Relationship between Snack Intake and Oral Health Behavior of Middle School Students in Gyeonggi Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: The study was performed to investigate the relationship between snack intake and oral health behavior in middle school students in Gyeonggi-do area. METHODS: The survey questionnaire was recorded by middle school students from July 6 to August 24, 2011. The questionnaire included items on general characteristics, snack intake status, and oral health behavior. Among collected survey questionnaire, a total of 620 questionnaires (320 males and 300 females) were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 program. RESULTS: Frequencies of snack and beverage intakes were significantly higher in males than in females (p < 0.001). Oral health behavior was significantly higher in students with lower snack intake compared to those with higher or average snack intake (p < 0.05). Oral health behavior for tooth brushing and toothbrush care were significantly higher in females than in males (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oral health behavior score that reflected better oral health of the subjects were higher as the snack intake was lower. Oral health behavior score was higher in females than in males. We conclude that the contents for oral health and nutrition education focused on snack intake need to be developed to induce changes in oral health behavior in middle school students.

Study on snack intakes in obese elementary students in Jeju city / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate dietary habits related to weight reduction and snack intake habits of 4th to 5th grade elementary students located in Jeju-si, Jeju, South Korea. METHODS: The 4(th) and 5(th) grade elementary school students (total n = 234, equally matched numbers of normal weight children and overweight/obese children (n = 117/group)) were surveyed using a questionnaire and a 24-hour dietary recall method in Oct 2015. RESULTS: The percentage of students who experienced reduced food intake to control weight was 26.3% in the normal weight group (NG) and 77.6% in the obese group (OG). Most frequently answered meal for reduced intake was snacks in the NG and dinner in the OG. Percentages of daily calorie intake among subjects were 17.2% for breakfast, 33.8% for lunch, 29.7% for dinner, and 19.3% for snacks. Frequency of snack intake was 2.1 times a week in NG and 1.6 times a week in OG, which showed a statistical difference between body weight groups. Types of snack foods were distinctly different depending on where children consumed them, although no difference was observed between NG and OG. In addition, snack intake level of low energy and nutrient-dense foods was significantly lower in the OG compared to the NG, whereas snack intake level of energy dense and low-nutritive foods was not different between the OG and NG. CONCLUSION: Taken together, snack intake level with consideration of frequency and amount of snack intake showed that children in the OG consumed significantly less low energy and nutrient-dense foods compared to the NG. Therefore, nutritional education for choosing healthy snack foods for children regardless of body weight status is crucial based on family-school links.

A Study on Dietary Behaviors, Snack Habits and Dental Caries of High School Students in Gimhae, Kyungnam Province

This study was conducted to provide basic information snack intake frequency, eating patterns and current dental caries in high school students. A total of 626 students (333 males, 293 females) in Gimhae city participated in this study. The survey conducted by using a self-administered questionnaire in January, 2008. Dental caries-related information was obtained during the students' physical examination at the designated clinical hospital in 2007. The results were as follows. Sixty three point nine percent of the students were shown to have dental caries, which includes a sealant. The average number of dental caries was 3.1, which was greater in female than in male students (p < 0.001). Eighty six percent of the students were shown to maintain correct toothbrushing habits to prevent dental caries. Twenty percent of the participants brushed there teeth 'instantly' a meal or snack, and 27.3% of the participants brushed there teeth, gum and tongue, and 58.9% of the participants received toothbrushing education. In snack intake frequency, participants with no dental caries had preference to white milk whereas those with dental caries had preference to snacks such as chewing gums and carbonated beverages. Female students were shown to have more dental caries maybe because of their higher snack intake frequency in chocolate, cookies and chips, yoghurt and ice-cream. Dental caries did not affect eating behaviors. This study suggests that more education for correct toothbrushing and cariogenic and detergent foods are needed for better dental hygiene.