Journal of Nutrition and Health

The Korean Nutrition Society (한국영양학회)
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Analysis of health behavior, mental health, and nutritional status among Korean adolescents before and after COVID-19 outbreak: based on the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

COVID-19 전·후 한국 청소년의 건강행태, 정신건강 및 영양상태 분석: 국민건강영양조사 2019-2020년 자료를 활용하여

  • Misun Lee (Department of Clinical Nutrition, Graduate School of Future Strategies Convergence, Dongduk Women's University) ;
  • Sarang Jeong (The Korean Institute of Nutrition, Hallym University) ;
  • Chong-Su Kim (Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Natural and Information Sciences, Dongduk Women's University) ;
  • Yoon Jung Yang (Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Natural and Information Sciences, Dongduk Women's University)
  • 이미선 (동덕여자대학교 미래전략융합대학원 임상영양학과) ;
  • 정사랑 (한림대학교 한국영양연구소 ) ;
  • 김정수 (동덕여자대학교 자연정보과학대학 식품영양학과) ;
  • 양윤정 (동덕여자대학교 자연정보과학대학 식품영양학과)
  • Received : 2023.09.22
  • Accepted : 2023.11.02
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in health behavior, mental health, and nutritional status of Korean adolescents before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak. Methods: A total of 800 adolescents (12~18 years old) who participated in the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were included as study subjects and divided into four groups (204 middle school boys, 172 middle school girls, 219 high school boys, and 205 high school girls). The 2019 and 2020 KNHANES data were classified into data collected before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, respectively. Results: After the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, middle school boys showed an increased tendency toward becoming overweight and obese, with significantly increased levels of diastolic blood pressure and insulin. While there was no major change in the subjective health status among adolescents, the high school boys showed a significantly decreased physical activity after COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, the proportion of middle school students feeling a little stressed significantly increased after the COVID-19 outbreak. The rate of skipping breakfast significantly increased in middle school girls, but the rate of having lunch with companions significantly increased among all adolescents after the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the intake of milk, vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, and pulses significantly decreased, although the intake of sugars, beverages, and seasonings significantly decreased as well, during this period. These changes may lead to an increased proportion of adolescents with insufficient intake of nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and riboflavin. Conclusion: These results highlight the impact of COVID-19 on comprehensive changes in physical and mental health status, lifestyle behavior, and nutritional status in adolescents, suggesting the need for targeted prevention and intervention for physical and mental well-being during the pandemic.

본 연구는 국민건강영양조사 2019-2020년 자료를 활용하여 한국 남녀 중, 고등학생을 대상으로 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) 전후의 건강행태, 정신건강 및 영양 상태를 비교하기 위해 수행되었다. 신체계측은 COVID-19 이후 남자 중학생에서 과체중과 비만 비율이 증가하는 경향을 보였으나 유의적인 차이는 아니었다. 건강행태 및 신체, 정신건강을 비교하면 COVID-19 이후 남자 고등학생에서 하루 60분 신체 활동 실천 일수가 줄고 중성지방, 헤모글로빈 수치가 낮아졌다. 남자 중학생은 이완기 혈압과 인슐린농도가 높아지고, 여자 중학생은 공복혈당, 여자 고등학생은 당화혈색소 수치가 낮아졌다. 남녀 중학생에서 COVID-19 이후 스트레스를 조금 느끼거나 거의 없다는 비율이 높았으며 여자 중학생에서는 아침식사 결식률이, 남녀 중, 고등학생 모두에서는 가족과 점심식사를 동반한다는 비율이 높아졌다. COVID-19 이후 남자 중학생은 우유류가, 여자 중학생은 감자류, 야채류, 음료류에서 평균섭취량이 낮으며 전반적으로 영양소 섭취가 부족했음을 알 수 있었다. 영양소 섭취량은 COVID-19 이후 남자 중학생에서 인과 나이아신 섭취량의 감소, 여자 중학생에서 칼륨, 비타민 C 섭취량의 감소, 그리고 여자 고등학생에서는 비타민 C와 리보플라빈의 섭취량이 감소하는 변화를 나타냈다. 위 결과를 통해 COVID-19 팬데믹 상황에서 청소년의 건강상태는 비교적 잘 유지하고 있었으나 신체활동 부족, 식습관 변화, 일부 영양소 섭취 부족이 나타났음을 확인하였다.

Keywords

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