• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1155-1169
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Unhealthy food choices among young adults are common globally, and the incidence of chronic diseases, such as obesity, is rising. Food literacy (FL) is important for improving and maintaining individual health in a rapidly changing food environment and can form the basis for following a sustainable diet. Therefore, it is essential to improve FL among young adults, particularly college students, who are in the formative years of their lifelong food habits. This study examined the facilitators and barriers of FL and related dietary behavior among college students in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study recruited 25 college students with different residence types using convenience and snowball sampling. In-person, telephone, and video interviews were conducted from March to November 2021. The interview data were analyzed using framework analysis based on the socio-ecological model. RESULTS: At the individual level, prior good experiences with food were the most frequently mentioned facilitator. In contrast, the major barriers were a lack of knowledge, financial hardship, irregular schedules, and academic stress. At the interpersonal level, the influences of family and peers, such as early exposure to healthy eating habits and opportunities to have easy accessibility to farms and farming, are major facilitators, but the lack of a sense of community was the major barrier. At the environmental level, the major barriers were unfavorable food environments at home and in neighborhoods, such as the absence of kitchens in housing and large packaging of produce at markets. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors affected the students' FL and related healthy eating practices. These findings suggest that a campus-based FL program should be developed by reflecting on these facilitators and barriers.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.379-385
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the oral health knowledge and oral health practice of teachers in early childhood education institutions. The subjects in this study were 169 teachers who worked in early childhood education institutions. After a survey was conducted, the collected data were analyzed with a SPSSWIN 14.0 program. The findings of the study were as follows: 1. Concerning oral health knowledge, they got a mean of 7.97(9), 2.66(3), 2.86(5), 2.42(5) and 1.04(2) respectively in knowledge on dental caries, toothbrushing, periodontitis, fluoride and diet. Overall, they got a mean of 16.98 in 24 items, and the score corresponded to approximately 70 out of 100 points. 2. As for oral health practice, tongue cleaning(4.22) was what they did the most to take care of their oral health, and they just got 2.60 in regular dental checkup. Overall, they got about 3.11 in oral health practice. 3. Regarding relationship between general characteristics and oral health knowledge, the teachers who were in their 30s got 17.47 in overall oral health knowledge, and those with a career of five to less than 10 years got 17.50. The teachers who received college or higher education got 17.27, and the principals got 18.26. Those who had ever received education on oral health got 17.01. But the gaps between them and the others were not statistically significant. 4. As to connections between general characteristics including age and oral health practice, restricted sugar intake, regular dental checkup, the use of oral hygiene supplies, tongue cleaning and overall oral health practice were more prevailing among the older teachers, and the gaps between them and the younger teachers were statistically significant. 5. In terms of relationship between oral health knowledge and oral health practice, there was no statistically significant relationship between the two on the whole, but better oral health knowledge led to better oral health practice in each part. This study shows that various oral health education programs for the kindergarten teachers should be developed and continuous education through the programs is important to improve the knowledge of oral health and to change oral health behavior.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 2007

Background : The goal of this study was to examine the health behaviors of nurses and provide basic information on health promotion for nurses. Materials and Methods : A self-administered questionnaire survey was completed by 340 nurses working at a university hospital in Daegu, Korea from March 6 to March 30, 2006. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, working environment, health behaviors, self-assessed health status, and the practice of health promotion activities according to the work group(shift group vs. non-shift group). Results : There were significant differences in 'regular diet', 'drinking', 'ordinary health management', 'regular exercise', 'leisure activities', 'rest', and 'feeling of fatigue' between the two groups. The score for the practice of health promotion activities of the non-shift group was 121.9, which was higher than the 115.4 for the shift group. By field of practice of health promotion activities, there were significant differences in 'self-realization' and 'nutrition' between the two groups. Conclusion : The shift group did not appear to have enough time to take care of their health. It is therefore important to provide a working environment in which nurses are encouraged to increase their interest and efforts to maintain healthy behaviors. In addition, programs for education and training should be developed to help nurses adopt healthy life styles and enhance their self-esteem.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.296-308
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• 2022

