• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.342-360
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• 2014

Objectives: This study aimed to develop nutrition education program for consumers to reduce sodium intake based on social cognitive theory (SCT). Methods: The main factors of SCT related to low sodium diet were investigated by using focus group interview (FGI) with 30 women who participated in consumer organizations. Results: The main target groups for the education program were housewives (H), parents (P), and the office workers (OW), for which we considered their influences on other people and the surroundings. According to the results of FGI, in carrying out low sodium diet, 'positive outcome expectation' were prevention of chronic disease and healthy dietary habit, and 'negative outcome expectation' were low palatability of foods, difficulty in cooking meals, and limited choice of foods. The contents of the program and education materials were individualized by each group to raise self-efficacy and behavioral capability, which reflected the results of the FGI. The program included 'salt intake and health' to raise positive outcome expectation. For improving the ability to practice low-sodium diet, the program contained the contents that focused on 'cooking' and 'food purchasing' for H, on 'purchasing and selection of low-sodium food with the children' for P, and on 'way of selecting restaurant menu' for OW. Also the program included 'way of choosing the low-sodium foods when eating out' with suggestions on sodium content of the dishes and snacks. Further, 'dietary guidelines to reduce sodium intake' was also suggested to help self-regulation. Conclusions: This nutrition education program and education materials could be utilized for the community education and provide the basis for further consumer targeted education program for reducing sodium intake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.212-221
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• 2014

Korean style DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and a dietary education program for sodium reduction were developed. Reduced sodium diets (15 and 30% reductions) were developed from general diets for 3 consecutive weeks from Monday through Saturday. Subjects (19 total) were classified into two groups according to dietary education. Experimental period was from June 24 to July 23, 2012. Total sum of adaptation scores for low sodium diets significantly increased in the group that underwent dietary education compared to that without (p<0.05). After the experiment, both groups showed significantly increased values in terms of food group balance, sodium-related nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practice by paired t-test. Especially, group that underwent dietary education showed significantly higher values for attitudes by ANCOVA pre-test as a variation (p<0.01). For the results of the nutrient intake survey, group that underwent dietary education showed significantly increased values for dietary fiber (p<0.01), vitamin A (p<0.001), vitamin K (p<0.001), vitamin C (p<0.01), Folic acid (p<0.001), vitamin B12 (p<0.01), calcium (p<0.01), iron (p<0.05), and zinc (p<0.05) and significantly decreased values for sodium (p<0.05) and chloride (p<0.005). Subjects adapted to reduced sodium diets showed apparent improvements in sodium-related knowledge, attitude, practice and intake of nutrient, and these improvements were even higher in the group that underwent dietary education compared to that without. Thus, adaptation to low sodium diet combined with dietary education can improve dietary habits.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.513-526
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of low sodium diet education program on dietary habits, diet quality, and measures of obesity in overweight or obese middle-aged women. Methods: Subjects were 81 individuals aged 45 years or over, who completed an 8-week nutrition education. The subjects were divided into a normal group (N = 30) and an overweight-obese group (N = 51) according to the BMI. The effects were evaluated by anthropometric measurement, biochemical analysis, questionnaire, and diet records before and after the program. Results: Overweight-obese group showed significant decreases in weight (p < 0.0001), BMI (p < 0.0001), percent of body fat (p = 0.0087), waist circumference (p < 0.0001), systolic (p = 0.0003) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.0261). Nutrients intakes were not different between the two groups and only sodium intake was decreased after education. Total score of general dietary habits, dietary behavior related to sodium intake, dietary diversity score (DDS), diet variety score (DVS), and diet quality index-international (DQI-I) were improved in both groups compared to the baseline. Overweight-obese group showed significant improvement in 'having fruits everyday', 'having fish everyday', 'trying to eat many kinds of food', 'eating less broth when eating soup, stew, and noodles', 'eating less kimchi and salt-fermented vegetable', and 'propensity to think that dishes should be pretty seasoned'. In addition, moderation of empty calories food (p = 0.0064) and macronutrient ratio (p = 0.0004) were improved in the overweigh-obese group, but in the normal group, the results did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: These results suggested that low sodium diet education program may contribute to obesity management by improving diet quality and dietary habits in middle-aged women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.558-567
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate recognition, dietary attitude and education needs for reducing sodium intakes of dietitian at customized home visiting health service (CHVHS). Methods: The subjects were 75 dietitian at CHVHS. We investigated several variables (recognition, dietary attitude, education needs for reducing sodium intakes) and determined sodium intakes level of subjects as 'low', 'middle' and 'high' by Dish Frequency Questionnaire 25 (DFQ 25). Also, we assessed the differences in recognition, dietary attitude, sodium intake level and education needs by dietitian career period (under 3 yrs vs. over 3 yrs) at CHVHS. Results: In recognition related reducing sodium intake, they showed 'checking a sodium content in nutrition labeling' score 2.5/4.0 and 'perception difference between sodium and salt' score 3.1/4.0. There was no difference in the recognition between under 3yrs' group and over 3yrs' group. In dietary attitude related reducing sodium intake, they showed 'palatability for salty taste' score 0.8/1.0, 'attitude in related soups' 0.7/1.0, 'attitude in related using natural spice' 0.6/1.0. There was a difference in 'attitude in related soups' between under 3yrs' group and over 3yrs' group (0.6 vs. 0.7). In sodium intake level by DFQ 25, they showed 'low group' 41.3%, 'middle group' 41.3% and 'high group' 17.3%. There was no difference in the distribution of sodium intake level by the career. In education needs related reducing sodium intakes, there were 'teaching experience' 93.3%, 'have a difficulty in teaching about reducing sodium intakes' 86.6%, and 'necessity of education for CHVHS dietitians' 100.0%. 'Needed education contents for CHVHS dietitians' were ranked as 'cooking way to reduce sodium intake' 58.7%, 'relation between hypertension and sodium' 17.3%, 'composing way to reduce sodium intake' 17.3%. There was a difference in needed education contents 'relationship between hypertension and sodium' (33.3% vs. 2.6%) and 'The cooking way to reduce sodium intake' (38.9% vs. 76.9%) by the career. Conclusions: The results suggested that a capacity training program for reducing sodium intake may be needed for dietitians at CHVHS to improve health of the community elderly. For effective training program related reducing sodium intake for dietitians at CHVHS, it may be necessary to consider the career period as dietitians at CHVHS.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.640-652
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• 2008

