• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to find out the level of knowledge on sugar-related nutrition among mothers with preschool children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study conducted a survey on 350 mothers whose children attended daycare. The dietary lives of the children and the nutritional knowledge of the mothers on sugar were checked. In order to analyze results, SPSS 18.0 was used. ANOVA and t-test were also performed to analyze recognition and educational needs. RESULTS: When the degree of nutritional knowledge was measured and analyzed, the results showed about 11 average points out of 15. The higher a group's nutritional knowledge, the better the dietary habits and activities were and the activities were more ccommon. The group with a low level of nutritional knowledge consumed more foods with high sugar content, but this difference was not statistically significant. Also the children from the group of mothers that provided nutritional education to their children were more likely to engage in better dietary habits and activities. CONCLUSIONS: 66.5% respondents did not know about policies to reduce sugar consumption, but most indicated that education on reducing sugar consumption is needed. Therefore, a government-driven search for efficient methods to campaign and publicize sugar reduction is needed in order to continuously provide appropriate education.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2014

The objectives of this study were to assess food behavior and nutritional status of preschool children by using the Nutrition Quotient (NQ) for children and children's growth index. The subjects for this study were 424, 5-year old children, who enrolled in child-care centers (n = 219) and kindergartens (n = 205) in Nowon-gu, Seoul. The NQ was examined by NQ questionnaire which consisted of 19 food behavior checklist items. Their items were grouped into 5 categories: balance, diversity, moderation, regularity, and practice. Children's anthropometric measurements were performed by using InBody J05. All data were statistically analyzed by SAS 9.3 and significant difference was evaluated by Student's t-test and ${\chi}^2$-test. The rates of overweight and obesity for subjects were 11.1% and 3.3%, respectively. Total NQ score of the subjects was 65.1, which was within medium grade. The NQ score of kindergartens (66.1) was higher than that of child-care center (64.2), showing significant difference by institution type. In addition, the NQ score of obesity was significantly lower than that of normal weight subjects. The scores of balance (p < 0.05) and regularity factor (p < 0.001) were higher in kindergarten compared to child-care center. Particularly, the frequency of consumption of white milk and Ramyeon was higher (p < 0.001) and lower (p < 0.05) respectively in kindergarten compared to child-care center. Frequencies of meal regularity (P < 0.01) and breakfast eating (p < 0.001) were also higher in kindergarten compared to child-care center. These results indicate that kindergarten's children had better eating habits than those of child-care center. Overall analysis of items for food behavior checklists implies that children in Nowon-gu are short of vegetables consumption. Therefore, children and their parents need proper nutrition education and counseling to correct their eating habits and to improve their nutritional status.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.54-66
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• 2021

Purpose: Considering the various health benefits of vegetables, it is necessary to identify maternal correlates of vegetable preference and consumption in children for shaping desirable vegetable-related eating habits. This study aimed to investigate the maternal factors related to vegetable preferences and consumption in preschool-aged children. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that surveyed 303 mother-child pairs (146 boys, 157 girls) to explore general characteristics, vegetable preferences, and cooked vegetable consumption in mothers and children using a questionnaire method. Maternal correlates of the child's vegetable preference and consumption were tested using a generalized linear model using SAS program. Results: Mothers' vegetable preferences and consumption were significantly higher than those in their children (p < 0.001). Mothers' vegetable preferences showed a significant positive correlation with the vegetable preferences of their children (mother-son, p < 0.001; mother-daughter, p < 0.001). Additionally, mothers' cooked vegetable consumption showed a significant positive correlation with the cooked vegetable consumption of children (mother-son, p < 0.001; mother-daughter, p < 0.001). Mothers' vegetable preferences and consumption respectively increased those of their children, in both boys and girls. Conclusion: Findings that mothers' vegetable preference and consumption correlates of children's vegetable preferences and consumption, indicate the importance of the mothers' role in increasing vegetable consumption in children. Mothers should be aware of the effects of their vegetable eating habits on their children's vegetable consumption and try to develop healthy eating habits. We suggest that the government or local communities provide nutrition education for mothers to adopt healthy eating habits and present information to educate their children on food and healthy dietary habits.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.551-561
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• 2006

