Perceptions of Body Shape and Weight Control in Individuals Consuming Weight-Control or Health Functional Foods

The purpose of this study was to investigate the general characteristics, body shape, and perceptions of weight control in individuals consuming health functional foods and weight-control foods. The survey was conducted between April 15 and June 17, 2010 among 199 (57 males and 142 females; age range, 25-45 years) in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, who experienced eating health functional foods or weight control foods during the past year (June 2009 to June 2010). The subjects were divided into a weight-control food group (89 adults) and a health functional food group (110 adults). The subjects were comprised of a high proportion of aged (average age, 34.2 +/- 5.9 years), graduates (71.9%), and married (65.8%) individuals. In the weight control food group, gender, age, and educational background were similar and the ratios of service/technical employees, college students, and normal-weight individuals [body mass index (BMI), < 23] were high. BMI was significantly different by gender (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.01), marital status (p < 0.001), and job type (p < 0.001). Self-perceived health status showed a higher response for "in good health" in the 35-44 year old group than that in the 25-34 year old group (p < 0.05). Male group satisfaction for body shape was significantly higher than that in the female group. The main reason for going on a diet was significantly different by gender (p < 0.05) and BMI (p < 0.01). The main motives for dieting were "because I am not at an ideal weight" and "because of the social atmosphere and the attention of others" in men, but "can't wear the clothes I want" in women (p < 0.01). The most preferable product type related to the two groups was significantly different by job (p < 0.001) and BMI (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed for questions about body shape perception and weight control. Consumers who had different general characteristics and used diet products perceived body shape and weight control differently. Additionally, no meaningful differences were observed when the results were categorized by product type, except job and BMI, but the distribution of consumer characteristics showed different tendencies. These results can be utilized as basic data for developing new diet products to help people control their weight more scientifically and appropriately in the future.

Consumption of Health Functional Foods according to Age Group in Some Regions of Korea

The purpose of this study was to investigate the consumption of health functional foods according to age group. We surveyed 300 subjects with quota sampling aged 10 to 50 and over. The rate of consumption of health functional foods by users was substantial (52.7%). Consumers of health functional foods showed higher scores for interest in health (3.97 vs 3.49, P<0.001) and knowledge of health functional foods (3.79 vs 3.30, P<0.001) than non-consumers of health functional foods. Regarding consumers of health functional foods, the number (P<0.01) and types (P<0.05) of health functional foods, reasons for taking (P<0.05), motivations for buying (P<0.05), periods of taking (P<0.001), cost per month (P<0.01), observance of instruction (P<0.01), and effectiveness (P<0.01) were significantly different according to age group. For non-consumers of health functional foods, reasons for not-taking (P<0.01) and types of health functional foods to be planned (P<0.001) were different according to age group. For consumers and non-consumers, problems (P<0.01) and improvements (P<0.001) for health functional foods showed significant differences according to age group. The majority of subjects (85.4%) answered that heath functional foods had no side-effects. Reported side effects were inappetence (6.6%), constipation (2.6%), and headache (2.0%). In conclusion, differentiated strategies and specialized education programs according to age group might be needed for promoting adequate consumption and preventing side-effects of health functional foods.

A study of consumers' perceptions and prediction of consumption patterns for generic health functional foods

The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) revised the Health Functional Food Act in 2008 and extended the form of health functional foods to general food types. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate consumers' perceptions of the expanded form of health functional food and to predict consumption patterns. For this study, 1,006 male and female adults aged 19 years and older were selected nationwide by multi-stage stratified random sampling and were surveyed in 1:1 interviews. The questionnaire survey was conducted by Korea Gallup. The subjects consisted of 497 (49.4%) males and 509 (50.6%) females. About 57.9% of the subjects recognized the KFDA's permission procedures for health functional foods. Regarding the health functional foods that the subjects had consumed, red ginseng products were the highest (45.3%), followed by nutritional supplements (34.9%), ginseng products (27.9%), lactobacillus-containing products (21.0%), aloe products (20.3%), and Japanese apricot extract products (18.4%). Opinions on expanding the form of health functional foods to general food types scored 4.7 points on a 7-point scale, showing positive responses. In terms of the effects of medicine-type health functional foods versus generic health functional foods, the highest response was 'same effects if the same ingredients are contained' at a rate of 34.7%. For intake frequency by food type, the response of 'daily consistent intake' was 31.7% for capsules, tablets, and pills, and 21.7% for extracts. For general food types, 'daily consistent intake' was 44.5% for rice and 22.8% for beverages, which were higher rates than those for medicine types. From the above results, consumers had positive opinions of the expansion of health functional foods to generic forms but are not expected to maintain accurate intake frequencies or amounts. Thus, continuous promotion and education are needed for proper intake of generic health functional foods.

