PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health problem related to increased risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. We investigated whether recommended levels of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) decrease the risk of MetS in a community-based prospective cohort study (Ansung and Ansan cohort).MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 3910 adults (1890 men, 2020 women) without MetS examined in 2001–2002 (baseline) were included in this study and followed up from 2013 to 2014. We measured LTPA energy expenditure using the standard metabolic equivalent value [metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-h/wk]. Individuals were categorized into five groups (physically inactive, 0.1 to <7.5, 7.5 to <15.0, 15.0 to <22.5, 22.5 to <40.0, and ≥40.0 MET-h/wk).RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 11.8 years. Among the cohort, 482 men (25.5%) and 541 women (26.8%) were diagnosed with newly developed MetS. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed a 4.4% lower MetS risk among those performing two to three times the recommended minimum of 7.5 MET-h/wk [multivariate relative risk (RR), 0.956; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.654–1.398] and a 21.9% lower risk among those performing three to four times the physical activity minimum (multivariate RR, 0.781; 95% CI, 0.574–1.063). This association was only significant in females performing three to four times the minimum (crude RR, 0.655; 95% CI, 0.432–0.994).CONCLUSION: We noted that physical activity at more than 2 times the recommended minimum prevents MetS. Healthcare professionals should encourage inactive adults to be physically active during their leisure time to take advantage of its health benefits.
Adult ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea ; Leisure Activities ; Male ; Metabolic Equivalent ; Motor Activity ; Prospective Studies ; Public Health

PURPOSE: Children with sensitization to aeroallergens have decreased lung function and nasal patency. Our purpose was to determine the association of sensitization to different aeroallergens with airway function and nasal patency. METHODS: Four hundred and eighty-six randomly selected 11 year-old children who lived in Seongnam City were examined. Serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels against 6 common allergens (Dermatophagoidesfarinae, birch, cat, dog, Japanese hop and Alternaria), impulse oscillometry (IOS) results for the evaluation of airway dysfunction, and acoustic rhinometry for the determination of nasal airway patency were obtained. RESULTS: IOS indicated that children sensitized to Alternaria (n = 38, 7.8%) and dog dander (n = 69, 14.2%) had decreased lung function, based on resistance at 10 Hz (Rrs10; aβ = 0.0072; 95% CI, 0.017, 0.127; P = 0.010) and 1 Hz (Rrs1; aβ = 0.038; 95% CI, 0.001, 0.074; P = 0.042). Children sensitized to D. farinae (n = 281, 57.8%) had decreased post-decongestant nasal volume at 0 to 5 cm (aβ = −0.605; 95% CI, −1.005, −0.205; P = 0.003), but normal IOS results at all measured frequencies (P > 0.05). Increased serum eosinophil level was associated with Rrs1 (P = 0.007) and Rrs2 (P = 0.018) and post-decongestant nasal volume at 0 to 5 cm (aβ = −0.885; 95% CI, −1.331, −0.439; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity to specific aeroallergens, serum eosinophil count and total IgE level had different associations with upper and lower airway dysfunction in urban children.
Allergens ; Alternaria ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Cats ; Child ; Dander ; Dogs ; Eosinophils ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Jupiter ; Lung ; Oscillometry ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

PURPOSE: Anaphylaxis and asthma exacerbation could be life-threatening medical emergencies. The 119 (911 in the United States) rescue teams are at the forefront of such emergency conditions. Early recognition and proper prehospital management by 119 rescuers are important. We evaluated the awareness of 119 rescuers of anaphylaxis and asthma exacerbation in Korea. METHODS: Between May 17 and June 28 of 2018, a total of 180 rescuers were recruited from Gyeonggi-do province, Korea. The 90-minute educational sessions on anaphylaxis and asthma exacerbation were provided by an allergy specialist, which included some lectures and a hands-on workshop on self-injectable epinephrine autoinjector. A questionnaire survey with the same content was performed before and after education to assess the improvement in awareness. It had 2 domains: anaphylaxis awareness and asthma awareness. RESULTS: After education, awareness score for anaphylaxis increased from an average of 3.1 (51.7%) to 5.5 (91.7%). Particularly, the effect of education on the use of epinephrine, the most crucial treatment for anaphylaxis, was greatest. The awareness score for asthma after education increased from an average of 21.3 (78.9%) to 25.1 (93%). The effect of education on treatment and management of asthma was greatest. CONCLUSION: The 119 rescuers could be the first medical personnel at the forefront of anaphylaxis and asthma exacerbation. Hence, it is important to increase their awareness of anaphylaxis and asthma exacerbation. A simple educational activity can dramatically change the level of awareness.
Anaphylaxis ; Asthma ; Education ; Emergencies ; Epinephrine ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Lectures ; Rescue Work ; Specialization

