• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.496-506
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate dietary flavonoids intake of Korean adolescents. Methods: Using data from the 2007-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 3,957 subjects aged 12-18 were included in this study. We estimated individual daily intake of total flavonoid and six flavonoid classes including flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanidins, and isoflavones by linking food consumption data with the flavonoids in the commonly consumed food database. The distribution of sociodemographic, health-related, and dietary factors according to flavonoids intake was examined. Results: Average dietary flavonoids intake of the study subjects was 195.6 mg/d in girls, and 189.4 mg/d in boys. The highest flavonoids intake group consumed significantly more fiber, vitamin C, legumes, fruits, and vegetables (p < 0.01) and less fat, grains, meats and dairy foods than other lower consumption groups (p < 0.001). Dietary flavonoid intake showed negative correlation with waist circumference and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study provided basic data for estimation of flavonoids intake of Korean adolescents. Further research will be required for analysis of the association of flavonoids intake and health-related factors such as cardiovascular risk factors.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.456-463
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Setting healthful beverage expectations, making calcium-rich foods and beverages (CRF/B) available, and role modeling are parenting practices promoting calcium intake among early adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate emotion-based messages designed to motivate parents of early adolescents to perform these practices. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Emotion-based messages were developed for each parenting practice and tested in 35 parents from 5 states. Findings were used to modify messages and develop a survey administered via Amazon MechanicalTurk to a convenience sample of Asian (n = 166) and Hispanic (n = 184) parents of children 10-13 years. Main outcome measures were message comprehension, motivation, relevance, acceptability, and novelty. Engagement in the parenting practices was also assessed. RESULTS: Message comprehension was acceptable for the majority of parents. Most also agreed that messages were motivational (setting healthful beverage expectations (69.0%), making CRF/B available (67.4%), and role modeling (80.0%)), relevant and acceptable. About 30-50% indicated they had not seen the information before. Many parents indicated they were already engaging in the practices (> 70%). No racial/ethnic differences were observed for responses to messages or engaging in parenting practices. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that emotion-based messages designed to motivate parents to engage in parenting practices that promote calcium intake among early adolescents were motivating, relevant, and acceptable.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.101-112
• /
• 2018

Objectives : This study examined the influence of socio-demographic, health-related, and oral health-related characteristics on adolescent DMFTs. Methods : The subjects in this study were 1,129 adolescents selected from the 6th national health and nutrition examination survey data. To determine the factors influencing dental caries, a regression analysis using a complex-sample generalized linear model was conducted after adjusting for confounding factors. Results : DMFTs were smaller among boys than girls, and smaller in the "13-15 age group" than in the "16-18 age group." In terms of household income, DMFTs were larger in the "lower," "lower-middle," and "upper-middle" income brackets than in the "upper" income bracket. DMFTs were smaller among adolescents with a history of smoking than those who had never smoked. Conclusions : In order to improve the oral health of adolescents, oral health-promotion programs should be provided for girls, high school students, students from low-income families, smokers, and those who consider themselves to have poor oral health.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
• /
• v.33 no.50
• /
• pp.320.1-320.8
• /
• 2018

Background: Muscle mass and muscle function are related to depressed mood in studies of adults. Like adults, Korean students are highly likely to suffer from decreased muscle mass due to social conditions. In this study, we evaluated the muscle mass status of Korean adolescents and assess the effect of muscle on depressive mood. Methods: A total of 1,233 adolescent boys and girls participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were enrolled in our study. Participants underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for assessment of appendicular muscle mass and completed questionnaires regarding depressed mood, stress, suicidal ideations, and attempts. Results: There was no difference in depressive mood according to muscle mass among boys (P = 0.634); girls with decreased muscle mass had a greater tendency for depressed mood compared to girls with optimal muscle mass (P = 0.023). After adjusting for age, waist circumference-to-height ratio, smoking status, alcohol consumption, frequency of physical activity, self-reported obesity, weight-loss efforts, and monthly household income, girls with low muscle mass (LMM) were 2.60 times more at risk of developing depression than girls with normal muscle mass (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-6.49; P = 0.040). This trend was similar for girls with LMM with obesity (95% CI, 1.00-11.97; P = 0.049). Conclusion: Adolescent girls who have insufficient muscle mass are more likely to report depressed mood than girls who have ideal muscle mass. Interventions for maintaining proper muscle mass are required.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.269-283
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the food security status of urban poor adolescents and its association with diet quality. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 188 adolescents aged 13-18 yrs living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Household food insecurity and dietary intake data were collected using the Radimer/Cornell hunger and food insecurity instrument and 2-day 24-h dietary recalls, respectively. Diet quality was determined using the Malaysian Healthy Eating Index (HEI). Weight and height were measured and body mass index-for-age, as well as height-for-age z scores were calculated. RESULTS: The present study revealed that 47.9% of the adolescents experienced household food insecurity, 24.5% experienced individual food insecurity, 18.6% household food security, and 9.0% child hunger. The mean score of diet quality was 56.83 ± 10.09, with a significantly lower HEI score among food insecure adolescents (household food insecure, individual food insecure, and child hunger) than household food secure adolescents (P = 0.001). The differences between food secure and food insecure households were found to be significant for energy (P = 0.001) and nutrients including proteins (P = 0.006), carbohydrates (P = 0.005), dietary fiber (P = 0.001), folate (P < 0.001), and vitamin C (P = 0.006). The multiple linear regression showed that adolescents who experienced food insecurity (β = -0.328; P = 0.003) were found to be significantly associated with poor diet quality (F = 2.726; P < 0.01), wherein 13.3% of the variation in the diet quality was explained by the food security status. CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing food insecurity contributed to poor diet quality among urban poor adolescents. Further longitudinal studies are needed to comprehensively understand this association to improve food insecurity and diet quality among urban poor communities.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.411-419
• /
• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed factors affecting consumption frequencies of vegetables and fruits in Korean adolescents. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Consumption frequencies of vegetables and fruits, general characteristics, meal, health, and other variables were analyzed for a total of 147,047 adolescents who participated in the KYRBWS (Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey) conducted in 2006 and 2011 by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: Consumption frequencies of vegetables and fruits more than once a day significantly decreased in 2011 compared to 2006 based on Chi-square test conducted for every factor employed in the study. Analysis of factors showed that consumption frequencies of vegetables and fruits were reduced in both study years as subjective income decreased, whereas intake frequencies increased with mother's education level and reduction of adolescent stress level. CONCLUSIONS: In general, consumption frequencies of vegetables and fruits decreased in 2011 compared to those in 2006. Thus, future research needs to improve dietary guidelines for nutrition education in order for students to recognize the importance of food consumption and necessity of increasing daily serving sizes of vegetables and fruits for their balanced consumption.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.448-455
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to examine the fast food consumption patterns of secondary school students in Busan. Secondary school students in Busan area were asked in a survey about their perception and attitudes towards fast food (n=968, response rate: 92%). 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 eating patterns: a clear indication of their limited knowledge on dietary impact. 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%. Our study suggests that development of effective nutrition and health education is crucial to adolescent population. This study will enable educators to plan more effective strategies for improving the dietary knowledge of the adolescent population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.452-461
• /
• 2012