Purpose: To investigate the effect of a mother's modeling and feeding practices on the eating behavior of the children. Methods: From April to June 2018, 1,036 young children aged 2 to 6 years and their mothers in Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do, were examined for their eating behavior and feeding practices using a verified dietary behavior test (DBT). The children's dietary behavior was classified into four categories: "access evasiveness", "sensory acuity", "hyperactivity", and "irregularity". The mother's eating behavior was classified into three categories: "pickiness", "negligence", and "irregularity", and feeding practice types were classified into two categories: "responsibility/monitoring", and "restriction/pressure". The differences between the groups were tested using the t-test, ANOVA, and Duncan's multiple range test. The influence of feeding practices on the children's eating behavior was analyzed by hierarchical regression analysis while controlling for the mother's modeling. Results: The problem rates of irregularity, negligence and pickiness in the mother's modeling were 33.7%, 22.8%, and 20.7%, respectively. An analysis of the mother's feeding practices revealed that responsibility/monitoring had a middle, high and low significance in 74.2%, 17.3%, and 8.5% of respondents, respectively and the risk rate of restriction/pressure when guiding children to eat was 15.3%. The problem rates for sensory acuity, access evasiveness, irregularity, and hyperactivity in children were 27.9%, 26.1%, 24.8%, and 22.0%, respectively. Among the four eating behavior characteristics of children, the child's access evasiveness and sensory acuity were more affected by their pickiness rather than the mother's feeding practices, and the child's hyperactivity was more influenced by feeding practices than the mother's eating behavior. The child's irregularity was similarly affected by the mother's eating behavior and feeding practices. Conclusion: Since the mother's eating behavior and feeding practices affect the children's eating behavior, a diet improvement program for children should consider not only the nutrition education of children but also the mother's eating behavior and provide the necessary intervention for feeding practices.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.430-439
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of web-based nutrition counseling on food intake and dietary behavior of type II diabetic patients. Forty type II diabetic patients, twenty -one of them were diabetic patients without complication (Ncx -DM) and nineteen of them were diabetic patients with complication (Cx-DM), participated in a web-based nutrition counseling program. At the first nutrition counseling, the patients were counselled through interview and then follow up nutrition counseling was accomplished four times during eight weeks through the web-based internet program. The web-based nutrition counseling program was consisted of diet management, nutrition counseling, nutritional assessment and follow-up management pro-gram The diet therapy knowledge score increased significantly (p<0.001) in both groups after the nutrition counseling. The dietary behavior score also increased significantly (p<0.001). For food frequency, vegetable (p<0.01), fish & shellfish (p<0.01) and seaweed (p<0.01) intake increased significantly, while potatoes, bread and carbohydrate beverage intake decreased, specially sugar products (p<0.01) and instant food (p<0.01) intake decreased significantly in both groups after the nutrition counseling, The evaluation of the web-based nutrition counseling and its program by the diabetic patients showed above average in all domains, specially the evaluation scores of younger aged patients habituated to practice computer were better than those of older aged patients. Therefore, this study shows that the web-based nutrition counseling is effective for improving dietary behavior and food intake of the patients. In addition, these results indicate that internet presents us with potential as a new medium for nutrition counseling ill informationized society.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 2010

Prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing significantly worldwide due to energy imbalance perhaps stemming from undesirable dietary behavior and physical activity level. The objective of the study was to examine the effects of physical activity level on nutritional status in elementary school students. The subjects were comprised of 287 elementary school students between 4th and 6th grades in Seoul, Korea. The level of physical activity was scored with a modified Godin leisure-time exercise questionnaire and was categorized as active, moderately active, and sedentary. Dietary intakes were obtained using a 24-hour food recall method. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to test for global significant differences of nutrient intakes by physical activity level. Boys were more active than girls. Daily intakes of energy in moderately active boys were significantly higher than in the sedentary group, but intakes of calcium and iron in moderately active boys were lower than active boys. For girls, physical activity level did not affect nutrient density at all. Intakes of calcium, vitamin C, and folate for both boys and girls were below 50% of recommended intake. Physical activity did not affect nutrient density and our participants were exposed to nutritional imbalance. Therefore, the results suggest that nutrition education regarding balanced diet and optimum physical activity is required for children's health and growth.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the mother's interest in weight control and its association with the preschooler's obesity and weight related concerns. This was a cross-sectional study based on 470 parents' self-reports. To score interests in weight control, mothers rated each of 6 items on a five-point Likert scale ranging from disagree (1) to agree (5). The perceptions of mothers' weights and their children's weights, mothers' Body Mass Index (BMI), preschoolers' Weight-Length Index (WLI) (%), and weight-related concerns were determined. The mothers' BMI was significantly correlated with interest scores of weight control in mothers (r=0.632, p<0.001) while their children's obesity was weakly correlated with the mothers' interest scores (r=0.133, p=0.025). Mothers with a high interest of weight control reported higher percentages of family history of obesity than mothers with lower interests (63.2% vs. 36.8%, p<0.001). Two-thirds of the mothers (65.4%) were accurate in their perceptions about their weights. Similarly, 63.7% of mothers knew exactly their children's weight-statuses. Compared with mothers with low interest in weight controls, mothers with high interest in weight control had lower correct-perceptions about their weights (p<0.05) but higher correct-perceptions about their children's weights. More than two-thirds of mothers (85%) reported not worrying about their children's obesity in the future. Only 14.3% of the mothers were satisfied with their current weight statuses. Three-fourths of mothers preferred exercise as an effective weight-control method for their children, 20% preferred diet therapy and 5.5% preferred behavior modification. More girls were overweight / obese, than boys (overweight: 16.1% (girl) vs. 12.8% (boy), obese: 5.4% (girl) vs. 4.5% (boy)). About 40% of overweight girls' mothers had low interests in their weight controls with low correct-perceptions in their children's weights, which suggests possible elevated risk of obesity, especially in girls, in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.477-493
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• 2016