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of mothers' attitudes on preparing baby foods for their children's food habits and development. The subjects were allocated to 419 preschool children, aged 3 - 5 years. This study surveyed by questionnaire, which was answered by the children's mothers. Subjects were classified by two groups, active and passive, based on their mothers' weaning attitudes. In the active group, mothers tried to make a variety of foods for preparing the baby foods, whereas mothers in the passive group didn't try to make it too much. Family income was higher in the active group and the subject' mothers had more jobs than those in the passive group, whereas their parent's education levels showed no differences. According to Rohrer index, 2.6% of subjects were obese in the active group, whereas 7.7% in the passive group. These data were shown significantly different between the groups. There were no differences in mother's food habits and breast-feeding versus formula feeding between the two groups. However, children's food habits were shown statistically different between the two groups. Higher regularity of meals, higher frequencies of snacks at home, higher frequencies of fruit, com, sweet potato as a snacks and less instant foods were revealed in the active group more than in the passive group. The major problem of children's food habits was an unbalanced diet (52.7%) and the major reasons for unbalanced diet were the taste (58.7%) and the texture (23.2%). The active uoup used more fruits and vegetables than the passive group. Also there were significant differences to solve problems of children's unbalanced diets. In the positive group, 14.4% of mothers tried to develop new cooking methods for solving the problem of an unbalanced diet, but 8.2% did in the passive group. furthermore, 2.3% of mothers in the positive group removed unpleasant items of the food, whereas 6.9% did in the passive. The average nutritional knowledge scores on a 10 scale were 7.2 and 6.9 in active and passive groups, respectively, and they were statistically different. Mothers among the active group explained the knowledge for food and nutrition to their children more than those in the passive group. These results suggest that mothers' attitudes for baby food are an important factor for forming their children's food habits. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a nutritional education program, materials and new recipes for a variety of baby foods to mothers.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.482-495
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the eating behavior and food preference of preschool children in day care facilities. Subjects of this study were 192 young children who lived in Sungnam city, Gyeonggi-Do. The results are summarized as follows: The parents reported that 34% of the children ate 'unbalanced diet'. And 16% of the children ate small portions of food. The parents picked up several reasons for their children's 'unbalanced diet' such as 'dislike of the tastes(29.2%), 'texture in the mouth(28.6%)', 'smell of food(18.2%)' Fifty-six percent of parents took 'to change the cooking methods' as the best way to make their children have good eating habits in their home. The highest score of preference among the children was noodles with bean sauce and kimbab for staple food, stews seaweed soup for soups and stews, bulgogi and fried chicken for side dish. The young children's preference score fur side dish made with meats were higher than made with vegetables. This study made a suggestion to parents of children ages 4 to 6 and to teachers in preschool that they prepare for foods made with vegetables.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.349-360
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• 2000

This study was designed to evaluate food habits, anthropometry and obesity of 252 children(136 boys, 116 girls) aged $2{\sim}6$ years old. The anthropometric indices were measured and food habits were surveyed. Average food habit score was 11.7/20.0 in boys and 11.8/20.0 in girls. It was found that 60.3% of the subjects belonged to fair score group(7-13) in food habits, while subjects in poor (0-6) and in excellent (14-20) were 30.6% and 9.1% respectively. There was no significant difference in food habits score between boys and girls. The food habits score tended to be higher as the mother's education level, total family income, number of siblings were increased. The mean height, weight and chest circumference of the subjects were much higher than the Korean standards. Evaluating the obesity by weight for height, 77.8% subjects was normal, 4.0% was underweight and 18.3% was obese. Underweight children did not seem to enjoy their meals and ate too slowly compared to normal or obese children. Therefore they needed to promote food habits by good nutritional education.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.216-225
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the associations between obesity and the children's Nutrition Quotient (NQ) and to further examine the relationships between NQ and mini dietary assessment (MDA) of their parents. Methods: The subjects were 355 children aged 3 to 5 years and their parents in Dongducheon. We collected parental-reported NQ questionnaires for children and MDA of parents. Anthropometric measurements, height, weight and BMI by BIA were measured in children. Overweight and obesity were determined according to age- and sex-specific BMI percentile from the 2007 Korean national growth chart. Statistical analyses consisted of the chi-squared test, ANOVA, partial correlations and logistic regression analysis adjustments for parents BMI. Results: Approximately 20.8% of preschool children were classified as overweight or obese. Underweight children showed a significantly higher score for balance than overweight children. The NQ of the children was $61.9{\pm}11.6$, and NQ scores and their parents' MDA did not exhibit any significant differences according to degree of obesity. After adjusting for parent's BMI, children's BMI was significantly correlated with balance and moderation among NQ factors. Parent's MDA showed significant correlation with their children's NQ, balance, diversity, moderation, regularity, practice and NQ grade, except for diversity of father. Additionally, NQ grade had a significantly increased (150.1%) odds ratio (OR) of being overweight (95% CI 1.008-2.234). Conclusions: These results show that NQ for children is influenced by their parents' MDA and BMI. Furthermore, our findings support the association between overweight prevention and improvement of NQ grade among preschool children.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the nutrition quotient (NQ) by gender and understand which factors influence NQ in preschool children. Methods: Subjects were 245 children (110 boys, 135 girls) aged 4-6 years and their parents. The questionnaire composed of demographic characteristics, eating behavior factors and the NQ questions. The NQ consisted of 19 food behavior checklist items and all items were grouped into 5 factors: balance, diversity, moderation, regularity, and practice. Inbody J05, a measurement device that measures individual's body composition was used to measure children's anthropometric data. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS program (Ver. 20) and the statistical differences in variables were evaluated by Student t-test, ${\chi}^2-test$, One-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. Results: The total NQ score of the subjects was 65.3. The NQ score of girls (67.0) was significantly higher than that of the boys (63.2) (p<0.01). The girls' average scores of NQ factors including diversity (p<0.01) and practice (p<0.05) were higher than those of the boys. The analysis of related-factors influencing NQ scores showed that there was a significant difference among the groups according to feeding methods during infancy (p<0.05), breast feeding group being the highest. Furthermore, the NQ score showed a significant difference depending on how to correct children's unbalanced diet as well as parents' nutrition knowledge. The NQ score of obesity group tended to be lower than that of underweight group although there was no significant difference. Conclusions: Overall results indicated that the girls had better quality of diet and eating habits than the boys. Children and their parents need proper nutrition education and counseling to correct children's eating habits and to improve diet quality in kindergartens and in children care centers.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.521-530
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• 2009

