• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.234-247
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the consumption and perception of high caloric-low nutrient dense foods in middle school students in the Daegu. Among 550 questionnaires distributed to students in Daegu, 528 (256 boys and 272 girls) were analyzed. A little higher than 80% of students ate snacks everyday, and 43.4%, 29.0%, and 8.1% ate snacks once, twice, and three times or more per day, respectively. Snacks and foods most frequently consumed were ice cream, fried noodles, drinks, cookies, and baked goods. Energy supply from snacks was 104.8~356.9 Kcal/intake while that from meal substitution foods was 520.7~980 Kcal/intake. Students' knowledge score of high caloric-low nutrient dense foods was $6.51{\pm}3.02$ out of 10 points. Sixty percent of students did not read nutrition labels, but 67.9% of them thought that they need nutrition education by nutrition teachers. Students recognized the criteria of high caloric-low nutrient dense foods as well as proper food selection for essential educational items, It was concluded that effective education should be implemented in middle schools by nutrition teachers for students to develop good habits in selecting snacks and foods.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2013

This study was conducted to provide basic data for development of a dietary education textbook and guidebook by investigating and analyzing eating behavior, nutrition knowledge and educational needs in elementary school students. Most of the subjects were eating three meals a day (71.5%) and breakfast (75.3%). The percentage of students who consumed proper amount of meals (49.2%) was low. The percentage of students consuming salty food and fatty foods was 28.6% and 42.1%, respectively. The consumption of meat, fish, egg, bean and tofu was high, while the consumption of vegetables, fruits and seaweed was low. The percentage of students consuming processed food was high, but the percentage reading nutrition labels (34.9%) and hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) mark (26.9%) when buying processed foods was very low. Total scores of eating behavior and nutrition knowledge were significantly higher in female students than in male students (p < 0.05-p < 0.001). The desirable frequency of the education was once a week (60.5%). The most preferred educational method was 'experiment and cooking practice' (40.1%). The students wanted dietary information as 'cooking' (39.0%). As a result of this study, many problems were found in the eating behavior of students and nutritional knowledge was observed to be low as well. On the other hand, the demand for dietary education was very high. The findings of this study suggested the need for developing dietary education programs in order to encourage proper eating habits of students.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.434-444
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• 2019

Prevalence of allergic diseases is influenced by environment and dietary life. It is key to improve daily food life to relieve them. Food nutrition labeling is useful to do it by offering nutrition information. The purpose of the study is to find relationship between experience of diagnosis of allergic diseases and recognition of food nutrition labeling. The data of 4,928 people with experience on diagnosis allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis of 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey was used. According to the result of binary logistic regression analysis, those who had experience in being diagnosed with an allergy showed high awareness in food labels. There were differences between allergy diagnosis groups and allergy non-diagnosis in affecting factors of residence, income level, subjective health status and body-shape perception. Support measures are needed to enhance access and convenience to nutrition education and nutrition labeling to support nutrition labeling utilization.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.519-531
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Regional disparities in dietary factors might be related to regional disparities in cardiometabolic health. Therefore, this study investigated the associations of cardiometabolic risk factors and dietary factors with regional types in Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Based on data from the 2007-2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the study included 39,781 adults aged ≥ 19 years who completed the dietary survey and a health examination. Healthy and unhealthy dietary factors (fat, sodium, fruit, and vegetable intakes) were evaluated using 1-day 24-h dietary recall method, as well as the use of nutrition labels with a questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the participants, 48.7%, 36.0%, and 15.2% lived in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas, respectively. Adults living in urban and rural had higher odds ratios (ORs) for obesity (OR for urban, 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.14; OR for rural, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.05-1.24) than adults living in metropolitan areas; these associations were significantly observed in middle-aged adults. Compared to metropolitan residents, rural residents had lower ORs for hypertension in middle-aged (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76-0.96) and metabolic syndrome in older adults (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.91). Regarding urban residents, a lower OR for diabetes in middle-aged adults (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.97) and a higher OR for hypertension in older adults (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02-1.39) were observed. Overall rural residents had higher ORs of excessive carbohydrate, low fruit, and high salted-vegetable intakes than metropolitan residents. Low fruit intake was positively associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and hypertension, after adjustment for regional type and other confounders in total participants. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that cardiometabolic risk and unhealthy dietary factors differ among regional types and age groups within Korea. Nutritional policy and interventions should consider regional types for prevention and management of cardiometabolic risk factors.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.280-290
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• 2020

