• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.427-439
• /
• 2013

The aim of this study was to determine whether Nutrition Quotient (NQ) for children, which has been developed from data on urban children, can be applied to children in rural areas. A total of 200 children (108 boys and 92 girls) in fifth and sixth grade at three elementary schools in rural areas of Gyeongbuk participated in the survey conducted during June 2012. Questionnaires consisted of items on food intake frequency and dietary behavior. Food intake data were obtained using the 24-hour recall method, and nutrient intake was calculated using the CAN-Pro 4.0 Program. Percentages of children who took less than the estimated average requirement were 76.5%, 49.5%, 45.5%, 33.5%, and 26.0% for calcium, vitamin C, iron, vitamin A, and folate, respectively. Significant associations were observed between intake frequencies of vegetables, kimchi, and fruits, and intake of vitamin C, folate, and dietary fiber. White milk and legumes showed positive correlation with intake of calcium and vitamin A. Eating breakfast, meal regularity, and diverse side dishes showed positive correlation with intake of folate and calcium. The 19 food checklist items could be categorized according to five factors. The mean NQ score of the subjects was 62.0, which was similar to that of urban children, 64.4. NQ score and factor scores for balance, regularity, and practice were significantly lower in children with lower socioeconomic level as compared to those with higher socioeconomic level. Higher NQ score showed an association with increased intake of vitamin B2, folate, vitamin C, and calcium. In conclusion, NQ offers a valuable instrument for evaluation of food habit and dietary quality of rural children as well as urban children, and children with low socioeconomic status should be monitored by testing with NQ checklist before implementation of nutrition programs.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.108-118
• /
• 1999

This study was designed to examined psychosocial status and nutritional factors(nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes, eating behavior, dietary intakes) among female university students and to investigate if there were differences in these variables by weight loss attempt. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to 225 female university students in Seoul. Survey instrument was adapted or modified based on literature review, and dietary intakes were assessed using 24-hour recall and CAN-pro. Descriptive statistics, t-test x$^2$-test were used in data analysis. Mean height, weight of subjects were 162.7cm, 51.3kg, and mean BMI was 19.4. One hundred-nine students(48.4%) were grouped into weight loss attempt roup and 116 students were grouped int non-attempt group. According to BMI, 58.7% of weight loss attempt group were underweight, suggesting that unnecessary weight control is common in college women. With respect to psychosocial status, subjects received moderate degree of stress and were slightly satisfied with life. There was no significant difference in stress, social support or self-esteem between the two groups, however, students in non-attempt group were more satisfied with their life(p<0.01) and adapted better in school that students in weight loss attempt group. Subjects scored 14.9${\pm}$2.1 (highest score : 20) on nutritional knowledge, and showed favorable dietary attitudes. Overall, nutritional knowledge and dietary attitudes were not significantly different between the two groups. Common eating problems were irregular meals(71.6%), followed by unbalanced meals and eating-out. Subjects in weight loss attempt group were more likely to change eating habit after entering the university and showed more undesirable eating habit. Dietary intake data indicated hat the energy derived from fat was slightly higher than the recommended level. Most of the nutrient intake was lower than the RDA, particularly, iron and calcium intake was below the 50% of the RDA. Although this study did not reveal significant difference in nutritional knowledge or dietary intake by weight loss attempt, this study showed status of weight control, eating habit and dietary intake in female university students, and provide some information for nutrition education of college women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.892-904
• /
• 2005

This study was carried out to assess the food habit index of the long-lived elderly who were aged over 85 years living in Ganghwa-gun. A survey was conducted during December 2003. Dietary nutrient intake data was obtained through the 24-hr recall method. The subjects were 96 (32 males, 64 females) aged people and divided into three groups based on food habit index scores. Such as group A: good $16\∼20$, group B: fair $11\∼15$, and group C: poor $5\∼10$. The three groups of the subjects were 90.7 years of age and $21.3\;kg/m^{2}$ of BMI on average. Healthy eating index scores of the subjects were $9.4\%$ in group A, $54.2\%$ in group B and $36.5\%$ in group C. Their level of education were lower and their levels of living standards tended to have been middle and lower of the middle class. The percentage of living together with their families or spouses in all groups were over $60.0\%$ and the rates of the subjects who have responsibility for their meal preparations were also very high in all groups. Most subjects tended not to drink nor smoke, and spend $8\~10$ hours for their sleep. The percent of number of diseases in group A was lower than in groups B and C. Their dietary habits such as taking three meals a day regularly have shown that they have good eating habit in general. There was a positive correlation between the eating behaviors and nutrient intakes. The protein, animal protein, fat, PUFA, vitamin E, vitamin $B_{2}$, niacin, P and K intaks in group A were significantly higher than that of the groups B and C. For group A of good food habits aged had no sufficient intake of Ca and vitamin A than the Korean RDA and long-lived elderly of group C in Ganghwa areas had worse nutrients intakes, especially Ca, vitamin A, vitamin $B_{2}$ and vitamin E. According to this research having a good eating habits could be considered as increasing of the health and nutritional status. (Korean J Community Nutrition 10(6) $892\∼904$, 2005)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.475-486
• /
• 2005

