Changes in the Nutritional Status of Children from North Korean Refugee Families Following Resettlement in South Korea

Purpose@#This study evaluated changes in growth and nutritional status using the first basic and the second repeated surveys on children from North Korean refugee families who settled in South Korea. @*Methods@#A total of 337 children were included in the survey. Using a structured questionnaire, the data collected included sex, date of birth, country of birth, date of entry to South Korea, and birth parents’nationality. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, wasting, and obesity were evaluated using the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart for Children and Adolescents. @*Results@#The prevalence of stunting decreased from 7.9% in the first survey to 6.9% in the second survey; that of underweight decreased from 6.0% to 4.7%; and that of wasting decreased from 6.3% to 3.5%; however, these changes were not statistically significant. The prevalence of obesity significantly increased from 8.0% to 13.2% in the first and second surveys, respectively (p=0.037). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of malnutrition according to the length of stay in South Korea or the children’s country of birth. However, the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in children with longer lengths of stay and in those born in South Korea. @*Conclusion@#Although children from North Korean refugee families have settled in South Korea for a long time, the rate of malnutrition is still high, and the prevalence of obesity continuously increases.

Health Behavior Factors Associated with Sugar-sweetened Beverage Intake among Adolescents / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to measure the intake rate of SSBs (sugar sweetened beverages) and examine the relationship between health behavior factors and SSBs intake by adolescents. METHODS: This study used data from the 2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which included 65,528 study participants. SSBs intake frequency was measured by asking respondents if they consumed soda, high-caffeinated beverages, and sugary drinks during the previous week. Type of intake was categorized into three groups according to the number of consumed drinks [SSBs (0): None; SSBs (1–2): 1 or 2 consumed; SSBs (3): 3 consumed]. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine health behaviors that affected SSBs consumption. RESULTS: Increased SSBs intake was significantly correlated with current smoking (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.82–3.17), current drinking (OR=2.13, 95% CI=1.82–2.51), sedentary time increase (OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.15–1.49), three days or more physical activity per week (OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.02–1.24), < 8 hours sleep (OR=1.6, 95% CI=1.43–1.78), increased internet usage time (OR=1.44, 95% CI=1.25–1.65). CONCLUSIONS: Sugar-sweetened beverages intake by Korean adolescents was associated with health behaviors such as smoking, drinking, sedentary time increase, more physical activity, poor sleeping time, and increased internet use time. Based on these results, it is necessary to recognize the influence of SSBs intake and to intervene to reduce consumption of SSBs.

Health Behavior Factors Associated with Sugar-sweetened Beverage Intake among Adolescents / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to measure the intake rate of SSBs (sugar sweetened beverages) and examine the relationship between health behavior factors and SSBs intake by adolescents. METHODS: This study used data from the 2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, which included 65,528 study participants. SSBs intake frequency was measured by asking respondents if they consumed soda, high-caffeinated beverages, and sugary drinks during the previous week. Type of intake was categorized into three groups according to the number of consumed drinks [SSBs (0): None; SSBs (1–2): 1 or 2 consumed; SSBs (3): 3 consumed]. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine health behaviors that affected SSBs consumption. RESULTS: Increased SSBs intake was significantly correlated with current smoking (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.82–3.17), current drinking (OR=2.13, 95% CI=1.82–2.51), sedentary time increase (OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.15–1.49), three days or more physical activity per week (OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.02–1.24), < 8 hours sleep (OR=1.6, 95% CI=1.43–1.78), increased internet usage time (OR=1.44, 95% CI=1.25–1.65). CONCLUSIONS: Sugar-sweetened beverages intake by Korean adolescents was associated with health behaviors such as smoking, drinking, sedentary time increase, more physical activity, poor sleeping time, and increased internet use time. Based on these results, it is necessary to recognize the influence of SSBs intake and to intervene to reduce consumption of SSBs.

The Associated Factors with Utilization of Tests for Diabetes Complication and Hemoglobin A1c among Some Diabetes Patients / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to identify factors associated with the utilization of tests for diabetes complication and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among diabetes patients in Jeollanam-do, Korea. METHODS: The study subjects were 2,310 diabetes patients participated in 2014 community health survey in Jeollanam-do, Korea. Dependent variables were the utilizations of fundus examination, microalbuminuria test, and HbA1c test. The used statistical analysis methods were chi-square test and hierarchical regression analysis with weight in consideration of complex sample design. RESULTS: The utilization rates of fundus examination, microalbuminuria test, and HbA1c test were 25.8%, 27.4%, and 12.3%, respectively. In the results of hierarchical regression, fundus examination was significantly related to age, education level in predisposing factors, residential area in enabling factors and recognition of blood sugar, drug therapy, and subjective health status in need factors. Microalbuminuria examination was significantly related to monthly income, residential area in predisposing and health screening, recognition of blood sugar, drug therapy, diabetic education, number of chronic disease, and subjective health status in need factors. HbA1c examination was significantly related to age, education level, marital status in predisposing factors, residential area in enabling factors and drinking, recognition of blood sugar, drug therapy, and diabetic education in need factors. CONCLUSION: The results of this study were shown that perception of their disease seriousness, education about diabetes management, and accessibility of tests were important to utilization of test for diabetes complication and HbA1c. It might be necessary to the develop and strength strategies for enhancing the utilization of tests for diabetes complication and management in diabetes patients.

Comparison of Diet Quality and Diversity according to Obesity Type among 19-64 year old Korean Adults / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to compare the diet quality and diversity according to types of obesity categorized by body mass index and waist circumference among Korean adults aged 19-64 years. METHODS: This study used the data of the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-V) and included 11,081 study participants. Type of obesity was categorized into 4 groups (Type 1: BMI obesity + abdominal obesity; Type 2: BMI obesity only; Type 3: abdominal obesity only; Type 4: Normal). To compare the diet quality and diversity according to obesity type, ANCOVA (Analysis of covariance) was used with stratification of age groups (19-44 years, 45-64 years). RESULTS: With regard to comparative analysis of diet quality, there were significant differences between diet qualities in energy, protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, phosphorous and iron and type of obesity in the 19-44 age group, while there were significant differences between diet qualities on protein, vitamin C, phosphorous and type of obesity in the 45-64 age group. There was no significant difference between diet diversity score and type of obesity in Korean adults. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that in Korean adults, diet qualities of some nutrients were different among obesity types, while diet diversity was not. These observations should be considered in an effort to improve intake of over-and deficient nutrients and in further studies to evaluate the effects of nutrient quality on obesity.