Perceptions of Food Allergen Labeling in School Meal Service among Middle School Girls in Incheon

The purpose of this study was to suggest strategies for effective food allergen labeling in order to prevent food allergies in school meal service. Food allergy experience, eating behavior, and perceptions of food allergen labeling in school meal service were surveyed and compared according to the food allergy experiences of middle school girls in Incheon. Seventy-eight students (17% of total subjects) experienced food allergies. For eating behaviors, students with food allergy experience had significantly higher scores for using nutritional knowledge in their life than inexperienced subjects. For the perception of food allergen labeling in school meal service, girls who had experienced food allergies more often checked labeling of school meals for allergenic foods than those who had no experience of food allergies (P < 0.001). The most desirable method for displaying allergenic foods was an indication of the allergenic food name among students who had experienced food allergies and allergenic food number of the current method for students who had not experienced food allergies (P < 0.001). Students who had not experienced food allergies showed significantly lower interest in food allergen labeling than subjects who had experienced food allergies (P < 0.001). For the importance score of information items in nutrition labeling, allergenic food score was significantly higher in students who had experienced food allergies (3.9 vs. 3.4 points, P < 0.001). These results indicate that students who have experienced food allergies are more interested in food allergen labeling of school meals and that they are more aware. Efforts to improve labeling method such as directly labeling allergenic food name and a more visible indication are required for efficient utilization of food allergen labeling in school meal service.

Relationships of Body Image, Body Stress and Eating Attitude, and Dietary Quality in Middle School Girls Based on Their BMI

This study investigated the body image, body stress, eating attitude, and dietary quality in middle school girls. Questionnaires were administered to one hundred fifty seven middle school girls in Seoul area. The subjects were categorized into the five groups according to their body mass index (BMI); 1) severely under-weight (BMI or = 25 kg/m2). 7.0%, 14.6%, 58.9%, 10.2%, and 10.2% of the subjects were classified as severely under-weight, under-weight, normal weight, overweight and obese groups, respectively. Regardless of the BMI, the subjects had disturbed body image, body stress, and poor eating attitude. The actual BMIs of the normal weight, overweight and obese subjects were significantly different from their desired BMI and perceived BMI, representing these subjects dissatisfied their body shape. Almost all subjects tried to lose their body weight even in the severely under-weight and under-weight groups. There were significant correlations of BMI with body image disturbance (p < 0.05), body stress (p < 0.01) and eating attitude (p < 0.05). These results indicated that middle school girls who have higher BMI seemed to have more body image distortion, body stress and risk of eating disorder. However, any significant difference in dietary quality among the five groups was not observed even though their dietary patterns were not balanced. As a conclusion, it is required that middle school girls should correct their distorted body image and body stress. Also, efforts to improve eating attitude, dietary pattern and nutritional status in the middle school girls are needed.

Influence of stress on snack consumption in middle school girls

Stress has been known to change dietary behaviors and food intakes in individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stress level on the frequency and the amount of snack consumption. The high stress group (HS) showed significantly higher frequency of consumption for bread, chips, cookies, ramyeon, and frozen snacks (p<0.05) compared to low stress group (LS) with higher frequency of snack consumption (p<0.01), and increased intakes of energy, carbohydrates, and sodium from snacks (p<0.01) than LS. As the stress level became higher, the proportions of students with irregular meals, overeating, and night snacking increased (p<0.01). Also, 33.0% of the subjects answered that they consumed an increased amount of snacks when they were feeling stressed. Our results indicated that stress has negative influence on snack consumption in middle school girls.

