• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.451-462
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• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate breakfast consumption pattern in relation to diet quality and health outcomes of Korean adults. Data are from 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Dietary information of 3406 adults aged $30{\sim}49$ years and their socio-demographic characteristics, blood lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, anthropometric measurements were analyzed. According to the breakfast consumption of the subjects, they were classified to breakfast skippers and eaters and the eaters' breakfast staple types were defined as RICE, BREAD, NOODLES, MIXED (mixed types including several grain-based dishes), and OTHERS. The proportions of breakfast consumption patterns were 18.4% for skippers, 71.1% for RICE, 2.6% for BREAD, 1.6% for NOODLES, 4.0% for MIXED, and 2.4% for OTHERS. Breakfast skippers had lower daily nutrients intake than breakfast eaters but their health outcomes did not differ from those of eaters. Instead, men with BREAD pattern had higher blood cholesterol and women in NOODLE pattern had higher blood glucose and lower HDL cholesterol. The BREAD pattern breakfast had higher energy contribution from fat and lower nutrient densities and the subjects in BREAD pattern had higher level of household income. Men's BREAD pattern breakfast consisted more animal products than that of women. There was high probability of undernutrition among women in NOODLE pattern and their mean household income was the lowest. From these results, in Korea, breakfast staple types have different food patterns and there was need for developing healthy food patterns appropriate to each staple type. The breakfast consumption pattern had influences on nutrient adequacy of the diet and health outcomes and seemed to represent socio-economic status. These could be used in doing nutrition education in community.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.547-558
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• 1996

A rapid increase in urbanization and industrialization brings about a change in economic status which results in considerable changes in lifestyle including food habits and disease and mortality patterns. The purpose of the present study was to investigate recent food habit changes if any, reasons for food habit change, current food consumption patterns, and breakfast practices among urban adults with middle and upper income levels. Three hundred men and women, aged 20-60 years, were randomly selected and interviewed individually by trained interviewers. Among the twenty food groups studied, subjects reported that, compared to two years ago, they are now eating more fast foods, meats, fish, vegetables and fruits, and less rice, noodles, pastries, and salt. The changes in fast foods, fruits, and rice consumption patterns varied significantly between age, sex, income level, and BMI groups. The two most primary reasons for food habit changes were 'for my own health' and 'for my family's health', which shows that health seems to be the major concern in changing food habits. Among meals, the breakfast meal was rated as the most important one, and was not affected by the sociodemographic variables. However, the average rate of skipping breakfast was found to be as high as 33% with a greater rate in younger age groups. The rats of breakfast skipping was found to vary between different income, education, and BMI groups. Among the subjects who eat breakfast meals daily, a traditional Korean breakfast of rice and soup was found to be still a predominant choice, although younger age groups, upper income groups, and people with more education choice, although younger age groups, upper income groups, and people with more education tended to eat a western-style breakfast more frequently. These findings are applicable at the planning and implementation stages of various nutritional improvement projects as a part of the National health Promotion Law.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2012

