• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to assess folate intake, and serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations, and investigate the association between folate status and health-related behaviors among Korean college students. A total of 169 students, aged between 18 and 27 years, participated in this study. Dietary intake data were collected by trained interviewers using a 24-hour recall method for three non-consecutive days in 2009. Information on health-related behaviors was obtained by a self-administered questionnaire. Serum and RBC folate concentrations were measured by microbiological assay. The average intakes of folate were $456{\mu}gDFE$ and $347{\mu}gDFE$ in male and female students, respectively. While the average serum folate concentration was significantly lower in male students (8.9 ng/mL) compared to female students (12.5 ng/mL), RBC concentrations were not significantly different between male (398.6 ng/mL) and female students (405.3 ng/mL). In male students, low serum folate concentrations were associated with total folate intake less than the Estimated Average Requirement, non-use of folic acid supplements, smoking, alcohol drinking at least once a week and low physical activity. In female students, low serum folate concentrations were associated with smoking and alcohol drinking at least two drinks at a time and BMI ${\geq}25$. Alcohol drinking and low physical activity were also associated with low RBC folate concentrations in both male and female students. In order to improve folate nutritional status of college students, the practice of desirable health-related behaviors, such as non-smoking, moderate alcohol drinking, regular physical activity, and maintenance of healthy BMI should be encouraged along with consumption of folate-rich foods and supplements.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2007

Inadequate dietary intakes and poor health behaviors are of concern among rural residents in Korea. This study is conducted to compare dietary intakes, dietary diversity score (DDS), mean nutrient adequacy ratio (MAR) and health related behaviors by rural, factory and urban areas in Asan. A total of 930 adults (351 men and 579 women) were interviewed to assess social economic status (SES), health related behaviors and food intakes by a 24-hour recall method. Mean age was 61.5 years with men being older (64.8 years) than women (59.3 years, p<0.001). Men in the factory area were older than rural or urban men while urban women were the youngest. Education and income of urban residents were higher than other area residents. There were more current drinkers in urban area while smoking status was not different by regions. Physical activity was significantly higher in rural or factory areas, whilst urban residents exercised more often (p<0.05). Rural or factory area residents considered themselves less healthy than others while perceived stress was lower than urban residents. Energy intakes were higher in urban residents or in men, however, after SES was controlled, energy intake did not show any differences. Energy-adjusted nutrient intakes were significantly higher in the urban area (p<0.05) for most nutrients except for carbohydrate, niacin, folic acid, vitamin $B_6$, iron and fiber. Sodium intake was higher in factory area than in other areas after SES was controlled. DDS of rural men and MAR of both men and women in the rural area were significantly lower when SES was controlled. In conclusion, dietary intakes, diversity, adequacy and perceived health were poor in the rural area, although other health behaviors such as drinking and perceived stress were better than in the urban area. In order to improve perceived health of rural residents, good nutrition and exercise education programs are recommended.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2009

Lifestyle behaviors including dietary habits are well known to play key roles in bone metabolism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among the factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) including age, anthropometric parameters, lifestyle behaviors, and dietary habits of men aged more than 50 years. Ninety-one men, who visited health promotion center at one of the university medical centers, were divided into two groups according to the BMD: normal and osteopenia. The BMD of femoral neck in the osteopenia group was significantly lower than that of the normal group ($0.77\;{\pm}\;0.28$ vs. $0.98\;{\pm}\;0.08\;g/cm^2$). The proportion of the regular exercisers was significantly lower in the osteopenia group than in the normal group (p = 0.027). In the osteopenia group, the femoral neck BMD was significantly decreased in smokers and coffee drinkers compared to no-smokers and no-coffee drinkers. The femoral neck BMD was increased among those who consume breakfast and beans and bean products more frequently and those with a greater meal regularity. In the normal group, the lumbar spine BMD was significantly increased among those with frequent consumption of beans and bean products. The lumbar spine BMD was significantly correlated with exercise (r = 0.263), and the femoral neck BMD with weight (r = 0.284), BMI (r = 0.324), relative body weight (r = 0.294), exercise (r = 0.269) and frequency of beans and bean products consumption (r = 0.216). These results indicate that lifestyle behaviors and dietary habits play important roles in maintaining optimum bone health in the middle-aged men.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-125
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• 2006