A Study on Factors Affecting Experience of Smoking in Middle School Girls / 아동간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to identify the factors affecting the experience of smoking in middle school girls. A comprehensive analysis of individual and family factors was used. METHOD: The students in this descriptive survey on causal relations were 433 girls enrolled in middle schools selected by convenience sampling. The data were collected in November-December 2003 and logistic regression analysis was used to build a forecast model. FINDINGS: The findings showed the following, 1) Individual factors such as grade, alcohol consumption, sexual experience and the frequency of exposure to pornographic materials, and 2) family factors such as parental living arrangement were significant factors. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The experience of smoking among Korean middle school girls was associated not only with individual factors, but also with family factors, which exert a strong influence on health behavior. There is therefore a need for school-based smoking prevention programs, which deal comprehensively with these factors that influence smoking. It is recommended that a program be developed that will help to control the variables identified in this study along with follow-up study to verify the model.

Locus of Control and Eating behavior of Obese Middle School Girls / 아동간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between health locus of control(HLOC) and eating behavior in obese middle school girls. METHOD: The sample consisted of 170 obese middle school girls in Seoul. RESULT: 1. The average scores of HLOC were HLOC-Internal ; 4.11, HLOC-External ; 2.45, HLOC-Chance ; 2.09. 2. The average scores of eating behavior factors were Disinhibition ; 2.69, Dietary Restraint ; 2.67, Hunger ; 2.55. 3.The HLOC-Internal and eating behavior(dietary restraint and hunger) were correlated positively. The HLOC-Chance and disinhibition was correlated positively. But HLOC-Chance and dietary restraint was correlated negatively. The HLOC-External and eating behavior(dietary restraint, disinhibition and hunger) were correlated positively. 4. There was not a significant difference in HLOC depending on the demographic characteristics(grade, degree of obesity, father & mother's body shape, existence of obese sibling). There were significant differences in HLOC-Internal and HLOC-External according to thinking about oneself who is obese or not. 5. There was not a significant difference in eating behavior depending on the demographic characteristics(grade, degree of obesity, father & mother's body shape, existence of obese sibling, perception of oneself as a obese). CONCLUSION: This study has shown a correlation between HLOC and eating behavior. As a result of these findings, clinical and school nurses should be involved in management and counselling of obese girls concerning individual health locus of control and eating behavior.

A Study of the Nutritional Intake from Lunch-Box of Middle School Girls in the Chonbuk Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The present study was conducted to evaluate nutritional intake by lunch-box of middle school girls who live in Chonbuk area. Anthropometric measurements and food intake from lunch-box over a three day period were investigated in a total of 110 middle school girls from rural (n = 37) and urban (n = 73) areas. The results are summarized as follows : 1. Not all the steamed rice in the lunch-box had enough mixed-cereal. 2. In the survey of food intake by food groups, 70.5% of the food came from the cereal group. 3. The intake of protein, phosphate, Vitamins B1 and B2, niacine and Vitamin E were adequate, however, the intake of other nutrients was significantly lower than those of one-third of the Korean RDA. 4. Protein, lipid, and zinc intakes of the students from the rural area were significantly lower than those of students from the urban area, however, the carbohydrate and dietary fiber intakes of those in the rural area were significantly higher than those of the students in the urban area. 5. The percentage of calories from carbohydrate : protein : lipid ratio was 67.6 : 12.2 : 16.9 for students in the rural area and 59.2 : 14.9 : 22.5 respectively for those in the urban area. In Summary, the intake of calcium, iron, Vitamins A, B6, and D, folate and zinc from lunch-box in middle school girls was much lower than that of one-third of the Korean RDA. The intake of carbohydrate and dietary fiber of the students in the rural area was significantly higher, but that of protein, lipids, and zinc was lower than that of the students in the urban area. Therefore, nutritional education programs for both students and their parents should be provided to improve the daily food intake from lunch-box.

Abnormal Eating Behavior and the Influential Factors among Female Middle School Students in Beijing / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To investigate the distribution of abnormal eating behaviors among middle school girls in Beijing and the psychological factors having influence on these behaviors Methods: HDI and ESC-21 were used to investigate 636 female middle school students in Beijing Results: (1) According to the BMI of the subjects, 80 3% of the subjects answered that they had paid attention to their weight and stature (2) The mean BMI of the subjects were 19 38, which is in the normal range, but their ideal body mass index(IBMI)was lower than the normal standard (IBIM