Regional Differences in Taste and Food Preferences of College Students Attending Nutritional Education via Internet I. Main and Side Dishes / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the regional differences in food preference among college students participating in a nutrition education program via internet. The subjects were 1672 college students (male: 762, female: 910) and divided into 4 regional groups. A survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire on taste and food preferences. Data was collected via internet or by mail. Prevalence of the food preferences among regional groups was examined using SPSS statistical package. Food preferences were significantly associated with sex and region. Female students in Chungcheong and Kyungsang areas showed significantly higher preference of the hot taste compared to Seoul and Kyunggi areas. Female students in Seoul, Kyunggi and Chungcheong areas showed significantly higher preference of the boiled bean rice compared to the Kyungsang area. The preference for Kimchi stew of female students in Seoul and Kyunggi was significantly higher than those in Chungcheong and Kyungsang areas. Male students in the Chungcheong area showed significantly higher preferences of the Young radish kimchi, while female students in this area showed significantly higher preference of the Radish kimchi compared to other areas. The preference for roasted laver of female students in Seoul, Kyunggi and Kyungsang areas was significantly higher compared to the Chungcheong area. The preference for fried chicken of male students in Seoul was significantly higher than that in other areas. The preference for bean sprouts and season bonnet bellflower of male students in Seoul, Chungcheong and Kyungsang areas were significantly higher compared to the Kyunggi area. Therefore, these results provide nation-wide information on food preferences among Korean college students.

Supplement Use of Age-Related Chronic Disease Outpatients in Korea

In order to investigate supplement use in middle-aged and elderly outpatients suffering from age-related diseases over the last year, a cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to December 2001. The subjects were 1702 (male 731, female 971) age-related disease outpatients over age 50. Data was collected using a standardized questionnaire and in-person interviews. The prevalence of supplement use and the different categories of supplements taken by the subjects were examined using SPSS statistical package. Supplements were used by 48.9% of the subjects. The mean number of kinds of dietary supplements taken by subjects was 1.7. Chinese medicine was the most commonly used supplements in both the male and female subjects. Among the reasons for using supplements, health promotion ranked as the most common. Most of the supplement users, however, did not know or only knew roughly about the health claims of their supplements. Subjects reported the information source on supplements as family, friends or relatives followed by doctors or pharmacists. These results may provide basic information for proper supplement use among Korean middle-aged and elderly outpatients with age-related diseases.

Eating Behaviors, Perception of Body Image, Hematological Indices and Nutrient Intake of Adolescent Female Athletes in Incheon / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the eating behaviors, the self-perception of body images, the hematological indices and the nutrient intake of adolescent female athletes in Incheon. The subjects were 112 female athletes (track and field: n = 32, target shooting: n = 27, fencing: n = 29, swimming: n = 14, badminton: n = 10) from middle and high schools in Incheon. This cross-sectional study was conducted by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were obtained and analyzed for hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), ferritin, serum iron, mean cor-puscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC), total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TS). Nutrient intakes obtained by means of the 3 day-recall method were analyzed using the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis Program. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SPSS 10.0 program. Most of the female athletes had dietary problems such as eating unbalanced meals, skipping meals, and preferences for processed foods. More than 60% of the female athletes skipped breakfast. As for perception of their body images, track and field athletes in particular, controlled their weights significantly better than the other athletes (p < 0.05). With regard to their physical exertion during exercise, 56.3% of the swimmers and 31.3% of the track and field athletes answered "very hard", which was a significant difference (p < 0.001). More than 80% of the female athletes experienced vertigo during exercise (p < 0.01). Also more than 50% of the female athletes, with the exception of the badminton players, had experienced irregular menstruation (p < 0.05). The average serum iron levels (p < 0.05), the serum ferritin levels (p < 0.05) and TS (p < 0.05) of the track and field athletes was significantly lower as compared to that of the other athletes. The nutrient intakes of the female athletes, with the exception of Vitamin B6, niacin and phosphorus were lower than the Korean Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA). In particular, the calcium and iron intakes of the female athletes were under 50% of the Korean RDA. Therefore, proper nutritional education and supplementation are required for female athletes to encourage desirable eating habits, as well as to improve their nutritional status and exercise performances.