PURPOSE: This study investigates the effect of pregnant women's growth mindset on the stress of pregnancy through ego-resilience. METHODS: The subjects included 551 pregnant women in Seoul and Gyeonggi area. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire; statistical, frequency, correlation, and structural equation analyses were performed using SPSS21 and M-plus 7.0. RESULTS: First, pregnant women's growth mindset had a direct effect on pregnancy stress. Second, the mediating pathway that influenced pregnancy stress through the ego-resilience of growth mindset was significant. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that it is important to devise and practice a method to improve the growth mindset of pregnant women, enhance ego-resilience, and reduce the negative effects of stress by reducing pregnancy stress.
Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Methods ; Negotiating ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Seoul

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the nutrition teachers' and parents' recognition of environmentally-friendly agricultural products (EAPs) used in school foodservice. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was given to 128 school foodservice nutrition teachers in Seongnam and 189 parents from Oct. 16 to Oct. 31, 2018 at Seongnam in Gyeonggi province. The survey included information on the recognition, satisfaction, and improvement of EAPs, and the results of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: A comparison of the recognition of EAPs showed that nutrition teachers knew more about the EAPs and local government support in school foodservice than the parents. On the other hand, the parents were more aware than the nutrition teachers in that children have a higher affinity for EAPs than for general agricultural products in the school foodservice. A comparison of the level of satisfaction with the EAPs by nutrition teachers and parents revealed the nutrition teachers to be significantly more satisfied than parents in terms of the color, taste and nutrition of EAPs. Among the items that should be provided with EAPs, more than 50% of each group of nutrition teachers and parents answered that vegetables must be provided first. Some 70.9% of nutrition teachers and 84.5% of parents were aware of the certification standards of EAPs. The nutrition teachers had showed a slightly higher score than the parents in the certification system (3.51 vs. 3.25). In terms of improving the EAPs, 36.2% of nutrition teachers answered a reasonable price preferentially, whereas 56.4% of parents answered maintaining quality. In the expected effects of using EAPs, 57.9% of nutrition teachers answered an improvement of parents' satisfaction on the school foodservice. On the other hand, 38.0% of parents answered an improvement of children' satisfaction on school foodservice. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition teachers and parents need to be educated on the certification systems that would enhance the trust in EAPs.
Certification ; Child ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hand ; Humans ; Local Government ; Parents ; Vegetables

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of the study were to assess wastes generated in school foodservice and to identify factors influencing the generation of plate waste. METHODS: A survey was administered from November 18–30 in 2015 to dietitians and nutrition teachers that were employed in schools located in Gyeonggi province. A questionnaire file and on-line survey site link were sent to the dietitians and nutrition teachers by e-mail. A total of 622 dietitians and nutrition teachers responded and 594 responses were used for data analysis after excluding 28 responses with significant missing data. RESULTS: Plate waste was the major part of food waste generated in school foodservice. Vegetable menus and soup/stews were discarded the most as plate waste. The dietitians and nutrition teachers perceived students' unbalanced diet and lack of appreciation of food as causes of the plate waste. Regarding waste management, they were concerned about environmental contamination by food waste and felt uncomfortable about discarding food. No plate waste day was the most frequently used plate waste reduction activity, followed by newsletters on plate waste reduction. Difficulty in getting teachers' support for dietary education during meal time was rated the greatest barrier to implementing the activities. To reduce plate waste, they perceived that students should understand the importance of environment conservation, teachers should supervise students' eating during meal time, students should be educated about proper portion, and foodservice staff should improve food quality. CONCLUSIONS: To improve students' intake and reduce plate waste in school foodservice, foodservice staff need to involve students in school foodservice and improve the palatability of meals, especially vegetable dishes. School nutrition teachers and dietitians should educate students about healthy eating and environment conservation and the school community needs to understand and support plate waste reduction and healthy eating in schools.
Diet ; Eating ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Food Quality ; Food Services ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Meals ; Nutritionists ; Periodicals as Topic ; Statistics as Topic ; Vegetables ; Waste Management