Objectives: This study investigated the menu and nutritional contents of convenience store lunchboxes, and evaluated the nutritional content by meal type, price, and store brand. Methods: In September 2019, 93 convenience store lunchboxes from the top five franchise stores were purchased. Relevant information on price, food weight, food ingredients, cooking methods, and nutrition labeling were subsequently collected. Nutritional content was evaluated based on the daily value (DV) and Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ), and energy contribution of carbohydrate, protein, fat, saturated fat and sugar was compared with the recommended range. Results: Most lunchboxes included the food groups; grains/starches, meats/fish/eggs/legumes, and vegetables. However, none provided fruits, and only a few lunchboxes provided milk/milk products. Stir-frying, deep-frying, and pan-frying were the most frequent methods of cooking. The average energy content of the lunchboxes was 736.6 kcal, whereas the average contents of protein, fat and saturated fat were higher than 40% of the DV, and sodium content was 66.8% of the DV. The contents of most nutrients in traditional type lunchboxes were higher, as compared to nutrients in onedish type lunchboxes. Considering pricing of lunchboxes, protein and sodium contents were higher in the higher-priced lunchboxes as compared to lower-priced lunchboxes, but there were no differences in the INQs. The contents of energy, protein, fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol significantly differed by brand. Conclusions: Our results indicate that convenience store lunchboxes contain high levels of protein, fat, saturated fat, and sodium. The nutritional contents differed by meal type, price, and store brand, and higher price did not imply higher nutritional quality. We propose the need to educate consumers to check nutrition labels and purchase appropriate lunchboxes. Manufacturers also need to make efforts to reduce the amounts of fat, saturated fat, and sodium, and not provide protein in excess.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.80-94
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent studies have reported chocolate consumption has beneficial effects on blood pressure, obesity, and dyslipidemia, which are components of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, evidence regarding these relationships in Asia is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate relations between chocolate consumption and MetS in Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Study subjects were 6,982 adults aged 19-64 years free of major chronic diseases that participated in the 2014-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Information on chocolate consumption was obtained using food frequency questionnaires. For primary analysis, subjects were divided into two groups: non-consumer (n = 3,741, 53.6%); consumer (n = 3,241, 46.4%). In order to investigate dose-response effects on MetS, chocolate consumers were divided into quartiles based on amounts consumed: Q1 (n = 789, 24.3%); Q2 (n = 837, 25.8%); Q3 (n = 863, 26.6%); Q4 (n = 752, 23.2%) in second analysis. RESULTS: Chocolate consumers; 1) were more physically active(P < 0.0001); 2) less likely to smoke(P < 0.0001); 3) paid more attention to food nutrition labels (P < 0.0001), and 4) had healthier dietary patterns, that is, they consumed vegetables, fruits, and dairy products more frequently(P < 0.0001) than non-consumers. Furthermore, chocolate consumers had a 30% lower risk of MetS (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-0.86; P = 0.0005). However, dose-response effects between chocolate intake and MetS was not found by secondary analysis after excluding non-consumers. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, chocolate consumers had healthier lifestyles and dietary patterns and a lower prevalence of MetS than non-consumers, as determined by our primary analysis. Although dose-response effects were not found to be significant among chocolate consumers during secondary analysis, the patterns were partially similar. This cross-sectional finding shows chocolate consumption does not increase the risk of MetS. The prospective studies and intervention trials in Korea are needed to confirm this cross-sectional finding.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.228-243
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the distinctions in dietary and health-related behaviors among Indonesian women who marry Koreans or into multicultural families (MF) and those who marry Indonesians living in Korea (IK) and in Indonesia (II). Methods: The study was performed with 192 subjects using an online questionnaire regarding food choice, dietary and health behavior, and nutrition quotient (NQ). The analysis used Pearson's chi-squared test, the Fisher's exact test, multinomial logistic regression, and the general linear model. Results: The MF group consumed Korean food more than once a day and Indonesian food 1-2 times monthly (p < 0.001). The main challenge for the IK and II groups in consuming Korean food was the presence of pork and the different food flavors (p < 0.001). The MF group tended to have normal body mass index, consumed more vitamin and mineral supplements (p = 0.014), and exercised regularly ≥150 min/week compared to the IK and II groups (p < 0.001). However, the MF group had the highest rate of skipping breakfast (p = 0.040). When evaluating the NQ of the participants, the MF group consumed more vegetables (p = 0.026), mixed grains (p = 0.031), and spicy and salt soups (p = 0.006). The II group consumed more fish (p = 0.005), beans (p = 0.009), and nuts (p = 0.003). The IK group checked the nutrition labels the most (p = 0.005), while their consumption of vegetables, fish, beans, and nuts was lowest. The MF group had a higher balance score, which resulted in a substantially more nutritious food intake compared to the other two groups (p = 0.037). Conclusion: The MF group consumed more vegetables and mixed grains, adequate fish, beans, and nuts, and engaged in longer daily physical activity. However, the IK group had a relatively low-quality diet and nutritional intake status compared to the other two groups, and this needs to be improved in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.379-393
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• 2011

