Acculturation, meal frequency, eating-out, and body weight in Korean Americans

Consuming regular meals has been studied in relation to better health, while higher regularity of eating-out has been linked to obesity. This study examined whether acculturation was associated with regularity of meals, eating-out, and overweight in Korean Americans. Pre-tested questionnaires were mailed to a U.S. national sample with Korean American surnames, and 55% of the deliverable sample responded, producing 356 usable questionnaires. Acculturation was measured using a two-culture matrix model and Gordon's theoretical work, and showed there were three distinct groups (acculturated, bicultural, and traditional). Only 36% reported that they regularly ate three meals a day. Breakfast was the least frequent meal of the day with 43% reporting eating breakfast everyday. More than half (58%) reported that they usually eat out or get take-out food at least once a week. After controlling for age, sex, income, education, and working status, higher acculturation was related to greater regularity of eating-out, but not meal regularity. A total of 28% of men and 6% of women were overweight (BMI>25), and there were significant and positive relationships between body weight status and acculturation in men but not women. However, no significant relationships between frequency of meals and eating-out and overweight status were present. This study did not find significant relationships of meal regularity and eating-out with body weight, however, given the positive relationship between acculturation and eating-out among the subjects and the well-established relationship between eating-out and obesity, nutrition education about skipping meals and eating-for Korean Americans may be useful to prevent such relationships from developing.

The Effects of Regular Dietary Habits on Obesity Indices and Nutrition Intakes in Adult Males

This study was conducted to find and compare the effects of dietary habits on and obesity indices and nutrition intakes among four hundreds and seven healthy adults males subjects. Subjects were classified as regular meal group(RMG) and irregular meal group(IRMG). Two hundreds and thirteen subjects of RMG had regularly 3times meal(time and amount) per 1 day during more than last 6 month. One hudred and ninety four subjects of IRMG(n=194) were not had regularly meal during last 6 month. Obesity indices were BMI(Body Mass Index), WHR(Waist Hip Ratio) and PIBW(Percentage of Ideal Body Weight). And the mean BMI, WHR and PIBW of RMG and IRMG were 23.1, 0.91, 104.8 and 24.7, 0.93, 112.9. PIBW of IMG were significantly lower than IRMG(p<0.01). The mean daily intakes of starches, seeds, meats, eggs, fishes, milk, fats and processed food intakes of RMG were significantly lower than IRMG. And the mean daily intakes of vegetables, mushrooms and beverages intakes of the IRMG were significantly lower than RMG. Energy intake of RMG and IRMG were 1978.2kcal and 1988.2kcal. For nutrient intake, vitamin C intake of IRMG was significantly lower than RMG. But niacin and cholesterol intake of RMG were significantly lower than the IRMG. Meal regularity was mainly related with obesity indices and nutrition intakes. Therefore, it might be necessary to manage meal regularity to prevent obesity and chronic disease in Korean adult males.

Barriers to dietary practice adherence among the elderly diabetes

BACKGROUND: Some research viewed that effective dietary therapy was enough to control proper blood glucose level, but in the most patient, dietary therapy was not practiced and the most difficult part of managing their diabetes. The purpose of this research study was to investigate dietary practice adherence and perceived barriers among the elderly diabetes. METHODS: The survey was mailed to 852 persons with diabetes member via diabetic educator of 156 hospitals or clinics and 24 health centers. Questionnaire had background information of patients, meal regularity, food intake as a dietary practice adherence, barriers of 36 items which have 3 areas such as motive/attitude, knowledge, authority/resource. We asked the person with diabetes to rate barrier to dietary practice adherence. 432 questionnaire were returned the response. we selected 69 persons who were over 65 year old. RESULTS: 1) meal regularity was more satisfactory than food intake. 2) deficit of meal regularity were evening snack and resonable spacing between evening meal and evening snack. 3) deficit of food intake was serving of milk. 4) main barrier to dietary practice adherence was that of knowledge. CONCLUSION: For practice effectively dietary therapy to elderly diabetes, individual consultation or small group education must be pursued and more easily educational skills should be required.