• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Numerous researches have studied the association between sugar intake and obesity of children in many countries. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between beverage intake and obesity of children by reviewing a database for total sugar contents established in all foods and presented in a nutrition survey by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data of 1,520 children aged 6-11 years in the 6th KNHANES (2013-2015) were analyzed for this study. A database for total sugar intake comprises the total sugar contents of all foods included in the results of a nutrition survey using the 24-hour recall method of 6th KNHANES. Beverages were categorized into carbonated beverages, fruit & vegetable drinks, other drinks, tea, and coffee. RESULTS: The average daily beverage intake of all children was 131.75 g/day, and the average daily total sugar intake in beverages was 13.76 g/day. Carbonated beverages had the highest intake rate (58.85 g/day) and also ranked highest for sugar intake (6.36 g/day). After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds ratio for obesity in children with beverage intake of ${\geq}200mL/day$ significantly increased by 1.83 times (95% CI, 1.11-3.00) as compared to children with beverage intake of < 200 mL/day. Also, a significant increase was observed in the odds ratio for obesity in total children (2.41 times; 95% CI, 1.35-4.33) and boys (3.15 times; 95% CI, 1.53-6.49) with carbonated beverage intake of ${\geq}200mL/day$ when compared with children who consumed < 200 mL/day. CONCLUSION: A positive association is observed between beverage intake and obesity in Korean children. In particular, an intake of carbonated beverages has a positive correlation with childhood obesity in boys. This study can therefore be used as scientific evidence for reducing sugar, and for the continuous management and research on beverages.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.355-372
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to provide baseline data for establishing a sugar reduction policy at coffee shops by analyzing the factors that affect a coffee shop user's perception and behavioral intention of reducing sugar intake. Methods: An online survey was conducted involving 1,274 Daegu citizens aged 19-49 years, who had visited coffee shops within the last month. Results: When visiting a coffee shop, the purchase of sweet drinks was higher in the younger age group, and the addition of syrup or sugar was higher in the older age group. Of the total respondents, 42.1% were aware that some coffee shops accommodate reduced sugar requests, 57.9% perceived the need to reduce sugar in coffee shop beverages and 22.3% had purchased beverages intending to reduce their sugar intake. In addition, 59.7% knew about sugar nutrition labeling, and 68.8% perceived the need for nutrition labeling for sugar. When purchasing beverages, 35.6% checked the nutrition labeling, and 77.2% purchased alternative drinks when the sugar content was high. Guiding the choice of sweetness levels in coffee shop orders was seen to have the highest effectiveness and intention to reduce sugar intake. Moreover, the perceived need to reduce sugar intake had the most positive effect on the behavioral intention to reduce sugars in coffee shop beverages (β = 0.558, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although the overall awareness and practice of reducing the sugar intake in coffee shop users were low, the behavioral intention to reduce sugars was positive, and this was most affected by the perception of the need to reduce sugars. Therefore, there is a need for differentiated education and promotion for each age group for recognizing the necessity and outlining methods for reducing sugar intake. Furthermore, coffee shops should reflect customer's sugar reduction needs.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.23-40
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• 2021

This study was conducted to examine the sugar intake and perception of sugar reduction based on the practice of Dietary Action Guides among the college students in Cheongju. A convenience sample of 343 healthy college students(male n=195, female n=148) was divided into two subgroups based on a median split(male M=12, female M=11) of the extent to which they practice the Dietary Action Guides: low practice(LP) group(male n=117, female n=82) and high practice(HP) group(male n=78, female n=66). There was no significant difference in age, weight, and body mass index between the groups; however, among the female students, the LP group had significantly higher frequencies of snacking and smoking, and higher sweet taste perception. For both male and female students, the LP group were more likely to eat sweet snacks such as carbonated beverage, flavored milk, and snacks sold outside, and had significantly higher total sugar intake from the sweet snacks than the HP group. The percentage of exceeding the WHO recommended daily sugar intake (50 g) was significantly higher for the LP group(36.59%) than for the HP group(13.64%) among female students. The perceived necessity of the sugar intake reduction was not significantly different between the LP and HP groups. The identification of nutrition labels when purchasing snack was significantly lower for the LP group than for the HP group regardless of gender. The necessity of nutrition labels education was higher than 80 percent for both the groups. Based on these results, encouraging the practice of Dietary Action Guides seems to be helpful in reducing the sugar intake among the college students.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.351-362
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• 2020