This study compared the college students' dietary behavior for processed foods, who will be the main consumers in the future and looked for the measures to understand and establish the right food labeling system by surveying the level of understanding and utilization of food labeling. The data was analysed by SPSS win 17.0 program, and the results are as follows. For the standard of selecting processed foods, the group with high nutrition knowledge considered the reliability of foods as important and the group with low nutrition knowledge considered the products introduced in TV commercial as important. When purchasing processed foods, the group with high nutrition knowledge considered nutrition, taste, price, appearance(shape), and the consumable period more than the group with low nutrition knowledge. For trans fat, the group with high nutrition knowledge learned more about it than the group with low nutrition knowledge. The ratio of confirming food nutrition label was higher in the group with high nutrition knowledge. Regarding the level of confirming individual food labels, the highest level was for milk and dairy products. And there was significant difference for the processed products of meat, cookies, bread and noodles. It was found that the level of confirmation was higher in the group with high nutrition knowledge. And the most important indication for individual food product was the consumable period. To preserve the purchased foods, the group with high nutrition knowledge preserve the foods in line with the description written on the food cover sheet, and this group used to return or exchange the products when they found them spoiled or purchased by mistake. The group with high nutrition knowledge knew more about the nutrition indication than the group with low nutrition knowledge. The necessity of nutrition indication for processed foods and the need of education and PR(Public Relation) were acknowledged higher in the group with high nutrition knowledge. For the effect of nutrition indication, it showed that the group with high nutrition knowledge thought it would improve the quality and the group with low nutrition knowledge thought it would be helpful when comparing the product with others. The group with high nutrition knowledge showed higher understanding level about nutrition indication than the group with low nutrition knowledge.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.624-632
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• 1997

This study was conducted to evaluated the nutrition quality of the commercial supplementary foods for infants and young children and to seek a solution to the establishment of standards of nutrient requirements for supplementary foods in Korea. Information on food ingredients, nutrient contents, claims about usefulness of food components and instructions for feeding preparation were obtained from the labels of 33 commercial supplementary foods manufactured by 4 different domestic companies. According to the standard of supplementary foods for infants and young children described in the Korean Food Code, the commercial supplementary foods were categorized into two different types, weaning food and baby food. All the commercial weaning foods were in powder form and mainly composed of cereals, whereas all the baby foods were mainly composed of fruits in the form of canned juice. The weaning foods contained more nutrients than the baby foods did, and the nutrient levels of the weaning foods expressed as nutrient density on energy basis were higher than the RDA for infants aged 5 to 11 months, suggesting that the commercial weaning foods provide adequate amounts of nutrients. If one followed the instructions for feeding preparation appearing on the label, however, recommended amounts of intake of the weaning foods would provide too much energy as well as nutrients. There were many differences in nutrient standards of weaning foods between the Korean Food Code and Codex international food standard. In conclusion, the establishment of standards for nutrient requirements for the supplementary foods requires significant scientific studies on what nutrients are the most inadequate in Korean infants and young children feeds and what levels of nutrients should be added to the foods in order to supplement their nutrition. In addition, it is very important to have a strong scientific basis to support our standard when discrepancies exist between our standard and the international standard. (Korean J Community Nutrition 2(4) : 624-632, 1997)

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.734-743
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• 2012

High sodium consumption is a significant nutrition problem in South Korea; however, few studies have examined the awareness and practice of dietitians with respect to low sodium diet in schools. In this study, we collected data from 211 dietitians in 2012. Most respondents indicated that sodium reduction was important in school meals (very important 40.5%, somewhat important 55.6%); however, they rarely checked the sodium content in the nutrition labels of processed foods (never/rarely 74.2%, sometimes 18.7%, always/often 7.2%). The main reason for not checking the sodium content was 'no nutrition table on some processed foods' (38.5%). The most important barrier to sodium reduction in school meals was overcoming the negative taste of students related to a reduced-sodium diet (70.4%). The most frequently used processed foods were processed meat (e.g. ham, bacon) (48.3%), frozen dumplings and noodles (33.8%), and sausage and dressing (14.5%) in school meals. The proportion of dietitians who used processed food ${\geq}$ 2 times per week for the school menu was 72.2% in high school, 28.4% in middle school and 12.4% in elementary school (p<0.05). Upon ranking of the importance of nutrients in school menus, calories received the highest score (4.35 points), followed by macronutrient ratios (4.30), calcium (4.06), iron (3.44) and sodium (3.20). Although most dietitians recognized that sodium reduction was important in school menu planning, they had poor dietary practices. It is suggested that we educate dietitians as well as students about the importance and practice of a reduced sodium diet. Furthermore, it is critical to develop diverse low sodium recipes and have a required nutrition labeling system for all processed foods. Overall, the results of this study could serve as a guide to planning effective nutrition programs to reduce sodium consumption in school feeding programs.