.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status and dietary behavior of adolescents from North Korean refugee (NKR) families residing in South Korea (SK), who are known to be at a higher risk of malnutrition due to their lower socioeconomic status and facing other psychological challenges. Methods: A total of 178 adolescents (91 males and 87 females) from NKR families were included in the analysis, and their demographic details such as age, birthplace, parental nationality, and duration of their settlement in SK were collected through questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements were also taken to determine their growth and nutritional status according to the 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for children and adolescents. The study used the Nutrition Quotient for Korean Adolescents (NQ-A) questionnaire to assess the dietary behavior of the participants. Results: Approximately 11.8% and 10.1% of participants were identified with malnutrition and obesity, respectively. The total mean score for the NQ-A was 50.1. The mean scores for the individual factors of balance, diversity, moderation, environment, and practice were 49.2, 44.7, 43.8, 51.2, and 61.5, respectively. Approximately 47.2% of participants had a low NQ-A grade. However, there was no significant difference in the NQ-A scores according to their nutritional status or duration of time in SK. Conclusions: Adolescents from NKR families exhibited both malnutrition and obesity. However, their dietary behavior, as assessed using the NQ-A, did not vary with their nutritional status. The unique challenges and related dietary behavior of North Korean adolescent refugees should be taken into consideration, when developing targeted strategies for nutritional education and health management programs.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.134-142
• /
• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to compare the subjective health status, physical activity index, and perceived stress rate of obese children with those of healthy children through propensity matching analysis and to use the results to help manage obese children. Design: Descriptive correlation study. Methods: This study conducted a secondary analysis using raw data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Propensity matching (1:2) was conducted between obese and healthy adolescents. Results: The number of days of physical activity was 1.22 days for the obese adolescent group and 1.01 days for the non-obese adolescent group, which was higher in the obese group (p=0.003). The subjective health status was 3.43 and 3.81 in the obese and non-obese adolescent groups, respectively, showing a higher difference in the normal group (p<0.001). No statistical difference was observed in the perceived stress rate (p=0.871) or strength exercises (p=0.190) between the two groups. Conclusion: This study suggests the need for development measures to effectively improve youth physical activity, muscle-strengthening programs, stress management, and subjective health status in obese and normal groups.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.235-246
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to identify nutritional status and eating behaviors of underweight male adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. The subjects selected by using the data of KNHANS-2001 were 32 underweight boys and 135 normalweight ones. We found that weight, waist and hip circumference of the underweight group were significantly different to normal-wight group, but height and waist-hip ratio were not. Their serum indices belonged within normal ranges and showed no difference between the two groups. Their energy and nutrient intakes were mostly poor. The level and proportion of the subjects below EAR, NAR and INQ of each nutrient were not significantly different between the two groups. There were no difference of frequencies of skipping meals, snacking and eating-out between the two groups, either. When comparing frequencies of food intakes, the underweight group consumed significantly more of fermented fishes and less milk than the normal-weight group. And the former had significantly more rest/sleep, no-does and supplementation and less regular excercise than the latter. The underweight group perceived more correct self-images than the normal-weight group and they tried more to increase their body weight during weight control practice (p<0.001). It was concluded that the underweight group showed no different biochemical indices, nutrient intakes, and dietary behaviors to the normal-weight group, but they revealed significantly higher non-active activities like rest and supplementations.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.2 no.3
• /
• pp.171-177
• /
• 2008

Adolescents in Busan area were asked in a survey about their perception and attitudes towards fast food. Most respondents answered that they consume fast food once a month because it is fast, easily accessible and tasty. Although they perceived fast food as unhealthy and less nutritious, they were less aware of its effect on their health and nutritional status. The more knowledgeable respondents were about nutrition and health the less likely they were to choose fast food over other meals. However, respondents who had little or no knowledge about the nutritional factors of fast food accounted for 43.1%. As to their source of dietary information, students relied on themselves(31.0%), parents(20.5%) and mends(19.9%). The medium through which students got the most nutrition and health information was television(66.8%), followed by the Internet(36.7%) and magazines(29.7%). This study will enable educators to plan more effective strategies for improving the dietary knowledge of the adolescent population.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
• /
• v.45 no.10
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to identify the nutritional status and eating behaviors of underweight adolescent females aged 15 to 19 years. The subjects were selected using data from 2001 NHANS of Korea, and included 28 underweight and 160 normal-weight subjects. We found that the underweight group had significantly lower weight (9.8 kg), waist (6.9 cm), and hip circumference (7.2 cm) values than the normal-weight group; however height and waist-hip ratio were not different. Serum indices were within normal ranges and showed no differences between the two groups. The energy and nutrient intakes of most of the subjects were considered poor. For intake levels, the proportion of subjects below the EAR, NAR and INQ of each nutrient were also not significantly different between the groups. There were no differences in frequency for skipping meals, snacking, and eating-out between the groups. When comparing food frequency data for 62 food items, the underweight group consumed significantly more often of eggs, dried anchovies, mackerel, shellfish, and mushrooms than the normal-weight group. The former also had significantly less excercise/walking, more diet-control, and more rest/sleep than the latter. Subjects in both of two groups perceived their body images as over weight, so they practiced diet-control to reduce body weight, which is considered harmful as a healthy weight. In conclusion, the underweight group showed no differences in items of biochemical indices, nutrient intakes, and many dietary behaviors, but subjects revealed significantly higher food intake frequencies for several protein foods, as well as less excercise/walking, and more rest/sleep than the normal-weight group.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.803-811
• /
• 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
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.406-417
• /
• 2022

Purpose: The incidence of chronic diseases is increasing and the age of onset is decreasing in South Korea. Healthy eating habits to prevent chronic diseases are established in adolescence. This study verified the identified factors and dynamics that affect diet self-assessment for sustainable adolescent health and the prevention of chronic diseases. Methods: Data were collected from 492 middle and high school students in South Korea from June to July 2018, and the participants answered a questionnaire on dietary safety management competency for sustainable health. Results: The healthy dietary self-assessment scores of overweight/obese adolescents and adolescents who perceived their health as normal were significantly lower than those of other groups. Factor analysis verified the validity of the items that comprised each study area before a multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the factors affecting healthy dietary self-assessment. Sweet and salty diets, anxiety, food and nutrition knowledge, weight management knowledge, stress management, exercise, basic eating habits, and healthy eating habits significantly affected healthy dietary assessment among adolescents. A higher perception of one's health indicated a higher healthy dietary self-assessment, dietary safety knowledge, and health management practice scores (p < 0.01). Factors like healthy dietary self-assessment, food and nutrition knowledge, and weight management knowledge appear to have a significant correlation with other identified factors, except overeating. The adolescents' awareness, knowledge, and dietary safety practices influenced healthy dietary self-assessment, which can prevent chronic diseases and achieve sustainable health. Conclusion: This study illustrated how the adolescents' awareness, knowledge, and practices of dietary safety influenced their healthy diet self-assessment. The results indicate that diet-based health management competency education relative to the adolescents' self-perception and weight levels should be implemented.

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