This research was conducted to investigate the performance of a weight control program in university students in Daejeon during 3 months from November 2014 to February 2015. This program measured body measurement and composition analysis, nutritional education, and counseling every month. The status of students' weight control was surveyed before and after the program. The participants were 17 males (24.5 years old) and 15 females (20.8 years old). Their weights before the program were 78.2 kg (male) and 57.2 kg (female), whereas after the program, weights were 77.6 kg (male) and 56.2 kg (female). Weight reduction in students was 53.1%, and weight increase was 40.6% by the weight control program. Body mass index (BMI) tended to decrease after the program. Body fat % and muscle masses were not significantly different by program practice. Body image decision of females showed mainly 'normal' status while that of male was 'over fatty constitution', Before and after the program, the most prevalent method of weight control was exercise for all students. The most selected exercise was 'walking and jogging' during the program. For the most effective weight control method, female acknowledged both 'reducing amount of meals' and 'increasing exercise' while males selected 'increasing exercise.' On the side effects of weight control, over 40% of all students chose 'no experience' and 'loss of volition'. The degree of student's goal achievement was largely 20 ~-20% compared with their goal weights. Accordingly, this program didn't show significant effects. For effective weight control, it is recommended to conduct nutritional education. Students can exercise regularly and control diet to sustain a healthy and satisfactory body status.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.167-176
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• 2015

This study compares salt-related dietary patterns according to sodium intake. A survey was conducted with 257 college students(130 male and 127 female students) in the Busan area. Dish Frequency Questionnaire 70(DFQ 70) was used to quantitatively estimate sodium intake. A short dish frequency questionnaire(DFQ 15) was used to screen subjects with high or low- salt intake. The sodium intake of male students based on DFQ 70 was significantly higher than that of female students(p<0.05). Sodium intake has significant negative effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure(p<0.05). In the high-salt intake(HS) group, classified by DFQ 15, the number of male students was significantly higher than that of female students(p<0.01). The systolic blood pressure of the HS group was significantly higher than that of the low-salt intake(LS) group(p<0.05). Salt-related dietary behavior score and eating habit score for the HS group were significantly higher than those for the LS group(p<0.01). The sodium intake of the HS group based on DFQ 70 was significantly higher than that of the LS group(p<0.01). In these results, college students in Busan area showed high blood pressure and high sodium intake compared to Korean DRIs. The results indicate a need for various education programs to help college students practice a low-sodium diet.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.255-264
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• 2008

Objectives: This study adopted a qualitative method to explore the layman's beliefs and experience concerning high blood pressure and its management in order to develop a strategy to increase adherence to proper medical treatment. Methods: Semi-structured interviews that focused on personal experiences with hypertension and its management were conducted with 26 hypertensive patients. The participants were selected according to a BP above 140/90 mmHg (hypertension stage 1), based on the seventh report of the Joint National Committee on prevention, detection, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure (JNC-VII). The interviews lasted for approximately 30 minutes (range: 20-60 minutes). The resulting questions were formulated into open-ended questions. The interview questionnaire was composed 17 items to examine non-adherence to treatment and 19 items to examine adherence to treatment. Results: Most participants recognized that the direct cause of high blood pressure was unhealthy behavior rather than inheritance. Thus, the hypertensive patient believed they could recover their blood pressure to a normal level through removing the direct cause of hypertension (weight reduction, diet, exercise) instead of taking drugs. The reasons for these statements were that the drugs for controlling hypertension are not natural or they are artificial, and they may have side effects, and drugs are not treatment for the root cause of hypertension. Most of the hypertensive patients chose to manage their behaviors as soon as they knew their blood pressure was high. Therefore, we should not divide the subjects into two groups according to their taking drugs or not, but they should be divided into two groups according to their willingness or not to manage their condition. Conclusions: For developing a strategy for an individual approach to hypertension management, we need to develop a client-centered attitude and strategy. That is, we need to tailor our approach to individual cases to avoid generalizations and stereotyping when developing an adherence increasing strategy.