This quantitative study was conducted to examine the relationship between weight control behaviors and disordered eating patterns in some university students. This study used a cross-sectional study design. A total of 347 students from three universities participated in this study (88 male and 259 female) Eating disorders were assessed using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26); a score of =20 identifies individuals who likely have an eating disorder, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. A score for healthy dietary behaviors was obtained by self-assessment on a healthy diet scale (20-item questionnaire), and the severity of any state-trait anxiety was calculated by the state-trait anxiety inventory (40-item questionnaire). In the analyzed results, the percentage of participants with experience of weight control was 58% in male and 73% in female. The subjects with a high risk of an eating disorder (score of =20 of EAT-26) were 44.3% ($mean{\pm}S.D;\;18.9{\pm}13.4$) of the males, and 57.9% ($mean{\pm}S.D;\;23.2{\pm}11.6$) of the females. Higher Body Mass Index (BMI) was significantly related with an increased risk for an eating disorder in females, but not in males. In the group who had attempted weight control of all types, there was a severe risk of an eating disorder. Increased eating disorder risk was significantly related with weight control behaviors such as a higher number of attempts at weight control, having used medication, having experienced side effects, and having experienced disease for both sexes. Therefore, the results of this paper showed that detrimental behaviors of weight control are connected to an increased risk of eating disorders. Consequently, education regarding the correct, behaviors of weight control is necessary to prevent eating disorders in adolescents.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.535-546
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• 2013

This study was carried out to analyze the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and general characteristics, psychological factors, eating habits, dietary behaviors, and health related quality of life using survey of 335 women aged 20 to 29 years in the Seoul and Kyungin areas. The 335 study subjects were divided into 4 groups by BMI ($kg/m^2$) levels; normal group($18.5{\leq}BMI{\leq}22.9$), overweight group($23.0{\leq}BMI{\leq}24.9$), mild obesity group($25.0{\leq}BMI{\leq}29.9$), and heavy obesity group ($BMI{\geq}30$) by Asian-Pacific obesity index criteria. The family income of the heavy obesity group was significantly (p<0.05) less than that of the normal weight group. Psychological factors, such as stress and depression of the normal weight group tended to be higher than those of overweight and obesity groups. The higher BMI level had the lower self-efficacy(p<0.05) among all subjects. As the BMI level increased, the preference for sweet, salty, and hot taste was significantly high. We found that normal weight women had healthier eating habits and dietary behaviors and a higher level of health-related quality of life than did those who were overweight, mildly obese, and heavily obese women. Overweight and mildly and heavily obese women were strongly associated with decreased physical and mental health related quality of life. Therefore, weight loss is desirable, and is likely to be beneficial for health-related quality of life in obese adult women. In conclusion, this study contains evidence to suggest that obesity management programs including different strategies according to obesity are required to determine the types of programs that are suitable for adult women, prior to their initiation of a program. The findings are helpful to inform researchers and practitioners who are seeking to implement appropriate strategies to create positive changes in the health behaviors of obese adult women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to examine beliefs, self-efficacy and eating behaviors by the stages of change in vegetable consumption among college students (n = 297). A survey was conducted to examine study variables, and subjects were categorized into three groups based on the stages of change: precontemplation/contemplation stage (PC/C), preparation stage (P), action/maintenance stage (A/M). Subjects had 3.7 servings of vegetables a day, and vegetable consumption was significantly different by stages of change (p < 0.001). The A/M group showed higher score on beliefs regarding vegetable consumption (p < 0.001) than the other groups, and perceived benefits of vegetable consumption (e.g. cancer prevention) more strongly (p < 0.05). The PC/C group felt more barriers than the A/M group, such as disliking cooking methods, texture of vegetables (p < 0.001), bad taste and bad experience of eating vegetables (p < 0.05). Self-efficacy score was 27.2, with decreasing self-efficacy from A/M to P, PC/C (p < 0.001). The A/M group showed more confidence in nine behaviors such as "eating vegetables during meals" and "replacing menu at home with more vegetable dishes" (p < 0.001) than the other groups. The A/M group had more desirable eating behaviors (e.g, having a variety of foods, eating regularly, consumption of food groups). This study suggests that target population for education and educational strategies be different based on the stages of change. For those in the PC/C stage, education might focus on reducing barriers and increasing self-efficacy. For those in the A/M stage, it is necessary to use strategies to maintain and reinforce behaviors for enough vegetable consumption.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.384-394
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• 2019

