This study aimed to examine associations between milk intake and metabolic syndrome. The subjects included 1,928 males and 3,103 females, aged 19 to 64 years, from the data of 'The Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey 2007-2010'. Daily intake of milk and dairy products was obtained by a 24 hour dietary recall method and divided into two categories by equivalent weight of one serving. The average individual intakes of milk and dairy products were 59.4 g and 74.1 g per day respectively. Milk intake was inversely associated with metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.54~0.89), central obesity (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.62~0.91), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.59~0.90). The total intake of dairy products was also inversely associated with metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.74, 95% CI 0.60~0.92), central obesity (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62~0.86), hypertension (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65~0.99). The association between intakes of milk and dairy products and metabolic syndrome was significant in women, but not in men. These results indicate that increased consumption of milk and its products is associated with a reduced likelihood of metabolic syndrome and metabolic syndrome risk factors. Further research on causal relationship and dose-response association between milk intake and metabolic syndrome risk is necessary prior to applying the observed results in nutrition policies and programs to prevent the metabolic syndrome.
Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Dairy Products ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Korea ; Male ; Milk ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the factors influencing inadequate energy intake among Korean elderly. METHODS: Our study included 1,869 elderly people (over 60 years old) who completed a dietary survey from the fifth Korean NHANES (2010). Factors that could affect the nutritional status of the elderly included age, family status, socio-economic factors (education, family income, livelihood security, employment), and health related factors (having chronic disease, functional status, diet therapy, depression, and suicidal thoughts). Energy and protein intake were assessed using the dietary intake data from 24hr recall method. RESULTS: The percentage of people who consumed energy less than 75% of EEA for Koreans was 23.7% in men, 31.1% in women. The carbohydrate contribution to the total energy intake in the inadequate energy intake group was significantly higher than that in the adequate intake group (p < 0.05). Factors significantly related to inadequate energy intake after adjusting for age, family status, education, family income, employment, functional status, and suicidal thoughts were education (OR: 1.480 in men, 1.614 in women) and employment (OR: 1.751 in men, 1.464 in women), age 70 years or older in men (OR: 1.475), and living with family but without spouse in women (OR: 1.496). CONCLUSION: In summary, the results imply that energy intake of elderly would be affected by the status of social environment with aging and nutrition-related policy for Korean elderly should be based on the social status as well as health related conditions.
Aged* ; Aging ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Diet Therapy ; Education ; Employment ; Energy Intake* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Social Environment ; Spouses

The purpose of this study was to assess the needs for nutrition programs in the public health centers by general characteristics and body mass index (BMI) of community residents. Information of general characteristics of study participants including age, education, income, marital status, residence, and job, and resident's interest in nutrition programs, the preferred educational methods and the willingness to participate in nutrition programs were collected by an interview. Weight and height were measured and were used to calculate the BMI. The program that resident's were most interested in was 'diet therapy for chronic disease and counseling' (28.5%), followed by 'nutritional management for the elderly' (21.1%), and 'obesity and weight control' (17.1%). 'Education and counseling by nutrition professionals' was the most preferred educational method. Among the programs that the subjects would participate in, if they were offered in public health centers, 65.8% subjects would participate in 'diet therapy for chronic disease and counseling' programs, 64.9% would participate in 'nutritional management for the elderly' programs and 52.2% would participate in 'obesity and weight control' programs. The contents of programs that the subjects were interested in, the preferred methods and their willingness to participate nutrition programs differed significantly by age, income, education, marital status, and body mass index. The results imply that the planning of nutrition interventions in the public health centers must be tailored and targeted group specific by taking the participants general characteristics and body mass index into consideration. This would surely increase the nutrition program's effectiveness
Body Mass Index* ; Chronic Disease ; Counseling ; Education ; Marital Status ; Needs Assessment* ; Public Health*

With dramatic transitions from a traditionally food-insecure to a food-sufficient society, over weight and/or obesity are an increasing health concern in Korea. In 2000, 35.9% of Korean adults were over weight (BMI>25) with increasing trends. It is well known that obesity is highly correlated with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer and high cholesterol. In 2003, the social cost of obesity is estimated at 529.5~799.3 billion won (direct cost) and at 1,200~1,817 billion won (including indirect cost). The share of the direct cost is estimated at 2.6~3.9% of total medical bill 20,742 billion won. These costs are underestimated and would surely be higher if the expenditures outside of the official medical insurance system of Korea were included. Based on the rapid increase of obesity rate among the Korean youth, it is crucial to develop and implement appropriate policies to curb the obesity epidemic.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Chronic Disease ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insurance ; Korea* ; Obesity* ; Overweight

Health outcomes are strongly associated with dietary factors. Poor dietary intake increases health risks and can have adverse affects throughout all stages of live and can be passed onto next generations. Korea faces a double burden of mutritional problems. One one side health problems are related to an inadequate diet including underweight, osteoporosis or anemia etc. On the other side the health problems are related to over consumption, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and etc. Improving the national health and nutritional status requires adjustments of nutrition policies that have primarily focused on under nutrition, to accommodate all nutrition concerns within the country. Nutrition research specific to Korean people must be promoted to produce scientific evidences on which to base nutrition policies. The creation of a nutrition-specialized institute is an important starting point.
Anemia ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diet ; Family Characteristics ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutritional Status* ; Obesity ; Osteoporosis ; Thinness