The Korean diet, including breakfast, is becoming more Western, which could increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Our aim was to assess whether breakfast patterns are associated with risk for metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. The study subjects (n=371; 103 men, 268 women) were employees of Jaesang Hospital in Korea and their acquaintances, and all subjects were between 30 and 50 years old. The data collected from each subject included anthropometric measurements, three-day food intake, blood pressure (BP) and blood analyses. The three breakfast patterns identified by factor analysis were "Rice, Kimchi and Vegetables", "Potatoes, Fruits and Nuts" and "Eggs, Breads and Processed meat". The "Rice, Kimchi and Vegetables" pattern scores were positively correlated with systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measurements in men (P<0.05) and with serum triglyceride (TG) levels in women (P<0.05). The "Eggs, Breads and Processed meat" pattern scores correlated positively with weight, body mass index (P<0.05) and serum TGs (P<0.01) in men. The "Potatoes, Fruits and Nuts" pattern was associated with lower risk of elevated BP (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28-0.88) and fasting glucose levels (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.26-1.00). In contrast, the "Eggs, Breads and Processed meat" pattern was associated with increased risk of elevated TGs (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.06-3.98). Our results indicate that reducing the consumption of eggs, western grains and processed meat while increasing fruit, nut and vegetable intake for breakfast could have beneficial effects on decreasing metabolic syndrome risk in Korean adults.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.236-250
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to investigate difference in the diet by the kind of meal and the economic status. Nutrient contents at each meals were compared and differences in food intake at different meal were analyzed by economic status. Data from the 1998 Korean National Health Examination Nutrition Survey were used. Using the poverty line based on the 1998 Korean minimum cost of living, the subjects (n = 10400) were classified into high class (36.1％), middle class (40.7％) and low class (23.1 ％). Most nutrient intakes were obtained for main meals regardless of economic status. For high class, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks bring about 21, 29, 30 and 19 ％ of total energy intake, for middle class 22, 29, 30 and 19％ and for low class 24, 30, 30 and 16％, respectively. The high-middle class people tend to get more food intakes and nutrients at dinner and snacks, while the low class at main meals. This result was associated with the consumption of a smaller number of meals and a greater number of snacks daily as the economic level was going up (p 〈 0.05). Meals contributed to energy, protein and fat intake, and snacks to water, retinol and vitamin C. The food intakes by food group were different at meals by economic class. Seaweed product were popular breakfast foods in both middle and low groups. Thus three meals such as breakfast, lunch and dinner still delivered most of the energy and most of the macro-nutrients regardless of economic status.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.856-866
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to study the relationship between the prevalence of constipation and beverage intake. Research data were collected from first and second grade female students at Hyehwa High School in Seoul by means of questionnaires. A total of 190 questionnaires were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN program. The results are summarized as follows: The average body mass index (BMI) was 20.7. Of the students, 38.4% had a BMI of less than 20(underweight), and 15.8% had a BMI of over 23 (overweight). However, 84.7% of the students wanted to lose weight. To estimate the prevalence of constipation, five factors were used: frequency and regularity of defecation, time spent defecating, defecation difficulty, and feeling of residue after defecation. The percentage of the students who emptied their bowels every day was 22.1%. About 2/5 of the students (42.1%) had irregular defecation, and 15.2% spent more than 10 minutes in the rest room when defecating. The students who did not have difficulty defecating and those who did not have feelings of residue after defecating were only 24.7% and 28.9%, respectively. The amount of beverage intake per day was 1,062$m\ell$ 674$m\ell$ of water, 128$m\ell$ of milk, 88$m\ell$ of soft drinks, and 53$m\ell$ of fruit juice. The amount of beverage intake before breakfast, during breakfast, before lunch and during lunch was about 100 $m\ell$, each; before dinner, during dinner, and after dinner it was about 200$m\ell$, each. The amount of beverage intake during the weekend was 120$m\ell$ greater than on weekdays. Students who drank more beverages, especially water, before breakfast, showed a higher defecation frequency, more regular defecation, spent less time defecating, had less difficulty defecating, and had less feeling of residue after defecation, so that they have a better defecation pattern. Based on these results, increasing the amount of beverage consumption, especially of water, and drinking greater quantities of beverage before breakfast are ways to reduce constipation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.10-21
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the housewives’ consumption pattern and preference of the Korean rice cake asa substitute for meal. The rate of housewives who had eaten rice cake as a substitute for meal were 75.30% and those who had not were 20.83%. Usually 62.03% of them ate rice cake for breakfast, and 34.21% did them within one time per a week. Reasons for eating rice cake for meal were investigated on ‘easy to eat(54.51%)’, ‘good taste (24.44%)’ and ‘healthy food(14.29%)’. The older housewives wanted healthy rice cake for meal and ate with tea and Kimchi(Dongchimi). The younger ones ate rice cake for meal with tea and milk. Thawing methods of frozen rice cake for meal were different between the older and the younger, respectively, steaming and using microwave. Kinds of rice cake as a substitute meal were Injeolmi(50.75%), Backsulgi(49.62%), Chaltteok (47.74%) and Yaksik(46.44).

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2005

This study was conducted to find the gender and age differences in dietary behaviors and food consumption pattern of Korean American adults living in western parts of USA. The structured survey forms and self-administered food frequency questionnaire were used to assess dietary behavior and nutrient intakes. It was found that younger subjects kept their meal time more irregularly and skipped breakfast more often than older subjects due to lack of time. There were significant age differences in skipping meals, kind of skipping meals, and the reasons for skipping meals. Young subjects consumed more American type food while older subjects consumed more traditional Korean food. Nutrient intakes of males' except for the elderly were significantly higher in energy, protein, Fe and P than those of females'. Vitamin A and vitamin C intake were significantly higher in females. Energy ratio of carbohydrate: protein: fat was 56.2 : 16.8 : 27.0. Females consumed more plant food as their dietary sources of protein, fat, Ca and Fe, compared to males. Ca intakes of participants' were below $75\%$ of RDA except for the youngest male and $30\~49$ aged male and females. Futhermore, Ca intake was below $70\%$ after age 50 in both genders. Effective nutrition education program targeting Korean Americans in the community should be developed and implemented to increase Ca consumption.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.84-96
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• 2005

