• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.366-378
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a sodium index, which is a tool for estimating and assessing sodium intake easily and quickly, to assist in the prevention of various diseases induced by excess sodium intake in Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The 24-h urine collection and dietary behavior surveys were performed on 640 healthy people in 4 regions of South Korea, and an equation for the estimation of 24-h sodium intake was developed. The validity and reliability of the equation were verified with 200 adults. The sodium index was developed by converting the estimated sodium intake using the equation. Finally, the sodium intake status of 1,600 adults was assessed using the sodium index. RESULTS: The equation included sex, age, body mass index, eating habit and dietary behaviors related to sodium intake. In validity test of the equation, the mean bias between sodium intake using 24-h urine analysis and using the equation from the Bland-Altman plots was -1.5 mg/day. The sensitivity and specificity of the equation for estimation of sodium intake were 80.5% and 64.4%, respectively. In the reliability test of the equation, there was no significant difference between the first and second sodium intakes calculated using the equations, and Spearman's correlation coefficient between the 2 sodium intakes was 0.98. Sodium intake can be assessed as 'very moderate' for 75-100 on the sodium index, 'moderate' for 100-150, 'careful' for less than 75 or 150-200, and 'severe' for 250 or more. When sodium intake was assessed using the sodium index in 1,600 subjects, 54.3% and 24.3% of the subjects were assessed to be in the 'careful' and 'severe' categories, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Using a simple questionnaire, the sodium index can be used to monitor and assess sodium intake status, assisting in nutrition education and counseling in a large population.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.566-577
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of nutrition education program on anthropometric values and boichemical index in obese children who live in Gumi city. The subjects were 16 obese boys, 20 obese girls with obesity index over 130 and 36 of their parents. The nutrition education was carried out by the professional personnel such as doctors, professors, and dietitians. The children were provided with well-balanced lunch meals and had 40min-lectures on the reasonable weight management, 40 min-games and also had regular exercises (stretching, swimming) for 90 mins everyday during 2weeks of the program. The parents had 90 min-lectures on childhood obesity, diet therapy, behavior modification, and exercise for 6times. After the program, obesity index, BMI, % body fat were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in boys and obese index, BMI, % body fat and WHR were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in girls. Blood cholesterol and TG levels of girls were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). These findings show that the well-designed nutrition education program for obese children can be an effective approach to help them to improve their anthropometric values and biochemical index.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.189-198
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• 2024

Objectives: The sodium index is an index that converts the estimated sodium intake calculated using a verified and reliable sodium estimation formula. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the sodium index and obesity indicators and the potential impact of excessive sodium consumption on obesity. Methods: Obesity indicators, such as body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and visceral fat levels, were analyzed in 120 university students (60 men and 60 women). The sodium index was calculated by indexing the estimated sodium intake according to age, sex, BMI, salt-eating habits, and salt-eating behaviors. The relationship between sodium index and obesity indicators was analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: The estimated sodium intake was 3,907.1 mg, with 76.7% of the participants categorized under the "careful" level of sodium index and 10.8% under the "moderate" level. As the sodium index increased, the BMI, body fat percentage, WHR, and visceral fat levels significantly increased. All obesity indicators significantly increased in patients with a "severe" sodium index than in those with a "moderate" sodium index. In addition, a strong positive correlation was identified between obesity indicators and sodium index. When the "severe" sodium index was compared with the "moderate" sodium index, the risk of obesity based on body fat percentage increased by 2.181 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.526-3.118), while the risk of obesity based on visceral fat level increased by 4.073 times (95% CI, 2.097-7.911). Conclusions: Our findings suggest a correlation between excessive sodium intake and obesity. Moreover, the sodium index can be used to determine sodium intake.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.402-411
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The role of a school's nutrition environment in explaining students' eating behaviors and weight status has not been examined in an Asian setting. The purpose of this study was to create a school nutrition environment index and to pilot test the index in elementary and middle schools in urban South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study used a mixed-methods approach. Environment assessment tools were developed based on formative research, which comprised literature reviews, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions. Key elements from the formative research were included in the assessment tool, which consisted of a structured survey questionnaire for school dietitians. Fifteen school dietitians from 7 elementary and 8 middle schools in Seoul completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: The formative research revealed four main sections that guided a summary index to assess a school's nutrition environment: resource availability, education and programs, dietitians' perceptions and characteristics, and school lunch menu. Based on the literature reviews and interviews, an index scoring system was developed. The total possible score from the combined four index sections was 40 points. From the 15 schools participating in the pilot survey, the mean school nutrition-environment index was 22.5 (standard deviation ${\pm}3.2$; range 17-28). The majority of the schools did not offer classroom-based nutrition education or nutrition counseling for students and parents. The popular modes of nutrition education were school websites, posters, and newsletters. CONCLUSIONS: This paper illustrates the process used to develop an instrument to assess a school's nutrition environment. Moreover, it presents the steps used to develop a scoring system for creation of a school nutrition environment index. As pilot testing indicated the total index score has some variation across schools, we suggest applying this instrument in future studies involving a larger number of schools. Future studies with larger samples will allow investigation of the validity and reliability of this newly developed tool.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.46-56
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• 2010