This study was intended to investigate the nutritional status between lactating and non- lactating women, especially calcium and iron. The subjects were 84 lactating women and 20 non-lactating women visiting a public health center and hospital in Daegu. Each subject was interviewed to collect the information on dietary intake for 2 consecutive days. Biochemical assessment of iron status and bone mineral density (BMD) measurement were conducted. Dietary intake of carbohydrate, potassium, Vit $B_1,\;B_2$, Vit C were significantly higher in women during lactating period (p<0.05). However, relative intake as expressed by percentage of Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) was not significantly different between the two groups. The dietary intake of iron and calcium were 58.8%, 60.4% of Korean RDA respectively in women during lactating period. The current food habit score of these women was significantly higher than that of non-lactating women (p<0.05). When we compared the quality of nutritional status, the Index of nutritional quality (INQ) was significantly higher for vitamin $B_2$, P in lactating women than in non-lactating women (p<0.1). Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was not significantly different between two groups. Dietary variety score (DVS) was significantly higher in women during the lactating period (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in biomarkers (Hb, Hct, Serum ferritin, Transferrin) related to iron status between the two groups. No significant difference in bone mineral density (BMD) T-score was not observed. However, it appeared that BMD of lactating women was lower than that of non-lactating women.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.4 no.4
• /
• pp.323-331
• /
• 2010

The aim of this study was to analyse effects that the degree of depression have on the life style variables, nutrient intake, iron indices and pregnancy outcome. Subjects were 114 pregnant women who were receiving prenatal care at a hospital in Seoul. We collected data for general characteristics and lifestyle variables from general survey instrument and for depression score from the questionnaire on depression. Dietary intakes of subjects were estimated by 24 hour dietary recall method. Also we analysed iron indices and pregnancy outcomes. We classified subjects by 10 point, which was the average depression score, into two groups [Low depression score group (LS) : High depression score group (HS)]. As to the intakes of total calcium, plant-calcium, plant-iron, potassium, total folate and dietary folate, LS group was far higher than HS group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively). As to pre-pregnancy alcohol drinking, LS group had 41.9% in non-drinker, which was far higher than 28% in HS group in non-drinker (P < 0.05). As for drinking coffee during pre-pregnancy, pregnant women who don’ drink coffee in LS group took 43.6%, which was higher than 38% in HS group (P < 0.01). Regarding delivery type, the cesarean section in LS group (18%) was significantly lower than that in HS group (45%) (P < 0.01). Bivariate analysis showed that birth weight was significantly associated with the gestational age (P < 0.01). The pregnant women with higher depression score tended to have undesirable life habit, which might affect negative pregnancy outcomes. A better understanding of how depression and intake of nutrients work together to modulate behavior will be benefit nutritional research.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.620-627
• /
• 2010

The study purpose was to investigate correlations among dietary habits score, life stress score and health-related quality of life (HRQL) score for female college students with functional constipation (FC). The data were collected in 2008 from 265 female college students: 86 with FC and 179 without FC. The diagnosis of FC was based on the Rome II criteria, and life stress and HRQL were assessed using self-administered life stress questionnaire and SF-36, respectively. The correlations among dietary habit score, life stress score, and HRQL score were evaluated. The averages of age, height, weight, body fat percentage and body mass index (BMI) of female college students were 20.8 years, 160.9 cm, 53.7 kg, 27.8%, and $20.7\;kg/m^2$, respectively. The average dietary habit score of "having meals with diverse foods" was significantly lower in the FC group than in the normal group (p < 0.05). The average faculty problem (p < 0.05), grade problem (p < 0.05), economy problem (p < 0.05), value problem (p < 0.05), and total stress (p < 0.01) scores of the FC group were significantly higher than those of the normal group. The average HRQL score was 70.4 in the FC group and 74.3 in the normal group (p < 0.05). There were significantly negative correlations between total stress score and total food habits score (r = -0.221; p < 0.01) and HRQL score (r = -0.539; p < 0.01) in the FC. These results suggest that female students with FC are highly perceptive to stress and have low HRQL. In addition, female students with FC may require nutritional education about eating diversity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.334-339
• /
• 2012

