BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Korea, childcare facilities providing food service for 100 or more children are required to employ dietitians, while those serving fewer than 100 children must register with the Center for Children's Foodservice Management to receive dietary guidance from its dietitians. This study compared the dietary intake of children who had daycare meals and those who did not to evaluate the impact of dietitian-managed nutritional services. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study analyzed the 24-h recalls from 706 children aged 3–5 yrs using the data from the 2016–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Among them, 578 children had daycare meals, while 128 did not. The differences in energy contributions from meals and snacks, nutrient intake, and the amount and number of servings of various food groups consumed by these two groups were investigated. RESULTS The daycare meal group (DMG) showed a significantly higher intake of protein, thiamin, niacin, sodium, potassium, and iron during lunch and higher protein and sodium consumption during snack times after adjusting for the energy intake compared to the non-daycare meal group (NDMG). On the other hand, the DMG consumed less sugar and fat during lunch and snack times and less vitamin C during snack times. The DMG also showed higher consumption of legumes and vegetables but lower consumption of sweets during lunch and in the total daily consumption. The overall dietary quality assessed by the mean adequacy ratio was significantly higher among the DMG than in the NDMG CONCLUSION: Children were provided with higher-quality meals in daycare settings than in other environments. These results underscore the importance of nutrition management by dietitians. These findings also highlight the need for nutrition education for caregivers, particularly increasing vegetable intake and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Korea, childcare facilities providing food service for 100 or more children are required to employ dietitians, while those serving fewer than 100 children must register with the Center for Children's Foodservice Management to receive dietary guidance from its dietitians. This study compared the dietary intake of children who had daycare meals and those who did not to evaluate the impact of dietitian-managed nutritional services. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study analyzed the 24-h recalls from 706 children aged 3–5 yrs using the data from the 2016–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Among them, 578 children had daycare meals, while 128 did not. The differences in energy contributions from meals and snacks, nutrient intake, and the amount and number of servings of various food groups consumed by these two groups were investigated. RESULTS The daycare meal group (DMG) showed a significantly higher intake of protein, thiamin, niacin, sodium, potassium, and iron during lunch and higher protein and sodium consumption during snack times after adjusting for the energy intake compared to the non-daycare meal group (NDMG). On the other hand, the DMG consumed less sugar and fat during lunch and snack times and less vitamin C during snack times. The DMG also showed higher consumption of legumes and vegetables but lower consumption of sweets during lunch and in the total daily consumption. The overall dietary quality assessed by the mean adequacy ratio was significantly higher among the DMG than in the NDMG CONCLUSION: Children were provided with higher-quality meals in daycare settings than in other environments. These results underscore the importance of nutrition management by dietitians. These findings also highlight the need for nutrition education for caregivers, particularly increasing vegetable intake and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Korea, childcare facilities providing food service for 100 or more children are required to employ dietitians, while those serving fewer than 100 children must register with the Center for Children's Foodservice Management to receive dietary guidance from its dietitians. This study compared the dietary intake of children who had daycare meals and those who did not to evaluate the impact of dietitian-managed nutritional services. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study analyzed the 24-h recalls from 706 children aged 3–5 yrs using the data from the 2016–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Among them, 578 children had daycare meals, while 128 did not. The differences in energy contributions from meals and snacks, nutrient intake, and the amount and number of servings of various food groups consumed by these two groups were investigated. RESULTS The daycare meal group (DMG) showed a significantly higher intake of protein, thiamin, niacin, sodium, potassium, and iron during lunch and higher protein and sodium consumption during snack times after adjusting for the energy intake compared to the non-daycare meal group (NDMG). On the other hand, the DMG consumed less sugar and fat during lunch and snack times and less vitamin C during snack times. The DMG also showed higher consumption of legumes and vegetables but lower consumption of sweets during lunch and in the total daily consumption. The overall dietary quality assessed by the mean adequacy ratio was significantly higher among the DMG than in the NDMG CONCLUSION: Children were provided with higher-quality meals in daycare settings than in other environments. These results underscore the importance of nutrition management by dietitians. These findings also highlight the need for nutrition education for caregivers, particularly increasing vegetable intake and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Korea, childcare facilities providing food service for 100 or more children are required to employ dietitians, while those serving fewer than 100 children must register with the Center for Children's Foodservice Management to receive dietary guidance from its dietitians. This study compared the dietary intake of children who had daycare meals and those who did not to evaluate the impact of dietitian-managed nutritional services. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study analyzed the 24-h recalls from 706 children aged 3–5 yrs using the data from the 2016–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Among them, 578 children had daycare meals, while 128 did not. The differences in energy contributions from meals and snacks, nutrient intake, and the amount and number of servings of various food groups consumed by these two groups were investigated. RESULTS The daycare meal group (DMG) showed a significantly higher intake of protein, thiamin, niacin, sodium, potassium, and iron during lunch and higher protein and sodium consumption during snack times after adjusting for the energy intake compared to the non-daycare meal group (NDMG). On the other hand, the DMG consumed less sugar and fat during lunch and snack times and less vitamin C during snack times. The DMG also showed higher consumption of legumes and vegetables but lower consumption of sweets during lunch and in the total daily consumption. The overall dietary quality assessed by the mean adequacy ratio was significantly higher among the DMG than in the NDMG CONCLUSION: Children were provided with higher-quality meals in daycare settings than in other environments. These results underscore the importance of nutrition management by dietitians. These findings also highlight the need for nutrition education for caregivers, particularly increasing vegetable intake and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Korea, childcare facilities providing food service for 100 or more children are required to employ dietitians, while those serving fewer than 100 children must register with the Center for Children's Foodservice Management to receive dietary guidance from its dietitians. This study compared the dietary intake of children who had daycare meals and those who did not to evaluate the impact of dietitian-managed nutritional services. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study analyzed the 24-h recalls from 706 children aged 3–5 yrs using the data from the 2016–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.Among them, 578 children had daycare meals, while 128 did not. The differences in energy contributions from meals and snacks, nutrient intake, and the amount and number of servings of various food groups consumed by these two groups were investigated. RESULTS The daycare meal group (DMG) showed a significantly higher intake of protein, thiamin, niacin, sodium, potassium, and iron during lunch and higher protein and sodium consumption during snack times after adjusting for the energy intake compared to the non-daycare meal group (NDMG). On the other hand, the DMG consumed less sugar and fat during lunch and snack times and less vitamin C during snack times. The DMG also showed higher consumption of legumes and vegetables but lower consumption of sweets during lunch and in the total daily consumption. The overall dietary quality assessed by the mean adequacy ratio was significantly higher among the DMG than in the NDMG CONCLUSION: Children were provided with higher-quality meals in daycare settings than in other environments. These results underscore the importance of nutrition management by dietitians. These findings also highlight the need for nutrition education for caregivers, particularly increasing vegetable intake and reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.

Objectives: A mobile health intervention program was provided for employees with overweight and obesity for 12 weeks, and a process evaluation was completed at the end of the program. We investigated participant engagement based on app usage data, and whether engagement was associated with the degree of satisfaction with the program. Methods: The program involved the use of a dietary coaching app and a wearable device for monitoring physical activity and body composition. A total of 235 employees participated in the program. App usage data were collected from a mobile platform, and a questionnaire survey on process evaluation and needs assessment was conducted during the post-test. Results: The engagement level of the participants decreased over time. Participants in their 40s, high school graduates or lower education, and manufacturing workers showed higher engagement than other age groups, college graduates, and office workers, respectively. The overall satisfaction score was 3.6 out of 5. When participants were categorized into three groups according to their engagement level, the upper group was more satisfied than the lower group. A total of 71.5% of participants answered that they wanted to rejoin or recommend the program, and 71.9% answered that the program was helpful in improving their dietary habits. The most helpful components in the program were diet records and a 1:1 chat with the dietary coach from the dietary coaching app. The barriers to improving dietary habits included company dinners, special occasions, lack of time, and eating out. The workplace dietary management programs were recognized as necessary with a need score of 3.9 out of 5. Conclusions Participants were generally satisfied with the mobile health intervention program, particularly highly engaged participants. Feedback from a dietary coach was an important factor in increasing satisfaction.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between daily beverage intake and obesity in young adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 256 adults in their 20s and 30s. Obesity was evaluated by anthropometric measurement of body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio and waist to height ratio. In addition, the daily intake of milk, caffeinated beverages, sweetened beverages, and alcoholic beverages was investigated using the dietary record and 24-h recall methods. Based on the BMI, men and women were classified into underweight, normal, overweight and obese. Among men, 38.3% were found to be normal, 28.1% were overweight and 31.3% obese. Among women, 11.7% were underweight, 73.4% were normal, and 10.2% were overweight, which was significantly different from men. In women, the BMI of the milk consumers was significantly lower than the non-consumers. Also, the obesity indices of caffeinated beverage consumers were significantly lower than the non-consumers. An analysis of the correlation between beverage intake and the obesity index showed that the intake of caffeinated beverages among women had a significant negative correlation with the obesity index, and intake of alcoholic beverages had a significant positive correlation with waist to height ratio. This study suggests that intake of milk and caffeinated beverage may have a positive effect on obesity, whereas the intake of alcoholic beverages may have a negative effect, especially in young adult women.