The purpose of this study was to explore dietary patterns and compare dietary patterns using cluster and factor analysis in Korean adults. This study analyzed data of 4,182 adult populations who aged 30 and more and had all of socio-demographic, anthropometric, and dietary data from 2005 Korean Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Socio-demographic data was assessed by questionnaire and dietary data from 24-hour recall method was used. For cluster analysis, the percent of energy intake from each food group was used and 4 patterns were identified: "traditional", "bread, fruit & vegetable, milk", "noodle & egg", and "meat, fish, alcohol". The "traditional" pattern group was more likely to be old, less educated, living in a rural area and had higher percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates than other pattern groups. "Meat, fish, alcohol" group was more likely to be male and higher percentage of energy intake from fat. For factor analysis, mean amount of each food group was used and also 4 patterns were identified; "traditional", "modified", "bread, fruit, milk", and "noodle, egg, mushroom". People who showed higher factor score of "traditional" pattern were more likely to be elderly, less educated, and living in a rural area and higher proportion of energy intake from carbohydrates. In conclusion, three dietary patterns defined by cluster and factor analysis separately were similar and all dietary patterns were affected by socio-demographic factors and nutrient profile.
Adult ; Aged ; Carbohydrates ; Cluster Analysis ; Energy Intake ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Fruit ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Ovum ; Vegetables ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine associations between marital status and vegetable intake. METHODS: Data were from participants 30 years and over (n = 18,190) in the 2007~2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Marital status was divided into three groups: married, never married, and separated/divorced/widowed. Vegetable intake was estimated from the twenty-four hour dietary recall. Data were analyzed using a chi-square test, analysis of covariance, least squares means, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Married respondents tend to consume more vegetables, including kimchi, than all other marital status groups. Vegetable intake, excluding kimchi, was lowest among 30~64 year-old respondents who had never married. Elderly men (65 years and older) who were never married/separated/divorced/widowed had significantly lower vegetable intake than elderly men who were married (p = 0.0008). When considering the Korean dietary reference intake (KDRIs), elderly men who were never married/separated/divorced/widowed, compared with elderly men who were married, had a significantly higher odds ratio for consuming fewer vegetables than the KDRIs (OR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.13~2.37). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that marital status might influence vegetable intake and the probability of consuming fewer vegetables than the KDRIs. In particular, being never married/separated/divorced/widowed might adversely affect vegetable consumption among elderly men, although assessing the causal effect of marital status from this cross-sectional study is difficult.
Adult* ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Humans ; Korea ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Marital Status* ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Odds Ratio ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Single Person ; Vegetables*

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Recently, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased in Korea. The aim of this study was to develop a Healthy Han-sik Nutrition Education Program (HHNEP) based on commonly recognized Korean foods in order to decrease metabolic syndrome risks. The target population of the HHNEP is adults with metabolic risk factors. The initial version of the HHNEP was developed based on a review of literature and various dietary guidelines by expert committees as well as the results of a survey on the perception of common Korean dishes and foods as Han-sik. The focus group discussion conducted of nine participants from the target population. After minor modification, the final version was developed. The contents included five sections: 1) aims, 2) introduction of Korean Food Guidance System, 3) cholesterol contents in food, 4) menu planning method using Han-sik, and 5) examples of daily Han-sik menu. The Han-sik list was selected based on the results from a Han-sik perception answered by 35 Korean adults aged 30-60 years using 517 frequently consumed Korean foods from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The nutrition education program was developed based on scientific evidence for the prevention of metabolic syndrome and focuses on tailoring education to an individual's dietary problems. Educational method was developed by a group of expert committees based in planned behavior theory and related research results. The education method consisted of assessment of current diet, four face-to-face nutrition education sessions over 8 weeks, and evaluation after 8 and 16 weeks. Initial version of nutrition education materials and methods was tested for feasibility by a select group of nine Korean healthy adults. Successful implementation of the program would include application by nutritional professionals at the health promotion center of the hospitals, public health center, and work sites. Intervention studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this program before large-scale applications.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Clinical Trial ; Diet ; Focus Groups ; Health Promotion ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Korea ; Menu Planning ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable questionnaire to assess the effectiveness of the healthy restaurant program, which was implemented by Seocho-gu District in Seoul. Evaluation indices were deduced from the logic model of the healthy restaurant program. The questionnaires consisted of three sections (process evaluation, outcome evaluation, and general characteristics) for restaurateurs and customers who were participating in the program or not. To validate the questionnaire, 133 restaurateurs and 246 customers were sampled using convenient methods. Data were collected by interviews. Reliability was tested by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The alpha coefficient for restaurateurs was 0.75-0.99 for the process and 0.79-0.97 for the outcome evaluation questions. The alpha coefficients for customers were 0.76-0.92 for the outcome evaluation questions. Face and content validity were examined for all questions, and construct validity was tested for latent variables. We are confident that more accurate and significant information will be collected using this questionnaire.
Logic ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Restaurants

This study examined the restaurateur's willingness to participate in the healthy restaurant program. Using a structured self-administered questionnaire, data on subjects' personal, business and management characteristics, willingness to participate in the healthy restaurant program and the perception of healthy restaurant program were collected from 145 restaurateurs in Seoul. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used in the analysis. Half of respondents (50.3%) were willing to participate in the healthy restaurant program. Years of business (OR = 2.584, 95% CI = 1.049-6.369), consideration of food quality (OR = 0.321, 95% CI = 0.147-0.702), and awareness of importance of nutrition or health information (OR = 2.416, 95% CI = 1.082-5.391) were significant indicators for restaurateur's willingness to participate in the healthy restaurant program. Hence, strategic activities to inform the benefit of healthy restaurant program for both restaurateurs and consumers are necessary.
Commerce ; Food Quality ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Restaurants