• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.123-131
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• 2004

This study was carried out to identify dietary risk factors for childhood obesity. The study subjects were male children, aged 2-6years, who were enrolled in nursery schools and kindergartens. We obtained anthropometric measurements from 949 boys and dietary questionnaires from 253 boys. The subjects were classified into two groups using the BMI criteria, normal (n=200) group with the BMI below 85th percentile and the obese group with the BMI at 85th percentile and above (n=53). The logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratios (OR) for obesity were, birth weight greater than 4.0㎏ (3.27) , increased meal speed (4.98) , the frequency of overeating more than twice a week (2.63), the consumption of cooked rice more than one bowl per meal (2.77), the consumption of milk and dairy products less than 5 times a week (2.81), and increased maternal meal speed (1.98). Stepwise multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the variables which contribute to obesity significantly were birth weight greater than 4.0 ㎏ (OR 5.19), the frequency of overeating more than twice a week (OR 2.51) , the consumption of cooked rice more than one bowl per meal (OR 2.74), and the consumption of milk and dairy products less than 5 times a week (OR 4.43) (p＜0.0001) . The results of this study indicate that dietary habits of both children and of their mothers as well as child's birth weight are important variables that contribute to childhood obesity. (Korean J Nutrition 37(2): 123-131, 2004)

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2015

This study investigated the demand of nutrition education programs among preschooler's parents. Focus group interview was conducted four times with 29 parents of preschool children. Most subjects appeared to have interest in nutrition education; 'very interested' (58.6%), 'somewhat interested' (20.7%). Sources of nutrition information were 'internet' (35.1%), 'books' (21.6%), 'newspaper or magazines' (13.5%), 'family or relatives' (13.5%), 'media' (8.1%), 'preschool' (5.4%) and 'hospital or public health center' (2.7%) in order. The most frequently mentioned health problems related to dietary behavior were atopy and obesity. Major concerns for children's dietary behavior was picky eating habits, and having questions for how to deal with this problem. Most subjects had trouble with obtaining an adequate amount of dietary supplements for their children. Nutrition education for parents about food labeling and information on processed foods was in demand. Preferred methods of nutrition education for children were playing games with stickers, gardening vegetables, and participating in cooking. Attitudes toward computer-assisted education materials, one of the methods of nutrition education, appeared to be ambivalent. Some preschool parents showed negative attitudes towards exposing their children to electronic devices at an early age, whereas others showed positive attitudes. Subjects were interested in meal-planning and ways to balance nutrients for their child. Parents preferred attending professional lectures to receive reading materials or searching websites as an adult nutrition education method. Results of this study have implications on providing basic information for developing nutrition education programs for preschoolers and their parents. Future research should focus on developing nutrition education programs for both preschools and the home.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.866-873
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current dietary habits, health related behaviors, nutrition knowledge and body indices, and to investigate the changes in nutrition knowledge for designing and monitoring nutrition education program among preschool children. The subjects were 1,200 preschool children, aged $4{\sim}6$ years. A measurement of the height and weight was conducted. The general home environment, the dietary habit of children and nutrition knowledge were collected using a questionnaire that included information about family income, parent's education and occupations. Using the PIBW, 14.6% of the preschool children were under weight, 54.4% were normal, and 31.0% were overweight or obese. We regarded to food habit score, the highest score was in the regularity of breakfast, while the lowest score was in consumption of yellow-green vegetables such as spinach and carrots. Result in food behavior showed that 69.1% of preschool children had a unbalanced diet, and their favorite snack was fast food like pizza and hamburger then followed soft drink and fried foods (chicken of potato). After nutrition education, there was somewhat improvement in the nutrition knowledge score of preschool children from $7.7{\pm}1.7$ point to $8.9{\pm}1.5$ point. These results suggest that nutrition education help preschool children change their nutrition knowledge. Therefore, it would be needed that new appropriate nutrition education to improve dietary habits and health status.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.523-536
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• 2023

Purpose: This study investigated the association between sleep problems and food allergies (FAs) in Chinese preschoolers and assessed whether there is a difference in this association among children with/without siblings. Methods: A cluster-stratified sampling approach was employed to select four districts in Chongqing based on demographic considerations. A total of 16 kindergartens (n = 966 parents) participated in this study. Parents completed the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and a standard FAs questionnaire. Analysis of covariance and multiple logistic regression were used to assess the associations between sleep problems and FAs after adjusting for relevant confounders. Results: The study found that 16.3% of children had FAs, with eggs, shellfish, and fruit being the most common allergenic foods. The prevalence of FAs was significantly higher in single children (20.63%) than in children with siblings (13.36%). A total of 70.39% of children had CSHQ scores above the clinical cut-off for sleep disorder. Factor analysis revealed five underlying dimensions from the CSHQ. Factor scores, except for the 'difficulty morning waking' factor, were not significantly different between the two groups. Remarkably, the factor scores of 'parasomnias' and 'sleep anxiety' were significantly higher when children had both siblings and FAs. For all subjects, the odds ratios (ORs) of FAs significantly increased with the presence of sleep disorder (OR, 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI],1.50-3.68) and 'difficulty falling asleep' (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.22-1.48). The subgroup analysis showed that the probability of FAs significantly increased with the 'difficulty falling asleep' (OR, 1.32 vs. 1.38) and sleep disorder (OR, 2.48 vs. 2.14) in children with and without siblings, respectively. The 'parasomnias' was positively associated only with children with siblings. Conclusion: This study suggests that children with siblings might be more susceptible to FAs when accompanied by certain sleep problems. Further studies are warranted to address the underlying dimensions and possible mediation effects of having siblings with sleep problems.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.141-150
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• 2011

