• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.49 no.6
• /
• pp.459-470
• /
• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to identify the relationship between practicing healthy diet and metabolic syndrome indicators in Koreans. Methods: This research is a cross-sectional study based on the 2013~2014 Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. This study investigated 6,748 adults aged 19 to 64 yr (19~49 yr: n = 4,230, 50~64 yr: n = 2,518) to examine practice of healthy diet and metabolic syndrome indicators. In this study, according to practicing healthy diet, we classified subjects into the "Practicing healthy diet (PHD)" group (19~49 yr: n = 1,782, 50~64 yr: n = 937) and "Non-practicing healthy diet (NPHD)" group (19~49 yr: n = 2,448, 50~64 yr: n = 1,581). PHD score was determined by adding the number of practicing factors: adequate fat intake, sodium intake ${\leq}2,000mg/day$, fruit & vegetable intake ${\geq}500g/day$, and using nutrition label information in food selection. Results: Female adults had a larger proportion of subjects who practiced a healthy diet compared to male adults (p < 0.001), and the percentages of 19~49 yr and 50~64 yr were 40.46% and 37.07%, respectively. The PHD group consumed significantly more calcium, vitamin $B_1$, $B_2$, and vitamin C density compared to the NPHD group. In 50~64 yr females, the subjects practicing healthy diet (PHD score ${\geq}2$) was inversely associated with risk of abdominal obesity (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54~0.93, p value = 0.0131) and metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52~0.94, p value = 0.0166) after adjustments for multiple confounding factors, compared with the lower PHD score (PHD score ${\leq}1$). Conclusion: Good dietary practice such as adequate fat intake, sodium intake ${\leq}2,000mg/day$, sufficient fruit & vegetable intake, and using nutrition label information in food selection could be useful in decreasing metabolic syndrome risk of Korean adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.7
• /
• pp.1000-1007
• /
• 2005

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship of maternal factors such as knowledge, attitude and practice of weaning with infant feeding. The subjects were 103 mothers visiting a public health center in Gumi, Kyungbook who filled out self-administered Questionnaires. First of all, about $90\%$ of the participants recognized the importance of complementary foods and proper weaning practices. The response for the recognition of the importance of infant weaning process showed a significant difference by education levels. Concerning an appropriate time for the introduction of weaning foods, $53\%$ of mothers had commenced weaning at age $4\~6$ months, while $38\%$ had done so at age $6\~8$ months. Approximately $76\%$ of mothers fed their babies without the knowledge of age-related weaning method and type of weaning foods. There were no statistical differences in maternal weaning knowledges between levels of education and house income. Mothers with higher levels of education and family income tended to show high perception scores regarding possibility of food allergies caused by baby foods. A demand for reliable sources and education related to nutritious weaning foods and weaning practices were strong in the group with higher education. Knowledge of weaning method and baby foods were obtained by 59 of the 103 mothers from mass media, 35 from friends caring babies, and 9 obtained advice from health professionals or family. Advice from the heath professionals was not the main influence on their decision to introduce weaning foods. Although commercial baby foods are the most commonly used as first weaning foods, those with higher education groups considered commercial baby food are not nutritionally better than home-maid foods. The current findings suggest to us that to improve weaning process, mothers should be educated on the selection and preparation of nutritious, balanced weaning foods and on good weaning practices. It is advised that supportive health professionals from community public health centers should lead the education of infant feeding practices based on maternal characteristics and on basic food and nutritional knowledge.