• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.202-215
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• 2018

Objectives: We conducted a qualitative study to explore the feasibility of mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet. Methods: We conducted in-depth and focus group interviews with eight laymen who had used mobile dietary applications and eight experts. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using an open coding method. Results: The qualitative data of our study revealed two key themes: (1) perceptions, opinions and attitudes towards mobile applications of self-monitoring of diet and (2) future directions to improve mobile applications. Conclusions: Our qualitative study suggested the potential use of mobile applications as a food-tracking and dietary monitoring tool and the need for improved mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet. The results of our study may provide insights into how to technically improve mobile applications for self-monitoring of diet, how to utilize dietary data generated through mobile applications, and how to improve individual's health though mobile applications.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.146-157
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and assess the content validity and internal consistency of a questionnaire on the feasibility of mobile dietary self-monitoring applications. Methods: We developed a feasibility questionnaire to assess the overall usage, convenience, usefulness, and satisfaction of mobile dietary applications. The initial draft of the questionnaire contained 17 items with yes/no, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions and 52 items on 5-point Likert scales. To validate the content, ten experts evaluated the relevance of the items for each subscale using a 5-point scale. We calculated the item-level content validity index (I-CVI) and scale-level content validity index (S-CVI). A total of 102 adults answered the questionnaires which reflected the experts' reviews. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis to determine the underlying structure of responses and categorized convenience, usefulness, and satisfaction. We also calculated Cronbach's alpha coefficient to examine the internal consistency of items in each subscale. Results: The S-CVI score of the items was 0.86, and we removed items with an I-CVI score of < 0.80. We combined, revised, or separated some remaining items and added one item as per the experts' comments. As a result, we included 16 items about overall usage and 42 sub-questions. Based on the responses of the 102 adults, we performed exploratory factor analysis using the principal axis method. We retained items with a factor loading of > 0.40, resulting in a final set of 35 questions (convenience: 15, usefulness: 12, satisfaction: 8 items). The Cronbach's alpha values of the three scales were 0.93, 0.91, and 0.91 for 1) usefulness, 2) convenience, and 3) satisfaction, respectively. Conclusions: We developed a feasibility questionnaire for mobile dietary self-monitoring applications and examined its content validity and internal consistency. Our questionnaire has the potential to measure the feasibility of mobile dietary self-monitoring applications.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.140-151
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• 2024

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an obesity program developed to solve 'obesity', which was selected as the top priority for urgent improvement among the dietary problems of elementary school students in Busan. The program aimed to practice four health rules every day (sleep early, eat two vegetables with each meal, reduce sugary snacks, and exercise for 30 minutes every day). The participants were trained to practice the four rules online in real time every day for three weeks, and their performance in nutrition education tasks was monitored using Padlet. The anthropometric measurements showed no change in the overall average weight before and after participating in the program, but all students grew in height (z=-6.978, P<0.001), and the number of obese students decreased significantly (z=-3.317, P<0.001). This obesity program was effective in improving height growth and obesity in elementary school students. In terms of dietary changes, after participating in the program, the frequency of vegetable consumption increased significantly (z=-4.849, P<0.001), the frequency of sweet snack consumption decreased significantly (z=-4.298, P<0.001), and the bedtime improved (z=-1.000). Therefore, the non-face-to-face, self-directed obesity program developed in this study is expected to reduce the workload of nutrition teachers carrying a heavy workload such as meal service and nutrition classes, and can be used as an efficient nutrition counseling program.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1238-1254
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Weight loss via a mobile application (App) or a paper-based diary (Paper) may confer favorable metabolic and anthropometric changes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized parallel trial was conducted among 57 adults whose body mass indices (BMIs) were 25 kg/m² or greater. Participants randomly assigned to either the App group (n = 30) or the Paper group (n = 27) were advised to record their foods and supplements through App or Paper during the 12-week intervention period. Relative changes of anthropometries and biomarker levels were compared between the 2 intervention groups. Untargeted metabolic profiling was identified to discriminate metabolic profiles. RESULTS: Out of the 57 participants, 54 participants completed the trial. Changes in body weight and BMI were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.11). However, body fat and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels increased in the App group but decreased in the Paper group, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.03 for body fat and 0.02 for LDL-cholesterol). In the metabolomics analysis, decreases in methylglyoxal and (S)-malate in pyruvate metabolism and phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) in linoleic acid metabolism from pre- to post-intervention were observed in the Paper group. CONCLUSIONS: In the 12-week randomized parallel trial of weight loss through a App or a Paper, we found no significant difference in change in BMI or weight between the App and Paper groups, but improvement in body fatness and LDL-cholesterol levels only in the Paper group under the circumstances with minimal contact by dietitians or health care providers.