This study was conducted to compare body shape satisfaction, body image perception, weight control status, and dietary habits of Korean and Chinese female high school students in order to provide information for proper body image perception of adolescents. 221 students in Yongin, a city in Korea, and 227 students in Weihai, a city in China, were surveyed using questionnaires. Body shape satisfaction was significantly higher in Chinese students (P < 0.001) compared to Korean students. 76.2% of Korean students and 72.7% of Chinese students wanted a thinner body shape than their present body shapes. Experiences of weight control, laxative or diuretics uses, eating during weight control, and vomiting after eating were significantly higher in Korean students (P < 0.05-P < 0.001) compared to Chinese students. The score for dietary habits was significantly higher in Chinese students (P < 0.001) compared to Korean students, suggesting a more desirable dietary habit among Chinese students. Students of both countries showed a significantly positive correlation between body shape satisfaction and dietary habits, suggesting that as body shape satisfaction increases, dietary habits become more desirable. In conclusion, Korean female students showed a more distorted body image perception and had more poor dietary habits than Chinese students. Nutritional education for the establishment of normal body weight, proper body image perception, and healthy dietary habits are needed.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.160-172
• /
• 2003

This study was performed to investigate the dietary characteristics and related factors of the elderly female living alone. The subjects were 70 single living elderly female residing in Bucheon city and receiving benefits from the government based social welfare programs. Seventy nine percent of the subjects had self reported monthly income less than 200,000 (won) and forty one percent of the subjects were paying more than 100,000 (won) for food expense. The number of side dishes for a meal was two or three (35.71 ％) or one or two (31.40％)； fifty seven percent of the subjects ate reheated left-over for lunch and 70.0％ for dinner. The proportion of the single living elderly at high nutrition risk ($\geq$ 6 as evaluated with Nutrition Risk Index Score) was 77.1 ％. Cereals and their products contributed most to the macronutrients like energy, protein and carbohydrates and vitamin B. In contrast vegetables and their products contributed most to the fiber, minerals (Ca and Fe) and vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin B and vitamin C). The mean total score of depression was 8.59${\pm}$2.69 (full score: 12) meaning that the extent of depression was serious.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.35 no.7
• /
• pp.866-873
• /
• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current dietary habits, health related behaviors, nutrition knowledge and body indices, and to investigate the changes in nutrition knowledge for designing and monitoring nutrition education program among preschool children. The subjects were 1,200 preschool children, aged $4{\sim}6$ years. A measurement of the height and weight was conducted. The general home environment, the dietary habit of children and nutrition knowledge were collected using a questionnaire that included information about family income, parent's education and occupations. Using the PIBW, 14.6% of the preschool children were under weight, 54.4% were normal, and 31.0% were overweight or obese. We regarded to food habit score, the highest score was in the regularity of breakfast, while the lowest score was in consumption of yellow-green vegetables such as spinach and carrots. Result in food behavior showed that 69.1% of preschool children had a unbalanced diet, and their favorite snack was fast food like pizza and hamburger then followed soft drink and fried foods (chicken of potato). After nutrition education, there was somewhat improvement in the nutrition knowledge score of preschool children from $7.7{\pm}1.7$ point to $8.9{\pm}1.5$ point. These results suggest that nutrition education help preschool children change their nutrition knowledge. Therefore, it would be needed that new appropriate nutrition education to improve dietary habits and health status.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.42 no.8
• /
• pp.682-690
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is to analyse the relation between dietary habit and nutrition knowledge, and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in the middle school students in Seoul, Korea. Total study subjects were 631 students, 51.8% was male and 48.2% was female. In the assessment of predisposition of ADHD, 93% was normal group and 7% was ADHD group. As for the gender in ADHD group, 56.8% was male and 43.2% was female. Normal group showed the higher breakfast consumption rate than ADHD group (p < 0.05). Dietary habits were better in normal group than ADHD group. Nutrition knowledge scores of normal group was 7.38 out of 15 and scores of ADHD group was 5.77 out of 15 (p < 0.01). The nutrition knowledge score and the dietary habits score showed a positive correlation (p < 0.01). The nutrition knowledge score and snack meal purchasing frequency showed a negative correlation (p < 0.05). There are significant negative correlation between attention deficit hyperactivity score and nutrition knowledge score (p < 0.01). In conclusion, ADHD group showed lower level of nutrition knowledge and worse dietary habits than the normal group.