Consumption of Health Functional Foods by Elementary Schoolchildren in Korea

We surveyed 837 students attending elementary schoolchildren in Korea for health functional foods (HFF) consumption and significant variables for their HFF consumption including demographic characteristics, parental health concern on offsprings, food eating frequency of subjects and beliefs on potential efficacy of HFF by subjects. The consumption prevalence of HFF was 45.9%, and among all types of HFF, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by apricot extract-fermented products > lactic acid bacteria containing products > EPA/DHA containing products > red ginseng products. HFF consumption was higher in subjects had parents of high education level (p < .05) and those from families with a high socioeconomic status (p < .01) in comparison to each corresponding group. Health concern on offsprings by parents (p < .001) and consumption ratio of HFF by family (p < .001) was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF. Total score of dietary assessment was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF (p < .01), and consumers had a more positive view concerning the potential efficacy of HFF than did nonconsumers (p < .001). Most consumers of HFF took HFF when they were healthy (42.5%), and they did not feel special effects through HFF consumption (47.7%). Most consumers of HFF got the information on HFF from family and relatives (24.8%), and most of them purchased HFF at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics (53.9%). HFF consumers preferred multi-vitamins and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin . mineral supplements belonged to HFF. Given the widespread consumption of HFF by elementary schoolchildren, the reasonable consumption of these products for the contribution to their overall health and well-being should be emphasized through nutrition education for them and their family.

The Influence of Weight and Height Status on Psychological Problems of Elementary Schoolchildren through Child Behavior Checklist Analysis

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate weight and height status and their relationship with psychological problems among elementary schoolchildren. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 405 schoolchildren (211 boys and 194 girls, aged: 10-13 years), living in Seoul, Korea, participated in this study. The participants were divided into 3 groups according to their weight and height standard deviation score. Psychological assessments were performed using the Korean-Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS: In this study, 34.4% of boys and 32.1% of girls showed dissatisfaction with their weight, whereas 26.2% of boys and 30.2% of girls showed dissatisfaction with their height. The obese group showed higher weight dissatisfaction than the normal or underweight groups (p < 0.001). The short stature group showed higher dissatisfaction in their height than the normal group (p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in total CBCL problems score according to weight or height status. The underweight and obese groups had higher score for social problems than normal weight group (p < 0.05 respectively). There were no significant differences in each CBCL problem score by height status. As a whole, the prevalence rate of a CBCL total problems score in the clinical range was 3 percent (12/405). These children showed no difference in terms of weight or height, compared with normal students. Among the factors related, only school performance was negatively correlated with the total problems score (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Approximately one-third of elementary schoolchildren were dissatisfied with their height or weight. Although their total CBCL psychological problem scores were closely related with school performance, they did not show any significant relation with height or weight status. Contrary to the general view, our study suggests that psychological problems of elementary schoolchildren may be related more with their school performance than their body physique.

Perception and Preference of Elementary Schoolchildren on Rice Foods in Changwon and Gimhae City

This study was based on the information provided by 1,180 elementary school children (630 boys and 550 girls) of 5th or 6th grade in Changwon and Gimhae of Gyeongnam province. They were asked about perception and preference for rice foods by questionnaires. The purpose of this survey was to find the way of encouraging rice intake and preference which is currently getting lower because of increasing simple westernized eating habits, and to provide basic information needed for inheriting and improving our traditional rice-based dietary culture. The results are summarized as follows. Most of subjects (91.2%) thought that steamed rice is better than bread for own health. The reason why they chose to eat steamed rice was 'because it is good for health' (61.2%), and 'because it is staple food item that we eat everyday' (26.4%). Seventy one percent of girls and 52.7% of boys gave the answer 'because it is good for health' as the reason for eating steamed rice. The reasons for the importance of the rice-based dietary culture were 'because of its superior nutritional value' (40.8%), and 'because it is our traditional eating culturec (28.6%). While significantly more girls (42.9%) answered as 'because of its superior nutritional value', more boys (39.0%) answered as 'because it is our traditional dietary culture'. More boys (59.0%) preferred noodles than girls' (54.7%), and fruits were preferred more by girls than boys as substitution foods for steamed rice showing significant difference (p<0.01). They wanted rice product developed in the forms such as Ssalamyun (29.8%), Ssalmandoo (24.1%), rice noodles (20.6%), and rice bread (15.6%). The preference score on rice products of subjects was one dish meals (4.27) and drinks (4.26), snacks (3.72), convenience foods (3.61), and steamed rice (3.44) in order. Preferred food showing points over 4 were Ssalbap (plain steamed rice) (4.29) in steamed rice type food, Kimchi bokeumbap (4.56), Bokeumbap (4.55), Bibimbop (4.45), Omelet rice (4.44), Kimbap (4.42), Ddukkuk (4.33), Curried rice (4.33), Jajangbap (4.28), and Ddukmandookuk (4.24) in one dish meal type food, Samgak Kimbap (4.26) in convenience type food, Songpyun (4.48), Injulmi (4.18), Teokbokki (4.71), Ddukkochiguyi (4.46), and rice cookies (4.24) in snack type food, and Shikhye (4.61) and Misugaru (4.28) in drink type food. Based on these results, it may be said that elementary school children think the rice-based diet is good for health and this dietary culture should be inherited and developed not only in a traditional aspect but also in a nutritional aspect. Therefore, more studies are needed to develop various forms of rice food products and cooking recipes.

A Study on Elementary Schoolchildren's Knowledge, One's Value and Consumption Pattern for Rice Foods in Changwon and Gimhae City

The informations concerning knowledge, value and consumption pattern for rice foods of elementary schoolchildren (630 boys and 550 girls in 5th or 6th grade) were investigated in Changwon and Gimhae of Gyeongnam province. They were asked based on knowledge, one's value and intake frequence of rice foods by questionnaries. Menus for 3 days including 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day were taken from 136 students (77 boys and 59 girls) in two Elementary Schools in Changwon and Gimhae to know intake reality of rice product. The purpose of this survey was to find the way of encouraging rice intake and preference which now seemed to be low because of simplified, westernized eating habits, and to provide basic information needed for inheriting and improving our traditional cooked rice centered eating culture. The results are summarized as follows. The knowledge of rice was positively correlated to the one's value (r=0.365, p<0.001) and the preference (r=0.132, p<0.001), the one's value was positively correlated to preference (r=0.409, p<0.001). The score of knowledge for rice was 12.8 points out of 20, the girls get points(13.12) significantly higher than the boys (12.53) (p<0.01). One's value about rice foods was 37.35 points out of 50 what is relatively high. They have eaten cooked rice type food for 2.24 times per day. Both boys and girls in Changwon and Gimhae area were having cooked rice type food significantly more during weekdays compared to weekends (p7lt;0.001) by 3 days food record. According the results, we can see the possibility that schoolchildren can be encouraged to eat more rice foods by nutritional education to go with the development of various programs.