Objectives: Screen time refers to the time spent using screen media, such as televisions, smartphones, computers, or tablets. Excessive exposure to screen media has been reported to negatively impact young children’s health and development, including overweight, short sleep duration, and language delays. This study examined the association of screen time and mealtime media use with dietary behaviors among preschool children. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on parents of children aged three to five years using the online questionnaires of the Nutrition Quotient for Preschoolers (NQ-P) and the Dietary Screening Test (DST). Data from 261 children’s parents were analyzed. Results: Of the 261 children, 96.9% used screen media, 55.6% used screen media for two hours or more daily, and 30.7% were exposed to screen media during meals. The NQ-P scores were significantly lower in the children with longer screen time and mealtime media use. Children who used screen media for two hours or more and those exposed to screen media during meals consumed kimchi less frequently and confectionery and sugar-sweetened beverages more frequently than children who used less than two hours and were not exposed to screen media during meals. In addition, they were more likely to be picky about food, refuse to eat, and less likely to feed themselves than children with shorter screen time and no mealtime media use. Conclusions This study reported an association between unhealthy dietary behaviors, feeding difficulties, and screen time and mealtime media use among preschool children. Further research should explore effective strategies for reducing children’s screen time.

Objectives: Our previously published study showed that a workplace nutrition intervention program with personalized goal setting and smartphone-based nutrition counseling improved dietary habits and physical activity in city bus drivers who were overweight/obese. This study explored the facilitators and barriers that participants faced in achieving their dietary and physical activity goals six months after the intervention. Methods: The study included bus drivers and dietitians who participated in the intervention program. Three focus group interviews were conducted with 10 bus drivers (divided by two groups based on their achievement of set goals) and five dietitians who had provided nutrition counseling. Results: Willpower was the most important intrapersonal facilitator for drivers to achieve their goals. Other factors that promoted behavioral changes were nutrition counseling by dietitians, trackable physical activity using smartwatches, and setting of practical and achievable goals. Meanwhile, the most important barriers identified were occupational factors such as long driving hours, short breaks, and shift work. Other barriers were environmental factors such as availability of snackable food, accessibility to convenience stores, and cold weather. Family and colleagues were perceived as both facilitators and barriers. In addition, dietitians identified a lack of knowledge about healthy diet as one of the barriers. Conclusions Our results suggested that the workplace environment should be improved and that nutrition intervention programs at the workplace could encourage bus drivers to practice healthy eating habits. The facilitators and barriers identified in this study should be considered when planning a nutrition intervention program for bus drivers.

Purpose: This study examines the effectiveness of personalized goal setting and smartphonebased nutrition counseling among adults in their 20s and 30s. Methods: Nutrition counseling was conducted for a total of 30 adults through a 1:1 chat room of a mobile instant messenger, once a week for 8 weeks. The first week of counseling included a preliminary online questionnaire survey and a dietary intake survey. Based on the results of the preliminary survey, 2 dietary goals were set in the second week and the participants were asked to record their achievements on a daily checklist. From the third week onwards, counselors sent feedback messages based on the checklist and provided information on dietary guidelines in a card news format every week. Post-counseling questionnaires and dietary intake surveys were conducted in the seventh week. Changes in dietary habits during the counseling were reviewed in the eighth week, followed by a questionnaire survey on the evaluation of the counseling process. Results: The nutrition quotient (NQ) scores and self-efficacy scores were significantly higher after nutrition counseling. The NQ scores of consumption frequencies of fruits, milk and dairy products, nuts, fast food, Ramyeon, sweet and greasy baked products, sugarsweetened beverages, the number of vegetable dishes at meals, and breakfast frequency were significantly higher after nutrition counseling. The intake of protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, calcium, and iron, and the index of nutritional quality of vitamin A, riboflavin, folate, calcium, and iron were higher after nutrition education. The participants were satisfied with the nutrition counseling program and the provided nutrition information. Conclusion Personalized goal setting and smartphone-based nutrition counseling were found to be effective in improving the quality of diet and self-efficacy in young adults. Similar results were obtained in both the underweightormal weight and the overweight/obese groups.