This study was intended to assess the effects of low glycemic index (LGI) nutrition education on dietary management and glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The subjects were 48 sex-matched patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged $66.5\;{\pm}\;6.2$ years, visiting a public health center. They were divided into two groups: the control group (males 10, females 14) and the educated group (males 10, females 14). The educated group was provided with a LGI nutrition education program for 7 weeks. The control group was educated only one time for general diabetic education. Anthropometric indices, knowledge and perception of efficacy of low glycemic index carbohydrates, dietary glycemic index (DGI) and glycemic load (DGL), fasting blood glucose, and HbA1c were assessed. In the educated group body weight, body mass index and systolic blood pressure (from $138.0\;{\pm}\;18.9\;mmHg$ to $130.6\;{\pm}\;15.0\;mmHg$) were significantly reduced after the nutrition education (p < 0.05). The scores of knowledge and perception of efficacy of low glycemic index carbohydrates increased significantly in the educated group. Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load of the educated group decreased significantly from $103.4\;{\pm}\;67.6$ to $45.4\;{\pm}\;27.1$ (p < 0.001), and from $173.3\;{\pm}\;135.9$ to $66.8\;{\pm}\;50.4$ (p < 0.001), respectively. Also fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels of the educated group significantly decreased from $124.5\;{\pm}\;28.8\;mg/dL$ to $96.7\;{\pm}\;21.6\;mg/dL$ (p < 0.001) and from $7.1\;{\pm}\;1.3%$ to $6.4\;{\pm}\;1.2%$ (p < 0.05), respectively. The score of knowledge and perception of efficacy of low glycemic index significantly correlated with fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels negatively. DGI, DGL and duration of diabetes significantly correlated with HbA1c level positively. From stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, DGI, DGL and the duration of diabetes were extracted as factors influencing HbA1c level of the subjects. The results of this study suggest that low glycemic index nutrition education programs is an effective intervention measure for the glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.172-181
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• 2016

This study evaluated the satisfaction and healthy eating index of nutrition-plus program providing nutritional supplements to pregnancy, lactating women, infant and children. This program was carried out at Public Healthcare Center, Seodaemun-gu in Seoul from February 2014 to June 2014. The subject selected among applicants for low income family financing of the government included 159 subjects. There was no statistically significant difference for degree of satisfaction with supplementary food by age, but the degree tends to get higher at lower age. Degree of satisfaction with supplementary food by the duration for participation was shown higher as the duration gets longer. For questions of 'Do you check nutrition label?' and 'Do you preserve food as described at food label?' in healthy eating index evaluation, the scores appeared higher at younger age group as they check the nutrition label more. Also as the duration for participation gets longer, the scores appeared higher which can be interpreted as effect of nutrition education from Nutrition-Plus. Frequency of having breakfast gets lower at higher age of subjects. And it gets higher as the duration for participation gets longer even though that there's no difference between '3 to 4 months' and '5 to 8 months' of the duration of participation. For evaluation of food security in recent 1 year, 86.8% of subjects responded 'Food sufficiency' and 'Enough but not always the kinds of food we want', and there is no difference by age and the duration of participation. As a result of this research, it is shown that the subjects of nutrition support project are relatively satisfied with the support. And healthy eating index gets improved as the duration of participation gets longer which can be considered as effect of nutrition education. It seems to be necessary to keep nutrition education as well as food support so to perform food life education on appropriate purchase and consumption of food.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2005