Objectives: The study was performed to examine the dietary behaviors and life stress of middle school students in the Gyeonggi area. Methods: A total of 580 middle school students (295 males, 285 females) in the Gyeonggi area participated in the study between July and August in 2011. The study was a questionnaire-based survey that included dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and life stress. Results: For dietary habits, the score for drinking milk was higher in male students than in female students, whereas the score for eating fruits was higher in female students compared to male students. There were significant differences in foods eaten and preferred under stress between male and female students. Male students showed significantly less changes in the number of meals, amount of meal intake, number of snacks, snack intake, frequency of overeating, and appetite during stress than female students. Life stress score of students largely came from academic factors, and female students showed higher stress levels in personal and surrounding environment factors than male students. Life stress score was significantly lower in students with high and moderate levels of dietary habits than in students with a low level of dietary habits. Total score for dietary habits and scores for eating adequate amounts of foods for each meal, considering a combination of food groups at each meal and eating green and orange vegetables, were significantly negatively correlated with life stress score. Life stress score was significantly negatively correlated with meal regularity and positively with the level of overeating. Conclusions: This study may provide basic information on dietary habits and life stress according to gender and the relationship between dietary behaviors and life stress of middle school students, and it suggests gender-based nutrition education programs to solve undesirable dietary habits and dietary behaviors in students with higher stress.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2014

The globalization of Korean food has long been an important agenda for both the Korean government and food-related firms, and there have been many trials and errors because of cultural differences in food consumption habits. This study explores Chinese consumers' purchase behaviors toward chicken menus, and for a better understanding of these behaviors, the study considers differences in consumer behavior in between Chinese and Korean consumers around Daejeon, South Korea. The sample included a total of 232 respondents who provided information on their purchase behaviors toward chicken menus. A total of 13 purchasing attributes were compared through a t-test, and according to the results, there were significant differences in 6 attributes: "like the taste" (p<0.001), "as a side dish for drinks" (p<0.001), "to feel good" (p<0.01), "like all chicken dishes" (p<0.05), "for health" (p<0.05), and "low prices" (p<0.05). The results for chicken consumption indicate significant differences in frequency (p<0.05), goals (p<0.01), and expected fair prices (p<0.05). These results suggest that, to make Korean chicken dishes a global Korean menu, future research should focus on consumers' motives for purchasing chicken menus, satisfaction, and characteristics. The generalizability of the results may be limited because the survey was conducted by considering only those students in the Daejeon area. Future research should include a wider range of consumers in both Korea and China for better strategic plans for food-related firms.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.383-392
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• 2012

Atopic related skin symptoms must be controlled continually. Because it is involved with food, eating behaviors play an important role in the prevention and management of atopic dermatitis. The aim of this study was to develop and apply nutrition education program for the prevention and management of atopic dermatitis on elementary school students. After applying the nutrition education program, our research attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of such nutrition education program. This study examined the effects of a nutrition education program on atopic dermatitis-related snacking behaviors, eating attitudes, and food behaviors. Subjects were 3rd grade elementary school students in Daejeon. A 6-week nutrition education program was implemented to 97 children as the educated group and another 94 children were included in the study as the control group. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the effects of nutrition education program. As results, eating attitudes reached significant improvement by the nutrition education program(p<0.05). In a paired t-test, the control group did not show significant difference, but the educated group showed a significant difference. In snacking behaviors, the two groups did not show statistical difference except for some considering factors. Also, there were no significant differences of the two groups after nutrition education program, except the snacking place after the nutrition education group. However, in the educated group, the types of snacks made by mothers increased 17.5% from 40.2% to 57.7%, and in-house as snacking place increased 13.4% from 68% to 81.4%. In the results of before and after the nutrition education program, the program showed some effect on the prevention and management of atopic dermatitis. Therefore, these results showed foundation for nutritional education and various educational programs are needed afterward to increase the effect of nutrition education in the prevention and management policy related to atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Applied Tourism Food and Beverage Management and Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2001