Health Functional Food Use and Related Variables Among the Middle-Aged in Korea

Various types of health functional foods (HFF) are popularly used among middle-aged. We surveyed 946 middle-aged in Korea for HFF use and significant variables for their HFF use including demographic characteristics, health related variables and nutritional beliefs. The use prevalence of HFF was 58.9%, and among all types of HFF, red ginseng products were taken most frequently, followed by nutritional supplements, ginseng products > mushroom products. HFF was taken more frequently in subjects from high monthly family income (p < .001), and in those from families with a high socioeconomic status (p < .001) in comparison to each corresponding group. Mean age of users was higher than nonusers (p < .001). Self concern about health (p < .001) and usage ratio of HFF by family (p < .001) were higher in users than in nonusers of HFF. Total dietary assessment score was not different in two groups, and users had a more positive view concerning the potential health benefit of HFF than nonusers (p < .001). Most users of HFF took HFF when they were healthy (52.8%) and experienced a little effect through the HFF use (51.2%). Most users of HFF obtained the information on HFF through family and relatives (30.5%) and most of them purchased HFF at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics (44.5%). HFF users preferred multivitamin and Ca-supplements most among the vitamind mineral supplements belonged to HFF. Given the widespread use of HFF and inappropriate usage of HFF among subjects, the proper use of these products for the contribution to their optimal nutrition and overall health is a subject that should be formed through practical nutrition education considering the various variables affecting their HFF use.

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.

Elementary School Children's Intake Patterns of Health Functional Foods and Parent's Requirements in Daejeon Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study investigated intake patterns of health functional foods (HFF) in elementary school children and requirements of their parents in the Daejeon area using a questionnaire by 432 parents. Participating parents were composed of female, 83.6% and male, 16.4%. Most of the parents were in their 40's (53.0%) and 30's (45.8%). 47.9% of the children were male and 52.1% were female. The school year of the children was distributed evenly, ranging from the first year to the sixth year. The intake rate of HFF for parents appeared to be 65.3% and for children it appeared to be 63.2%. The primary reason of using HFF to their child was 'For health promotion' (54.4%); the largest reason of non-using HFF was 'Do not feel necessity because is healthy' (48.8%). In regards to purchase place, 'Drugstore' was most selected by 26.1%, while the largest amount of purchase motive was 'Decided by oneself for children's health' (37.7%). The average expense per month was, 'Less than 50 thousand portion' (20.3%). The intake period, 'less than 6 months' was won' for 54.9%. For intake items, 'Vitamin supplementation products' was the largest portion' (20.3%) was indicated. The intake period, 'less than 6 months' was the most selected by 51.3%. Most people (66.7%) selected '1 kind' of intake item. As for intake effect, 45.4% claimed 'A little help'. In regard to experiencing side effects, 'Is not' was 92.7%, however, diarrhea, nettle rash, nausea etc. were a little. The biggest problem of HFF was 'Falsehood/exaggerative advertisement' as identified by 53.1%. For improvement of the HFF system was, 'Verify by more strict formality' as selected by 55.8%. In regards to experience of nutrition education on HFF, 'Is not' was most selected by 51.0%. The most desirous form of nutrition education was, 'Simple paper material' (31.3%). The most desirous content of nutrition education was, 'nutritional management of classified by life cycle' (37.2%). Therefore, HFF must be used properly to promote the health and growth development of children by acquiring scientific and reasonable information about the ability and usage of the food.

Exposure Assessment of Vitamins and Minerals from Various Sources of Koreans

In recent years a concern of excessive intakes of vitamins and minerals from various sources is increasing, since there has been a marked increase in production and consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements and fortified foods. The purpose of this study was to assess the maximum exposure of vitamins and minerals from various sources including diet, fortified foods, and health functional foods among Koreans. As a result, the highest exposure group of most vitamins and minerals from diet was adults (30 - 49 years of age) according to 2001 Korean National Nutrition and Health Survey Report. Maximum dietary intakes of vitamin A, B1, B2, C, nicotinamide, calcium, phosphorus and iron were 0.5 - 7 times of the RDA for Koreans, 7th ed. Maximum intakes of vitamins and minerals from fortified foods by adults (20 - 59 years of age) were 8 - 760% of the Korean RDA. In addition, maximum exposure of vitamins and minerals from vitamin.mineral health functional foods by middle aged people was 35 - 140% of the upper limits (UL: DRI for Koreans). As a consequence, maximum combined intakes of vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, iron and zinc from the above sources including diet, fortified foods and vitamin.mineral health functional foods were greater than the UL. These results would be applied for determining the safe upper limits of vitamin and mineral of health functional foods.