The objective of this study is to monitor the microbiological effect on preschool children's hand safety according to educational methods of hand washing. The subjects were ten children aged three to five. The analyses of the microbiological effect were made before band washing education, after one-week video demonstrations of hand washing education, and after one-week video demonstrations of hand washing education combined with practice. The results were as follows. Total plate count, filamentous fungi, coliform, and Staphylocuccus aureus were detected from children's hands just before band washing education. According to the two-week hand washing education, such education was found effective in keeping the children's hands clean and safe. In conclusion, repeated and more consistent training of band washing would be important for children, especially aged three to five because most of the habits and behavior patterns were developed in these age groups and the effects were persistent during their future life.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.271-280
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• 2001

The aim of the present study was to analyze relationship between dietary habits and dental caries experience in preschool children. All 143 boys and 124 girls living in a chonju city were investigated dmf index by dentists through oral examination and dietary habit by children's mothers through questionaires such as infant diets and food preferences. The statistical analysis were performed to evaluate whether variations in dietary habits are related to dental caries experience. The obtained results were as follows; 1. The average dmf index scores of all children were examined $2.92{\pm}1.05$. The girls had higher than the boys, but no significant differences between the genders were seen the dmf index(P>0.05). 2. The higher were their age of children, the higher dmf index was investigated. The dmf index of 5 and 6-yr old childrens was higher than that in 3 and 4-yr old children(P<0.05). 3. No significant difference was found between the present of mother's occupation (P>0.05) and type of infant dietary habits(P>0.05). 4. The fruits and sea weeds were showed high degree of preference and fats and vegetables were showed low degree generally. Among 13 food groups, there was no significant difference between boys and girls except for sea weeds(P>0.05). 5. Among 13 food groups, the dmf index was positively associated with sugars(r=0.3854, P<0.05), dairy products(r=0.4328, P<0.05) and soft drinks(r=0.2586, P<0.05), and negatively associated with other food groups.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2005

This Study investigated kindergarten parents' attitude, satisfaction and demand in the school meal service programs (SMSP). The subjects were 2450 parents that their child attended at kindergarten's SMSP from 16 provinces. To com-pared children's eating habits according to their parent age group and residence area, the percentage of regularly breakfast eating were lower in 'below 30 years old' group and large city residence than 'above 30 years old' group and middle and small city residence. And taking breakfast item was partially different pattern according parent age, 'below 30 years old' group and large city child ate more bread and milk as breakfast than Korean style breakfast with steamed rice and soup and side dish. In the prefer types of school meal service, most prefer types of meal service was fully meal service at kindergarten, $79.1\%$ subjects wanted this type. But 'below 30 years old' group's parent answered 'lunch box brings from home' ratio was higher than 'above 30 years old' group. Most parents accepted the present meal cost and $63.8\%$ of subjects was willing to pay more money to improve the quality of SMSP Twenty-six precent parents was responded that no improvement children's eating habit through SMSP. And they answered the key point of SMSP management was 'cooking sanitation'($65.1\%$) and 'nutrition' ($50.0\%$) and they answered the urgent improvement point at SMSP was 'Improvement taste and quality of meal' ($62.6\%$). Kindergarten parents' attitude about catering service as SMSP as not to prefer, but $10.4\%$ of subjects answered that catering service is ideal meal service type in kindergarten and they expected the advantage of catering service was 'convenience of foodservice'($40.7\%$) and 'support foodservice facilities and labor'($32.4\%$) and they also pointed out disadvantage was 'lower in meal freshness'($53.9\%$) and 'sanitation Problem'($51.9\%$).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.194-205
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary behaviors of preschoolers in Daejeon using the Nutrition Quotient for Preschoolers (NQ-P). Methods: The study subjects were recruited from child-care centers and kindergartens located in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon between August and September 2018. A total of 411 preschoolers aged 3 ~ 6 years were included in the data analyses. A questionnaire of NQ-P, which consisted of 14 checklist items on dietary behaviors, was completed by the parents or guardians of the study subjects. The NQ-P scores and its three factors, including "balance", "moderation", and "environment" factors, were calculated according to sex, age, and weight status. Differences in the NQ-P scores and their factors according to sex, age, and weight status were tested using a student's t-test. Results: The mean NQ-P score of the total subjects was $58.5{\pm}9.2$, which was within the medium-low grade. The NQ-P score was $58.5{\pm}9.4$ in boys and $58.6{\pm}9.0$ in girls (p = 0.955). The NQ-P score was similar regardless of the age groups ($57.8{\pm}9.4$ in 3 ~ 4 years vs. $59.2{\pm}9.0$ in 5 ~ 6 years, p = 0.124), whereas subjects aged 5 ~ 6 years showed a significantly higher scores of environment factors than those aged 3 ~ 4 years ($67.9{\pm}16.8$ vs. $61.7{\pm}17.3$). The mean score of the moderation factor was lower in the overweight/obese children compared to the non-overweight/obese children ($46.6{\pm}13.3$ vs. $51.0{\pm}16.2$, p = 0.012). Compared to children aged 3 ~ 4 years, children aged 5 ~ 6 years had higher intakes of vegetable dishes and processed meat. The overweight/obese group showed a higher consumption of processed beverages than the non-overweight/obese group. Conclusion: The current study indicates that the dietary behaviors of preschoolers residing in Daejeon need to be improved. These findings suggest that nutrition education or health interventions targeting young children is necessary for improving their nutritional health status.