• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.548-558
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare eating habits and food attitudes between depressed and normal adults. The subjects were selected (n = 6217) from those who participated in the 2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV). The subjects were divided into the depressed (DG, n = 841) and normal groups (NG, n = 3969). DG was those who have depression now or who have experienced depressing feelings more than two weeks or per year. The general characteristics, anthropometric measurement, eating habits, the dietary guideline recognition and practices were compared by using chi-square test and t-test. Also the partial correlations were analyzed by SAS (Statistical analysis system, version 9.1) program. There was a significantly higher rate of DG among the female (74.32%), with low education (44.6%) and low-income (32.0%) subjects (p < 0.001). DG showed significantly lower snacking and dining out. There was significantly higher rate of DG who responded "none" in frequency of snack (27.10%) and dining out (29.50%) (p < 0.001). Also DG showed significantly lower rate of the subjects who ate with the family than NG. Also, DG showed significantly lower dietary guideline recognition level and practice than NG. Correlation between depression symptom and various factors showed that positive correlation with low snack intake and dining out frequencies. However, correlation was relatively weak. In conclusion, eating habits and recognition levels and practice of dietary guidelines of DG were significantly different from NG. DG showed significantly lower frequencies of snack, dining out, and eating with family.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.169-179
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• 2010

Good snack consumption behaviors are important among elementary students because snack provides additional energy and nutrients and because good dietary behaviors should be formed during early stages of life. This study investigated, among elementary school students, 1) snack consumption behaviors, 2) snack-related nutrition knowledge level, and 3) relationships between snack behaviors and snack-related nutrition knowledge. A convenience sample (N = 372), drawn from 5th and 6th graders of an elementary schools in Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do, completed a pre-tested questionnaire. More than 85% of the participants snacked more than once per week. Most (77%) had their snacks at home. Fruit and fruit juice were the most frequently consumed and the most liked snack items. Taste was the most important in choosing a snack item closely followed by health/nutrition. Snack-related knowledge level was relatively high and the participants obtained their nutrition knowledge through mass media (30.4%) and family/friends (29.0%). Snack-related nutrition knowledge level and snack consumption behaviors showed positive relationships in various areas such as choosing more nutritious snack items and checking nutrition labels. Although this study was limited by its cross-sectional study design, these positive relationships suggest that better nutrition knowledge could result in better behaviors. Results of this study indicated that factual nutritional knowledge has been well transmitted to students. Therefore, future nutrition education on snacking could focus more on providing problem-solving and operational knowledge.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2010

We performed this study to examine lifestyle patterns and dietary behavior based on the level of Internet addiction of Korean adolescents. Data were collected from 853 Korean junior high school students. The level of Internet addiction was determined based on the Korean Internet addiction self-scale short form for youth, and students were classified as high-risk Internet users, potential-risk Internet users, and no risk Internet users. The associations between the students' levels of Internet addiction and lifestyle patterns and dietary behavior were analyzed using a chi-square test. Irregular bedtimes and the use of alcohol and tobacco were higher in high-risk Internet users than no risk Internet users. Moreover, in high-risk Internet users, irregular dietary behavior due to the loss of appetite, a high frequency of skipping meals, and snacking might cause imbalances in nutritional intake. Diet quality in high-risk Internet users was also worse than in potential-risk Internet users and no risk Internet users. We demonstrated in this study that high-risk Internet users have inappropriate dietary behavior and poor diet quality, which could result in stunted growth and development. Therefore, nutrition education targeting high-risk Internet users should be conducted to ensure proper growth and development.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine dietary frequencies among Korean American adolescents in California, including the correlation of acculturation and parental dietary Consumption. This study was drawn from cross-sectional telephone surveys based on data from a larger study of Korean Americans in California using random sampling of residential phone listings. A total of 494 Korean American adolescents, ages 12 through 17, in California were collected with dietary frequencies and acculturation and one parents' demographic and dietary consumption information. Three-quarters of adolescents were classified as 'more acculturated group' into the U.S. society with a lower preference to Korean foods, frequent snacking, and lower consumptions of rice and kimchi. Other quarter of adolescents was classified as 'less acculturated group'. However, the most frequent food items by both groups were rice and kimchi. Fruit and vegetable consumption was associated between adolescents and parents in both groups, but rice and kimchi were associated only among the more-acculturated group. In conclusion, dietary frequencies of Korean American adolescents were influenced by acculturation and parental dietary consumption. These findings should inform future epidemiological researches as well as efforts to enhance the diet of Koreans and other immigrants.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.453-465