Rice is the primary main dish of Traditional Korean diet. Although there have been changes in food consumption and nutrient intake among Koreans, traditional dietary pattern is stil dominant among Koreans. Traditional Korean diet has emphasized breakfast, which is the most frequently missed meals in Korea today but important for daily work performance and health. Compared to diets of the U.S. and Greece, Korean diet is high in carbohydrate and low in fat and cholesterol due to low intake of meat. Koreans also consume large amount of plant food, which makes fiber content of diet to be high. However fruit and milk consumption tends to be low in Korea. Koreans use fermented food, including kimchi, very frequently as well as foods cooked and consumed at high temperature and over direct fire. Traditional cooking methods are time consuming which limits the usage among modern city dwellers with working women. Despite the strengths of traditional Korean diets in reducing risk factors of chronic diseases, preservation of the tradition in modern Korean society requires special attention and efforts to make them more adaptable to contemporary life styles.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-42
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to investigate the importance of well-being related to lifestyle choices such as food habits, food choices, life pattern, etc. The survey was conducted among college students using a questionnaire and a 5-point Likert score in Seoul City and Kyunggido Province during September 2005. The responses of 968 college students were analyzed by the SPSS program. The results were as follows. Most of the subjects were female(76.2%), and lived with their parents (85.6%). The average score of 'food habits', 'choosing food materials', 'purchasing' and 'life pattern' were $2.71{\pm}1.22,\;2.86{\pm}1.28,\;2.41{\pm}1.21,\;and\;2.97{\pm}1.31$ respectively in males and $3.01{\pm}1.20,\;3.00{\pm}1.32,\;2.55{\pm}1.20,and\;2.68{\pm}1.40$ in females, respectively. In regard to 'food habits', the scores were significantly affected by gender(p<0.001), smoking(p<0.05), alcohol consumption(p<0.05), exercise(p<0.001), weight satisfaction(p<0.001), method of weight control(p<0.001), use of nutritional supplement(p<0.05), attempts at weight control(p<0.001), regularity of breakfast(p<0.001), level of interest in well-being(p<0.001), and whether the individual tried a well-being item(p<0.001). In regarding to 'choosing food materials' the scores were significantly affected by gender(p<0.001), smoking(p<0.05), exercise(p<0.001), weight satisfaction(p<0.05), method of weight control(p<0.05), use of nutritional supplement(p<0.05), attempts at weight control(p<0.001), regularity of breakfast(p<0.001), level of interest in well-being(p<0.001) ), and whether the individual tried a well-being item(p<0.001). Out of the factors affecting 'purchasing', the association with BMI was remarkable. Students who were overweight, obese or underweight showed higher average scores than students of normal weight. The primary concerns and trial of well-being of college students were food and exercise. Therefore, the purchase of well-being goods is related to their weight control in college students. In regard to 'life pattern' the scores were significantly affected by exercise(p<0.01), use of computer(p<0.001), BMI(p<0.001), weight control(p<0.001), use of nutritional supplement(p<0.05), regularity of breakfast(p<0.001), level of interest in wellbeing(p<0.001), whether the individual tried a well-being item(p<0.001), and having taken lecture on well-being(p<0.05). Therefore nutrition education is needed for healthy eating habits of college students and it is necessary to develop a series of lectures to teach them about diet and exercise programs.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.169-185
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of meal patterns among Koreans of different age groups. The study subjects consisted of preschool children (PC), elementary school children (EC), high school students (HS), college students (CS), and adults over 30 years old living in Seoul and the surrounding areas. A dietary survey was conducted using 24-hour recall method from 1996-1998 and data were collected from 2392 subjects. The subjects over 30 years old were classified as 30∼49 years, 50∼69 years, and over 70 years. EC, HS, and CS groups consumed less than 20％ of their total energy intake from breakfast. PC and EC consumed over 30％ of their energy from snacks. In all age groups, the proportion of subjects who skipped a meal was highest for breakfast and lowest for dinner. Especially, 31.4％ of the CS group skipped breakfast. Breakfast and snacks provided higher quality meals than the others when each meal was assessed by the index of nutritional quality (INQ). Especially, lunch of the HS group, each meal of the EC group and subjects over 70 years of age had a lower diet quality than the others did. The major snack items for PC, EC, HS, and CS groups were milk, ice cream, and snack cakes, but those for subjects over 30 years of age were fruits. The PC group obtained 35.5％ of their energy from snacks, but the proportion of snack energy decreased with increasing age. PC and EC groups obtained a great proportion of calcium, vitamin B2, fat, and cholesterol intake from snacks. Snack foods provided 53.2％, 42.4％, 45.4％, and 24.6％ of those nutrients, respectively, for the PC group and 54.2％, 43.5％, 37.4％, and 26.8％, respectively, for the EC group. These results suggested that each age group had specific meal patterns. Especially, breakfast and snack intake seemed to complement overall diet quality. However, more intervention is needed to improve overall dietary nutrition, e.g., efforts to decrease fat and cholesterol proportion and increase breakfast consumption. These dietary characteristics among different age groups present foundation data for the development of methods to resolve the nutritional problems of each age group.