There is increasing evidence that dietary factors in plant-based diets are important for the prevention of chronic disease. Especially, phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables have been recognized as major contributors for the decreased level of oxidative stress. In this study, the effect of switching the dietary habit to high consumption of fruits and vegetables were evaluated on the parameters of serum antioxidant status in healthy high school students. Forty one students participated in a randomized controlled trial and were assigned to the control group (n = 18) or the intervention group (n = 23). The intervention group was provided for 8 weeks with the main food source being whole grain and vegetables. Anthropometric measurements, blood parameters and dietary intakes were measured, and compared before and after study. After 8 weeks, weight and BMI were significantly decreased in the intervention group (p = 0.000). The serum diacron reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) test resulted in a significantly decreased level only in the intervention group (p < 0.05) after 8 weeks, but serum biological antioxidant potential (BAP) was increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.001). Intake of energy, total fat, cholesterol and sodium in the intervention group were significantly decreased after 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Also, the intervention group had significantly increased vitamin and phytonutrient intakes of all-trans-${\beta}$-carotene, ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and total phenols (p < 0.05). Overall, the results of this study suggest that whole grain, fruits, and vegetables supplementation showed improvement of the adolescent health.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.440-451
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to provide basic information on nutrition education for proper meal purchase habits by conducting a survey on the adolescents' meal purchases, which is gradually increasing nowadays. The survey was conducted on 311 middle school students living in Gyeonggi province. The largest number of students (79.1%) received an allowance under '2,000 won'. Among those students who received a daily allowance, 70.7% of students spent under '1000 won' a day on meal purchases. Most students answered 'meal purchase is necessary'. Of the reasons for thinking that meal purchases are necessary, 'for staving off hunger' took the highest ratio (67.1%). As for standards of food choice, the largest number of students answered 'taste' (57.6%). As for frequency of meal purchases, most students answered 'once or twice a week', and with regard to day of the week, 'weekdays' took the highest ratio. As for possibility of balanced nutrition by meal purchases, the answer 'surely possible' took the highest ratio. Asked whether or not one had learned nutrition education on meal purchases, 73% answered 'no'. Asked about the necessity of nutrition education on meal purchases, 'necessary once' took the highest ratio. The most preferred purchase meals were breads, snacks was ranked second, followed by frozen foods, beverages, fast-foods, rice-cakes, flour-based foods, ice-cream, and fruits. To sum up the results, most students perceived that meal purchases are necessary. However, high quality meal purchases were not achieved, as most of the students did not verify nutrition labeling, and placed emphasis on 'taste'. Further, many students wanted nutrition education on meal purchases while only a few had actually received it. Therefore, systemic, regular, and multilateral nutrition education conducted at home, school, and society will contribute to establishing proper meal purchase habits.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.439-453
• /
• 2011

This study was performed to determine dietary and lifestyle factors associated with hypertension in Korean adolescents. Study subjects were 12~19 years (n = 521) adolescents who participated in the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES III). Subjects were divided into the hypertensive group (HG, n = 102) and normotensive group (NG, n = 419) by '2007 Korean children and adolescents growth standard' and the relationships between blood pressure and physical measurement, nutrients intakes, eating behaviors and health related factors were analyzed. HG showed significantly higher levels in weight, waist circumference and BMI than NG. The amount of nutrient intakes was not different between NG and HG. Index of nutritional quality (INQ) for phosphate was higher in HG compared with NG. In both male and female HG, INQ for iron was higher but INQ for vitamin B1 was lower than NG. HG revealed higher consumption frequencies of snack, yoghurt, and ice cream compared with NG. In eating and behavioral factors, 'dinner with family', 'eat proper amount', 'keep Korean traditional diet', alcohol drinking, and mean alcohol intake were significantly different between the two groups. By logistic regression method, risk factors for hypertension revealed in this study were gender (male), age (15~19 years), BMI (${\geq}\;85$ percentile), and not keeping Korean traditional diet. These results suggest that education program for hypertension prevention in adolescents should include eating habits improvement and lifestyle modification as well as weight control.