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• 2014

This study surveyed 266 housewives residing in a Gyeonggi-provincial area for their dietary attitudes, dietary habits, nutrition knowledge, and application of nutrition information to daily life according to whether they use nutrition labeling. The survey on the dietary attitudes of the subjects showed that the points of "think that nutrition affects health", "quite interested in nutrition and health information", "like developing and trying new diverse recipes", and "persistently try new foods" were higher among those who check out nutrition labeling (Check group, n=112) than those who do not check out nutrition labeling (No check group, n=154). Reason for snacking, the Check group reported higher in the reasons of "for taking nutrients" but lower in the reasons of "do not eat enough meal" and "impulsively" than the No check group (p<0.01). Asked about why they check the nutrition labeling, the Check group answered "to compare products with each other" and "to purchase healthy food" whereas the No check group said "to decide whether the food is safe or not" and "to reduce body weight" (p<0.01). The Check group showed more recognition on the significance of the nutrition labeling and application to their actual daily lives than the No check group. Therefore, our results suggest that proper use of nutrition labeling is expected to improve dietary attitudes and dietary habits as well as enhance the application of nutrition information to actual daily life and promote health not only for the housewives but also for their family members as well.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2011

Because excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages may reduce the quality of nutritional intake, this study examined the consumption patterns of commercial beverages, lifestyle, dietary habits, and perception of sweet taste. Participants were 407 male university students in Kyeooggido, Korea, and information was collected by self-administered questionnaire. Among them, 58 nonsmokers volunteered to participate in the taste test. Participants were divided into three groups according to the frequency of commercial beverage consumptions: 120 rare (< 1 serving/week), 227 moderate (1-3 servings/week) and 133 frequent (> 3 servings/week) consumption groups. More subjects from the rare consumption group chose water, tea, and soy milk, and more from the frequent consumption group chose carbonated soft drinks and coffee (P=0.031) as their favorite drinks. Frequent consumption group consumed fruit juice, coffee, and sports and carbonated soft drinks significantly more often (P=0.002, P=0.000, P=0.000, respectively), but not milk and tea. Frequent consumption group consumed beverages casually without a specific occasion (P=0.000) than rare consumption group. Frequent drinking of commercial beverages was associated with frequent snacking (P=0.002), meal skipping (P=0.006), eating out (P=0.003), eating delivered foods (P=0.000), processed foods (P=0.001), and sweets (P=0.002), and drinking alcoholic beverages (P=0.029). Frequent consumption group tended to have a higher threshold of sweet taste without reaching statistical significance. The results provide information for developing strategies for evidence-based nutrition education program focusing on reducing consumption of unnecessary sugar-sweetened commercial beverages.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.140-149
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate the rate of obesity of 212 women (age 45-60 years) in Seoul and the Kyunggi area through analysis of BMI and the dietary life factors related to obesity using a survey on dietary habits, dietary assessment, and nutrient intake. The height of the underweight group was taller than normal. The height of the obese group was equal to that of the normal group, but the weight was 8.5 kg greater than the normal group. Women in the underweight group consumed meals irregularly, and only 33.4% ate breakfast. Additionally, the rate of overeating was low in the underweight group, and milk, dairy products (yogurt, etc.), fruit, and fruit juice were consumed more than once a day. It was found that 62.1% of the women in the obese group never ate out, and the rate of eating one serving of fruit, drinking one cup of fruit juice, and eating various kinds of foods was high. The average point of women's dietary life was $21.9{\pm}2.9$, and 12.7% of all women responded that their dietary life was good. However, in the obese group, only 6.9% of the women reported that their dietary life was good. Evaluation of snacking habits revealed that the underweight group consumed a high level of carbonated drinks and ice cream, whereas for in the obese group, 24.1% of the women consumed milk and its products and 5.6% regularly consumed fast and fried foods. Evaluation of nutrient intake revealed that the consumption of energy, protein, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, $B_2$, $B_6$, niacin, vitamin C, and vitamin E was high in all of the groups, but the intake of folic acid in the underweight group was lower than the required level. Overall, 24.1% of the women in the obese group were found to have metabolic diseases, mostly hypertension (43%). In conclusion, a