Nutritional Risk Factors, Perceptions on Nutrition and Health, Nutritional Knowledge, Food Habits and Their Correlation to Supplement Use in Middle-Aged and Elderly Koreans / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate nutritional risk factors, perceptions on nutrition and health, nutritional knowledge, flood habits and their correlation to supplement use in middle-aged and elderly Koreans. A nationwide survey was conducted in the metropolitan areas (6 cities) and middle-sized cities (8 cities) of Korea from October to December, 2000. Subjects were randomly selected based on population, and 2,188 non-institutionalized adults aged over 50, and elderly (male 765, female 1,423) were studied. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire administered in personal interviews. Nutrition and health-related scores of nutritional risk factors, perceptions on nutrition and health, nutritional knowledge, and flood habits were significantly higher in supplement users as compared to non-users. There was a negative correlation between nutritional risk factors and other nutrition and health-related scores on perceptions on nutrition and health, nutritional knowledge, flood habits, and pocket money. Also there was a positive correlation between nutritional risk factors and age. Therefore, these results may provide basic information for proper supplement use by middle-aged and elderly Koreans.

A Comparative Study on the Dietary Attitudes, Dietary Behaviors and Diet Qualities of Food and Nutrition Major and Non-major Female University Students / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to compare dietary attitudes, dietary behaviors and diet qualities of Food and Nutrition major and non-major female students at a university located in Inchon. The subjects included 74 female Food and Nutrition majors and 45 non-Food and Nutrition major female university students. This cross-sectional survey was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire, and the data were analyzed by a SPSS 10.0 program. The nutrient intake data collected from Three-day recalls were analyzed by the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis Program and then the diet quality was estimated using the Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR), the Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) and the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ). There was no significant difference in dietary behaviors between Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors. However, most of the female university students had poor eating habits, such as overeating, unbalanced meals, and skipping of meals. In particular, more than 50% of the female university students skipped breakfast. As for weighing themselves once a week, changing dietary lifestyles, calculating food calories and having interest in information on nutrition and health, the ratio of Food and Nutrition majors was significantly higher as compared to that of the non-majors. There was a significant difference in food consumption frequency except for milk and milk products, and iron-rich foods between the Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors. However, there was a significant difference in the frequency scores of iron-rich foods between the Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors. The MAR of Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors were 0.80 +/- 0.13, 0.79 +/-0.13, respectively. However, in the Food and Nutrition majors and non-majors, the NARs of calcium were 0.61 +/- 0.21 and 0.59 +/-0.20, and that of iron were 0.61 +/-0.21 and 0.59 +/-0.16, respectively, which was extremely low when compared to that of the other nutrients. This result was similar to that of the INQ. Therefore, nutritional education is necessary if female university students are to practice optimal nutrition, including well-balanced diets and eating foods of high nutritional quality.

A Study on Supplements Use in the Middle-Aged and Elderly / 대한지역사회영양학회지

In order to investigate the current status of supplements use in the elderly during the last one year, a nationwide survey was conducted in metropolitan areas(6 cities) and middle-sized cities(8 cities). The subjects were 2188(male 765, female 1423) non-institutionalized adults and elderly people aged 50 and over, and information was collected by in-person interviews. Prevalence of supplements use and different types of supplements taken by subjects were examined using SPSS statistical package. Different category of supplements was used by 30.2% of the subjects. On the average, the subjects consumed at least one kind of supplements. Chinese medicine was the most commonly used supplements in both male and female subjects. Among the reasons for using supplements, health promotion ranked the highest, however, most supplement users did not know(35.3%) or knew roughly(48.9%) about the health claims of their supplements. Subjects reported the information source for supplements as family, friends or relatives(43.6%) followed by TV and radio(23.3%). Chinese medicine was most commonly used supplement in male subjects who have chronic diseases(40.7%), and vitamin and mineral supplements were most commonly used by female subjects who have chronic diseases(39.0%). Therefore, these results may provide basic information on different category of supplements used by the middle-aged and elderly,