Elder people in Korea was affecting the nutritional status by following factors : low energy intakes, low food diversity, and poor quality of nutrition. Management a nutrition education program was planned to change the elder's nutrition knowledge and improve their nutritional status. There are seven kinds of indicator - knowledge for health questionnaire (before and after education) - we have investigated elderly nutrition education group in Su-Jung ku, Sung-Nam city. The items of surveyed was general characteristics and anthropometric measurement of the elder people, their mini dietary assessment index score, nutritional risk, nutrition knowledge test, and it's valuation comparisons between the before and after every education we did. According to the results of mini dietary assessment index score, the mean was 22.7 at the maximum 30 points and $94.2\%$ of respondents got more than nomal group. The nutritional risk score was the highest in 'high risk' group. Also the results of nutrition knowlede test showed that the mean increase $35.1\%$ of respondents. Therefore, significant improvement results showed by nutrition education programs in elders. These results suggests that the educating nutrition programs fur elder's encouraging eating behavior themselves and changing their knowledge in nutrition.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.358-368
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to compare the validity of obesity indices among the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BF%), and to determine which is the most useful index to predict the risk of chronic diseases of elderly people. This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study at welfare centers in Seoul. The total number of subjects was 261 (68 men and 193 women) with age ${\geq}60$ years. The distribution of obesity using 3 obesity indices in the subjects with hypertension, diabetes, or arthritis was BF%>WC>BMI in elderly men and WC>BF%>BMI in elderly women. In elderly women, odds ratios (ORs) for hypertension in BMI and WC quartiles were significantly increased in quartile 2 and 3 (p<0.05). The ORs for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and arthritis in BF% quartiles were significantly increased in quartile 3 and 4 (p<0.05). The BF% was sensitive obesity index for predicting the occurrence of chronic disease in men, and the WC was sensitive index in women. Our results suggested maintaining BMI less than $23.5kg/m^2$, WC less than 82 cm, and BF less than 35% in order to prevent chronic diseases in elderly women.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.542-550
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• 2012

This pilot study was performed to produce data of the Children's Dietary Life Safety (CDLS) Index which is required by the Special Act on Safety Management of Children's Dietary Life and to evaluate the CDLS Index for 7 metropolitan cities and 9 provinces in Korea. To calculate the CDLS Index score, data regarding the evaluation indicators in the children's food safety domain and children's nutrition safety domain were collected from the local governments in 2009. For data regarding the indicators in the children's perception & practice domain, a survey was conducted on 2,400 5th grade children selected by stratified sampling in 16 local areas. Relative scores of indicators in each domain were calculated using the data provided by local governments and the survey, the weights are applied on relative scores, and then the CDLS Index scores of local governments were produced by adding scores of the 3 domains. The national average scores of the food safety domain, the nutrition safety domain and the perception and practice domain were 23.74 (14.67-26.50 on a 40-point scale), 16.65 (12.25-19.60 on a 40-point scale), and 14.88 (14.16-15.30 on a 20-point scale), respectively. The national average score of the CDLS Index which was produced by adding the scores of the three domains was 55.27 ranging 46.44-58.94 among local governments. The CDLS Index scores produced in this study may provide the motivation for comparing relative accomplishment and for actively achieving the goals through establishment of the target value by local governments. Also, it can be used as useful data for the establishment and improvement of children's dietary life safety policy at the national level.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.286-298
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• 2005

This study aimed to estimate the effect of the home based food supplying program in single living female elderly on the basis of depression, Health and Nutrition Risk Index, dietary attitude and dish consumption frequencies. The Food Supplying Program was carried out for 8 months for 27 single living female elderly from lower income status in Bucheon city. Main supplied foods were consisted with soymilk, vegetables, fruits and fish. The effect of the food supplying program were analyzed for 22 elderly who completed the program (group supplied with food : GSF) compared to the group not supplied with food (GNSF). The results of this study were as follows: Degree of depression estimated with depression score and Health-Nutrition Risk Index were decreased and the scores of dietary attitude and behaviors were increased for GSF after 8 months. However these improvements were not shown in the GNSF. GSF showed significantly increased consumption frequencies in soybean milk, tangerine, stir fried anchovy and yogurt, where as GNSF was observed with the decreasing trend in most of the dishes. In conclusion, home based food supplying program for single living female elderly not only increased the consumption frequencies of some dishes but also improved depression rate, Health and Nutrition Risk Index and dietary behavior concomitantly.