This study investigated the possibility of reducing sodium and sugar intake in the Bulgogi bowl and yogurt, respectively, by utilizing food and non-food factors. Sodium and sugar replacers were the target food factors, and eating environment was the target non-food factor. The sodium content of Bulgogi bowls was reduced by 40%, and a flavor enhancer was applied to compensate for the reduced saltiness. Low calorie sweeteners, such as sucralose and stevia, were used to lower the sugar content of yogurt by 30%. Consumers were asked to evaluate the samples in one of the three eating environments: private booth evaluation, BOOTH; watching video clips during evaluation, VIDEO; conversation with friends during evaluation, FRIEND. The results showed that applying sodium or sugar replacers were effective in lowering sodium or sugar intake, respectively, without compromising the acceptance level of samples. Significant influences of the eating environment were observed on liking and perception of samples, but the influence patterns were not consistent between Bulgogi bowl and yogurt.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.167-176
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the awareness and practice of reducing sugar in school meals and the status of nutrition education regarding sugar reduction. Methods: An online survey was conducted on 101 nutrition teachers (dietitians) working at elementary, middle, and high schools in Daegu. Results: School nutrition teachers in Daegu recognized the need for efforts to reduce the sugar intake in the Korean diet, and it was found that elementary nutrition teachers were more aware of the implementation of the sugar reduction policy at the national level than middle and high school nutrition teachers (P = 0.002). Among the policies to reduce sugar intake at the national level, there was a high need for the promotion of self-control and limiting the sales of food with high sugar content in schools and their vicinity. The degree of practice for reducing sugar in school meals was found to be higher in the preparation, purchase, and cooking stage compared to the serving stage (P < 0.05). There was a high need for changing the preferences of the subjects for a sweet taste as a means of reducing the sugar in school meals. Thirty-six percent of nutrition teachers conducted sugar reduction education, and sending out school newsletters was the highest type of nutrition education at 80.6%. Conclusions: To effectively promote reduced sugar intake in school meals, it is necessary to change the preference of the subjects for sweetness and to conduct continuous education that can improve the awareness of people for reducing their sugar intake. For this, it is necessary to set aside time for nutrition education and to prepare an institutional framework for providing this education.