Hypertension is among the most common and important risk factors for stroke, heart attack, and heart failure which is considered to be the leading cause of death in Korea. The prevalence rate of hypertension in Korea is 27.9%, according to the 2006 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey. Since non-pharmacologic nutrition education is recommended as the first step in the management of hypertension, evaluation of nutrition program is needed to form strategies for improving patients' dietary adherence. This study was designed to evaluate the overall effectiveness of a hypertension nutrition education program (HNEP) for reducing the salt intake, at a public health center located in Gyunggi-province. The HNEP was offered for 16 weeks from May to September in 2007. Nutrition education activities included cooking classes, food preparation demonstrations, physical fitness programs, salty taste preference test sessions, games, case-study presentations, planning and evaluation of menus, etc. Forty patients participated fully in the program which had 47 female enrollees. Data about nutrient intake (24-hour recall), nutrition knowledge, food behavior were collected before (baseline) and after the program. Changes after program completion indicated the following: 1) diastolic blood pressure was decreased (p < 0.05), 2) sodium (salt) intake was also decreased (p < 0.01), especially baseline high salt intake group, 3) nutrition knowledge was improved (p<0.001), 4) dietary behaviors for maintaining a low salt diet was improved (p < 0.001), 5) participants preferred cooking class from nutrition education methods. As a conclusion, it appears that a nutrition education program for hypertensive female elderly for reducing the salt intake might effectively decrease blood pressure and salt intake. It also improves nutrition knowledge, dietary behavior, and finally adherence to a recommendable low-sodium diet.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.540-552
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hypertension is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of deaths in Korea. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a nutrition education in reducing sodium intake and increasing potassium intake in hypertensive adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Subjects who participated in this study were 88 adults (28 males and 60 females) who were pre-hypertension or untreated hypertensive patients aged ≥ 30 yrs in Gyeonggi Province, Korea. These subjects were divided into 2 groups: a lowsodium education (LS) group and a low-sodium high-potassium education (LSHP) group. Nutrition education of 3 sessions for 12 weeks was conducted. Blood pressure, blood and urine components, nutrient intake, and dietary behavior were compared between the two education groups. RESULT: Blood pressure was decreased in both groups after the nutrition education (P < 0.05). In the LSHP group, levels of blood glucose (P < 0.05), total cholesterol (P < 0.01), and lowdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol (P < 0.05) were decreased after the program completion. Sodium intake was decreased in both groups after the nutrition education (P < 0.05). However, Na/K ratio was only decreased in the LS group (P < 0.05). Intake frequency of fish & shellfish was only significantly reduced in the LS group (P < 0.05), while intake frequencies of cooked rice, noodles & dumplings, breads & snacks, stew, kimchi, and fish & shellfish were reduced in the LSHP group (P < 0.05). Total score of dietary behavior appeared to be effectively decreased in both groups after the education program (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This education for reducing sodium intake was effective in reducing blood pressure and sodium intake. The education for enhancing potassium intake resulted in positive changes in blood glucose and serum cholesterol levels.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.174-187
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate an education program for housewives to reduce sodium intake based on the social cognitive theory. Methods: Housewives (n = 387) received 2 education sessions focused on food purchase and cooking, and completed a questionnaire on their perceptions of environmental, cognitive, and behavioral factors and the stages of behavioral change to reducing sodium intake both before and after the education program. Results: After the education program, the recognition of social efforts for sodium reduction and sodium labeling and experience with low-sodium products increased. Positive expectancies for the prevention of osteoporosis by the reduction of sodium were enhanced while the main barriers in practicing sodium reduction decreased, especially 'interrupting social relationships when dining with others', 'bad taste', 'preference for soup or stew', and 'limited knowledge and skills to practice'. In addition, cognition and nutrition knowledge related to reducing sodium intake were improved on all scores, but the effect on self-efficacy and dietary behavior was limited to only a few items. The percentage of participants in the pre-action stage (including pre-contemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages) for reducing sodium intake decreased from 43.2% before education to 21.5% after education, while that in the action stage increased from 19.6% before education to 43.5% after education (p < 0.001). The education program had the most significant impact on participants who were in the pre-action stage and showed improved scores in all sections. Conclusion: These results suggest that a customized education program for housewives could be an effective tool to reduce sodium intake by improving personal expectancies, cognition, and nutrition knowledge regarding sodium reduction and enabling a greater section of the population to move to the action stage of reducing sodium intake.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.724-736
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• 2012