This study was conducted to assess dietary pattern and dietary diversity of preschool children by investigating their food consumption. To accomplish this, dietary intake survey (24 hour-recall food diary) was administered to 508 children aged between 4 to 6 years old from 4 kindergartens in the Daegu area (415 were completed). By using CAN pro 3.0 for professionals, the dietary patterns and dietary diversity scores of each food group were examined by age and sex. Data were analyzed with SPSS 12.0, and $\chi^2$, t-test and Anova test, and Duncan's multiple range test used for verifying significance. For 4~5-year-old group, boys had significantly more fruit and meats than girls (p < 0.05), but girls had more dairy food than boys with no significance. For 6-year-old group, boys had significantly more foods, milk and dairy foods than girls (p<0.05), and also boys had more vegetables and fruit than girls with no significance. For DDS (Dietary Diversity Score), the score of 6-year-old group was significantly higher than that of younger children (p < 0.05) and the older the age was, the higher the score was. Dietary Pattern (GMVFD) was verified by 8 types, and the ratio of taking all five food groups (GMVFD = 11111) of the 6-year-old group was 48.8%. Children with older ages had more various foods than younger ones (p < 0.05). In addition, the ratio of taking less than the minimal intake of dairy foods of girls (48.1%) was higher than that of boys (41.3%). As results, unbalanced diet, overeating and not eating unbalanced diet were revealed as the problematic dietary habits among preschool children, and those habits may change positively with knowledge on nutrition grow on. Therefore, nutritional characteristics and importance of preschool children should be taught to parents and caregivers, and it must be practical and ready to use in cooking for these children to healthy dietary habits.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.598-607
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• 2006

The following study has been conducted by carrying out the nutrition education program for preschool children and measuring the change in their food preference and nutritional knowledge. The 28 boys and 22 girls with the average height of $117.4{\pm}5.1cm$ and weight $21.8{\pm}3.5kg$ participated in the study. The favorite foods of the children were: meat (51.1%) being the highest, fruits (38.3%), carbohydrates (23.4%), while the least favored food was vegetables (75%). It indicated that 36.2% of the children were having unbalanced diets. The change in food preference after the implementation of the nutrition education program was the significant increase in preference in vegetables and fruits (p<0.01) and proteins such as meat, fish, eggs and beans (p<0.05). The differences in food preference among boys and girls were that the boys showed significant increase in vegetables and fruits (p<0.01) while there was a decrease in the simple sugar groups (p<0.01). Regarding girls, there were significant increases in vegetables and fruits as well as protein groups of meat, fish, eggs and beans (p<0.01). The changes in the nutritional knowledge of the preschool children after the implementation of the nutrition education program were scores for the fruits and vegetables group and carbohydrates group showed a significant increase while the scores for the oil and nuts group had decreased considerably. The average score on nutritional knowledge has significantly increased from 9.07 to 10.17 (p<0.01) and the score on the roles of the nutrients increased from 3.02 to 3.48 (p<0.05). The changes in eating habits of the children after the nutrition education were the answer for the change in eating habits of the children after the nutrition education was 'slight change' 61.4%. Also, the change in food preference was 'slight change' 61.4% and the improvement in nutrition education was 'slightly' 50%. According to the results of this study, it is evident that the change in eating habits and the acquisition of nutritional knowledge is very difficult, thus requiring consistent and prolonged education. Therefore, it seems to be best to include a more systematic and professional nutrition education program in preschool education. Also, the education for the parents should be implemented since the effect of education on children is greater when it is closely connected with the education at home.