• Journal of the FoodService Safety
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to analyze the amount of sugar from the afternoon snack menu of childcare facilities in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The amount of sugar was analyzed for afternoon snacks provided by childcare facilities between March and April 2016. The snacks provided were the same for processed and non-processed foods at 50.0% respectively. White milk accounted for the largest portion with 26.4%, followed by fruits with 19.9% and grains (sweet potatoes, rice cakes, etc.). It has been confirmed that the larger the facility, the lower the frequency of provision of non-processed foods, and the higher the provision of processed foods (p<0.05). Snacks served as non-processed foods showed the highest frequency of fruits and sweet potatoes. On the other hand, processed foods provided many sugar-rich products, such as liquid yogurt, hot cakes, and cereal, excluding white milk. The average sugar content was highest in processed milk products (13.9 g), followed by white milk (8.6 g), bread and snacks (8.0 g), other (4.6 g), and mixed grains (1.6 g). Of the total 216 snacks, banana flavored milk had the highest sugar content of 27.0 g, followed by strawberry milk (15.0 g) and castella (21.6 g). The findings are expected to be used as basic data for choosing the right snacks provided by childcare facilities and practicing reducing sugar intake.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.546-554
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of sugar reduction, nutrition education, and frequency of snacking in children according to the self-perceived dietary preferences for sweet taste by mothers in Busan. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 277 mothers were surveyed, and their perceptions of sugar reduction and the frequency of snacking in children were assessed using a questionnaire. The subjects were classified into either a sweet (n = 91) or an unsweet (n = 186) group according to their self-perceived preferences for a sweet taste. RESULTS: In the sweet group, the results for sweet products were sweetened ice (86.8%), confectionery (74.7%), processed milk (73.6%), carbonated beverages (71.4%), and fermented milk (53.9%). In the unsweet group, the results were sweetened ice (88.7%), carbonated beverages (78.5%), processed milk (75.8%), confectionery (69.4%), and fermented milk (50.5%). The necessity of sugar intake reduction was high in both groups (sweet = 89.0%, unsweet = 82.8%). Beverage purchases after identifying the nutrition labeling was significantly lower in the sweet group than in the unsweet group (P < 0.05). The reasons for the beverage purchases instead of water were "habitually" (50.5%) and "like sweet taste" (25.3%) in the sweet group (P < 0.01). Snacking in children was significantly higher in the sweet group based on the increased frequencies of carbonated drinks (P < 0.01), fast food (P < 0.001), candy and chocolate (P < 0.05), crackers (P < 0.01), ramen (P < 0.01), and fish paste/hotdogs (P < 0.01). The frequency of purchase education after identifying the nutrition labeling was significantly lower in the sweet group than in the unsweet group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a perception of sugar reduction and practical nutrition education aimed at reducing the sugar intake are necessary to improve dietary habits.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Excessive sugar consumption may increase the risk for development of several diseases. Although average dietary sugar intake of Koreans is within the recommended level, an increasing trend has been found in all age groups. This study aimed to evaluate the population attributable fractions (PAF) to dietary sugar for disease and death in Korea, and to estimate the socioeconomic effects of a reduction in dietary sugar. MATERIALS/METHODS: The prevalence of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) overconsumption (${\geq}20g$ of sugar from beverages) was analyzed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015. Disease-specific relative risks of excessive SSB consumption were obtained through reviewing previous studies. Using the prevalence of SSB overconsumption and each relative risk, PAFs for morbidity and mortality were calculated. Socioeconomic costs of diseases and death attributable to SSB overconsumption were estimated by using representative data on national medical expenditures, health insurance statistics, employment information, and previous reports. RESULTS: Disease-specific PAF to SSB consumption ranged from 3.11% for stroke to 9.05% for obesity and dental caries, respectively. Costs from disease caused by SSB overconsumption was estimated at 594 billion won in 2015. About 39 billion won was estimated to be from SSB consumption-related deaths, and a total of 633 billion won was predicted to have been saved through preventing SSB overconsumption. CONCLUSIONS: Sugars overconsumption causes considerable public burdens, although the cost estimates do not include any informal expenditure. Information on these socioeconomic effects helps both health professionals and policy makers to create and to implement programs for reducing sugar consumption.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.375-386
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• 2019

Carbohydrates play an important role in not only providing the body with calories but also giving taste and texture in foods. Recently, there is a growing interest in low-calorie carbohydrate materials due to obesity and the resulting diseases caused by excessive intake of calories. Polydextrose and sugar alcohols have calories of 2.0 kcal/g and 2.4 kcal/g, respectively. In addition to being a low-calorie material, polydextrose can be widely used as a dietary fiber source, thereby reducing calories and supplementing fiber. Sugar alcohols have sweetness comparable to a table sugar but they are not calculated as a sugar, so it can meet the government's sugar reduction policy. Also, polydextrose and sugar alcohols are not easily decomposed by heat and acid, and thus can be used without being affected by food manufacturing processes.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.927-938
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• 1998

Epidemiological studies have indicated that a relationship between overweight and cardiovascular disease exists. To assess the relationship of unfavorable changes in serum lipid concentrations, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a), blood sugar and blood pressure to anthropometric variables, nutrient intakes and dietary behavior,64 obese children were chosen as subjects and 24-hour dietary intake, dietary behavior as well as blood pressure, apolipoprotein B, lipoprotein(a), three kinds of cholesterol concentrations were measured in November 1976. More than half(57.8%) of the children had serum cholesterol concentrations over 175mg/d1, and 26.6% of them had over 200mg/d1 and this group could be classified as a high risk group. Abdominal obesity as measured with waist circumference and waist hip ratio was negatively co..elated to high density lipop개tein(HDL) cholesterol. Dietary behavior rather than nutrient intakes appeared to have associations with unfavorable lipid profiles. Total dietary behavior scores and fish and bean product consumption had strong correlations with potentially atherogenic lipoprotein concentrations. This study suggests that fir the early prevention of cardiovascular disease, waist hip ratio together with obese rate should be included in selective programs to identify risk group of children in Korea. furthermore, interventions in cardiovascular disease risk groups in obese children should emphasize maintenance of ideal body weight through reducing body fat and adopting desirable dietary behaviors such as increasing intake of fish or bean products. (Korean J Nutrition 31(5) : 927~938, 1998)