balanced diet to avoid excessive nutrient intake is needed to prevent obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of obese school children's life style habits in order to help school nurse in controlling and preventing the obesity by health education The survey group is extracted from the students of two elementary schools located in Seongnam city Out of 280 children randomly sampled, 102 children were evaluated to be obese and 178 ones to be normal by the standard of the 1985 Korea Pediatric Association Height and Weight Standard Chart The obese children group was compared with the normal one. For this purpose, the surveyors designed a self questionnaire to obtain the description of general background, exercise including play behavior, eating behavior, and family environment of the sampled children. The results are as follows The number of the obese children who took extracurricular physical exercises was significantly (p<0.05) more than that of the normal ones The significantly (p<0.05) more obese children went without a meal to control their weight than the normal ones. In relation to the degree of obesity, the children with the high degree of obesity watched the television significantly (p<0.05) longer than the ones with the mild and the moderate degree of obesity In gender relations, the obese girls participate in outdoorplays and physical exercises significantly (p<0.05) longer and more regularly than the normal ones, while no significant difference was found between the male groups The obese boys had significantly (p<0.05) their mothers occupying in a vocation. Combining television watching habit and mother's vocation of the obese boy, the obesity is resulted from complicated situation It can not be due to the simple absence of the mother, but rather due to the absence of a person responsible for controlling snacking and television watching time of the child Looking at the results, it is necessary for both school and home to actively involve in guiding children and providing an environment to modify life style habits and prevent childhood obesity.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.856-867
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between of weight control attempts with concern about weight control. nutrition knowledge, eating behavior and nutrients Intake among high school girls in Seoul, Korea. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 355 subjects. The subjects were then divided into two groups, one with experience in attempting to control their weight, and one with no experience in attempting to control their weight. The mean averages of height, weight. obesity index (OI) and BMI of the subjects were 161.1cm, 53.1kg, -5.2% and 20.4, respectively. 49% of the subjects were experienced in attempting weight control. The majority of the group that had experience in weight control expressed dissatisfaction of with their self body image (66.7%), and was concerned about weight control (94.9%). This group also had more abnormal eating habits than the group that had no experience in weight control attempts, such as missing meals, eating irregularly, not eating a variety of foods and snacking. The mean averages of perceived knowledge (PK) and correct knowledge (CK) regarding nutrition on a 30 point scale were 23.6 (78.7% of total score) and 15.8 (52.7%), respectively. There were no significant differences of the PK's and the CK's between the two groups. Nutrients intakes of the two groups were not significantly different and the mean nutrient intakes revealed adequate consumption of energy. protein, Fe, Ca. thiamin. riboflavin, niacin, vitamin A and C. The higher the dissatisfaction of their self body image, PK score. and abnormal eating habits, the higher the level of concerns about of being overweight.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.175-186
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the body weight control, attitudes, lifestyles and dietary habits according to the obesity index of elementary school students. This study utilized questionnaires and body composition measurements collected with a bio- electrical impedance analyzer(Inbody 4.0). Specifically, differences between the underweight group, normal group, and overweight group were tested by a $x^2$-test or ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. The subjects consisted of 571 elementary school students residing in Chonbuk Province. The average age, height, weight, and BMI of the male subjects was 11.5 years, 150.0 cm, 45.2 kg and $20.0\;kg/m^2$, respectively. The average age, height, weight, and BMI of the female subjects was 11.5 years, 152.2 cm, 46.1 kg and $19.8\;kg/m^2$, respectively. Twenty percent of the subjects were in the underweight group, 52.2% were in the normal weight group, and 27.8% were in the overweight group according to the Korean Pediatrics Society standards. A total of 50.2% of the subjects were dissatisfied with their body weight, while 36.8% of underweight, 42.3% of normal weight, and 81.1% of overweight subjects were dissatisfied with their weight. Fifty two percent of the subjects had attempted to reduce their body weight, including 50% of the normal weight group. The main reason for wanting to reduce body weight was to maintain health. The percentage of subjects who had received body weight control education was 41.3%, but 77.6% of the subjects thought it was necessary. Poor time management, lack of physical activity, portion size of meals, unbalanced diet, frequent consumption of convenience foods, and frequent snacking all affected the obesity index. Overall, the results of this study indicate that it is necessary to develop weight control programs for all elementary school students who are underweight, normal weight, and overweight.