OBJECTIVES: The study was performed to examine the dietary behaviors and life stress of middle school students in the Gyeonggi area. METHODS: A total of 580 middle school students (295males, 285 females) in the Gyeonggi area participated in the study between July and August in 2011. The study was a questionnaire-based survey that included dietary habits, dietary behaviors, and life stress. RESULTS: For dietary habits, the score for drinking milk was higher in male students than in female students, whereas the score for eating fruits was higher in female students compared to male students. There were significant differences in foods eaten and preferred under stress between male and female students. Male students showed significantly less changes in the number of meals, amount of meal intake, number of snacks, snack intake, frequency of overeating, and appetite during stress than female students. Life stress score of students largely came from academic factors, and female students showed higher stress levels in personal and surrounding environment factors than male students. Life stress score was significantly lower in students with high and moderate levels of dietary habits than in students with a low level of dietary habits. Total score for dietary habits and scores for eating adequate amounts of foods for each meal, considering a combination of food groups at each meal and eating green and orange vegetables, were significantly negatively correlated with life stress score. Life stress score was significantly negatively correlated with meal regularity and positively with the level of overeating. CONCLUSIONS: This study may provide basic information on dietary habits and life stress according to gender and the relationship between dietary behaviors and life stress of middle school students, and it suggests gender-based nutrition education programs to solve undesirable dietary habits and dietary behaviors in students with higher stress.
Appetite ; Citrus sinensis ; Drinking ; Eating ; Education ; Female ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Hyperphagia ; Male ; Meals ; Milk ; Snacks ; Stress, Psychological ; Vegetables

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine the effects of an experiential learning activities-focused smoking prevention (ELSP) program on the basis of the Attitude-Social Influence-Efficacy (ASE) model in elementary school students. METHODS: A non-equivalent control group pre-test and post-test design was conducted with 84 participants who were in the fifth grade of two elementary schools in Seongnam city, South Korea. The two schools were allocated into either the ELSP (n=42) or control (n=42) group. The ELSP group completed five ELSP classes, while the control group completed five traditional lecture-based classes during the 5 weeks. Both groups were examined before and after 5 weeks, using ASE measures of smoking attitude, social influence, self-efficacy for the refusal of smoking temptation, and intention not to smoke. Data were collected from August to September 2017. RESULTS: The ELSP group had significant changes in the scores of smoking attitude (t=4.75, P<0.001) and social influences (t=3.73, P<0.001), compared to those in the control group. However, the ELSP group had non-significant changes in the scores of self-efficacy for the refusal of smoking temptation and intention not to smoke, compared to those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The ELSP program may be effective in improving smoking attitude and perceived social influence of smoking among those in upper grades of elementary schools. However, the duration and intensity of the ELSP program must be revised to effectively enhance smoking refusal self-efficacy and non-smoking intentions.
Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Intention ; Korea ; Peer Influence ; Problem-Based Learning ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate vitamin D status at birth in very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs: <1,500 g) and to determine the association between vitamin D level and respiratory morbidity. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital between November 2013 and November 2017. We collected blood samples and data on respiratory morbidity from 230 VLBWIs on the first day of life. Patients who were transferred to other hospitals (n=19), died before 36 weeks of gestational age (n=18), or whose blood samples were not collected immediately after birth (n=5) were excluded. Finally, 188 patients were enrolled. VLBWIs with different vitamin D levels were compared with respect to demographic features, maternal diseases, respiratory morbidities, and other neonatal diseases. RESULTS: The mean serum vitamin D level, as measured by 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), was 13.4±9.3 ng/mL. The incidence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was 79.8%, and 44.1% of preterm infants had severe vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/mL). Logistic analysis shows that a low serum 25(OH)D level (<20 ng/mL) was a risk factor for respiratory distress syndrome (odds ratio [OR], 4.32; P=0.010) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR, 4.11; P=0.035). CONCLUSION: The results showed that 79.8% of preterm infants in this study had vitamin D deficiency at birth. Low vitamin D status was associated with respiratory morbidity, but the exact mechanism was unknown. Additional studies on the association between vitamin D level and neonatal morbidity are required.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Gestational Age ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Parturition ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the correlations between pregnancy experience and attitude regarding weight change during pregnancy. METHODS: This correlative study was conducted from July 2017 to October 2017 by involving 156 primigravida women who were over pregnancy 20 weeks in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do province. Data were collected using a questionnaire, which included questions on demographic data, experience during pregnancy, and attitude regarding weight change during pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Also, independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 30.62 years and their score of attitude regarding weight gain during pregnancy was low. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the pregnancy experience and attitude regarding weight gain during pregnancy in primigravida women. CONCLUSION: As a result of analyzing the correlation between pregnancy experience and attitude towards weight gain during pregnancy, it is apparent that attitudes toward weight change are different according to experience during pregnancy in women. Based on these results, it can be concluded that nursing intervention programs are necessitated to enhance the attitude of pregnant primigravida women towards pregnancy and weight gain.
Body Weight Changes ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Nursing ; Pregnancy ; Seoul ; Statistics as Topic ; Weight Gain