This study was intended to investigate the sodium-related perception, dietary behavior, and practicability of methods for reducing sodium intake(RSI) according to the stage of change in consumers. The survey was conducted to 770 housewives, among them 553 subjects who answered the key questions for the stage of change were categorized into 'Maintenance (M)' stage (maintaining reduced salt intake for more than 6 months; n = 287, 51.90%), 'Action (A)' stage (maintaining reduced salt intake for less than 6 months; n=139, 25.14%), and 'Pre-Action (P)' stage (not starting reduced salt intake; n = 127, 22.97%). The subjects in M and A were significantly older than those in P (p < 0.01). The scores of desirable dietary habit and dietary balance were the highest in M followed by A and P. When eating out, the subjects in P considered 'price' more and 'healthiness of food' less than those in M and A did. Among the guidelines for RSI, 'Avoid Processed Foods', 'Eat enough vegetables and fruits' and 'Add little amount of dipping sauce for fried food' were selected as the three easiest items to perform. With regard to the sodium-related perception, the subjects in M considered eating-out food to be more salty than homemade dishes, read nutrition labels more, avoided table salt or dipping sauce for fried food more, and had 'own low-sodium recipe' than those in P (p < 0.001). It is suggested that practicability of actions for RSI and the stage of change should be considered to develop effective personalized education program and nutrition guidance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.76-84
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• 2015

This study aimed to investigate awareness of processed foods and chronic disease in high school students (male 94 and female 85) in the Yongin area. Awareness of chronic disease caused by excessive intake of processed foods was 83.0% and 91.8% in male and female students, and the most harmful processed food was instant noodles (34.1%). The most fearful chronic disease was cancer (25.5%) and obesity (25.5%) in males, whereas female answered obesity (34.1%). Awareness of synthetic preservatives was the most negative answer among food additives, and the most useful information was harmfulness of food additives. Percentages of correct answers towards cardiovascular disease-causing food components, including lipids, saturated fat, cholesterol, and trans fat, and dietary fiber for prevention of obesity were 57.0% and 54.2%, respectively. The percentage of correct answers towards developing hypertension by excessive intake of sodium was very low at 24.6%. Consequently, high school students generally showed a negative attitude towards processed foods without accurate information related to prevention or food components causing chronic disease, especially sodium. Thus, an appropriate program and persistent nutrition education are required for healthy food choices to prevent chronic disease among processed foods.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the health status, nutritional status, and nutrient intakes of Korean female elderly who are members of a local church in Seoul, Korea. Methods: The subjects were 59 female who are aged >65 yr. We investigated the nutritional status of the subjects using anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Interview was conducted to obtain the information regarding the health status. We also obtained dietary intake of these subjects to figure out the nutrient intakes. Results: The mean age of the subject was 74.0 yr old. Based on the WHO standard (obesity, body mass index, BMI ${\qeq}25$), we categorized the subjects to the obese and the non obese groups. The number of subjects in the obese group was 34 (57.6%). The mean Diastolic BP (p=.002), BMI (p<.001), waist circumference (p<.001), hip circumference (p<.001), blood level of transferrin (p=.038), and nutrient intakes of calcium (p=.026), potassium (p=.046), folate (p=.038) and vitamin E (p=.031) were higher in the obese group than in the non obese group. The subjects with hypertension was 67.5%. The presence of hypertension was correlated with BMI (p<.05). The number of subjects with hypercholesterolemia was 17 (28.8%). The level of cholesterol was correlated with BMI (p<.05) and wasit/hip ratio (p<.05). Conclusion: The female elderly in our study had higher prevalence of obesity which is a risk factor for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. The nutrient intake of high sodium, high cholesterol, and low dietary fiber of these subjects suggests that there is an urgent need to develop an well planned nutritional education program for female elderly.