This study investigated associations between healthy dietary practices and the odds of prediabetes among Korean adolescents. The data of 1,624 adolescents aged 12 to 18 who participated in the 2017-2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Healthy dietary practices were defined according to Health Plan 2030 criteria, and prediabetes was defined as a fasting blood glucose level of 100-125 mg/dL. After controlling for confounders, adjusting odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for prediabetes were determined for different healthy dietary practices using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Compared with adolescents who engaged in healthy dietary practices, those who did not had a 1.63-fold (95% CI: 1.12-2.37) higher odds of prediabetes. In addition, adolescents who did not consume ≥500 g of fruit and vegetables daily and those who refrained from reading nutritional fact labels, which are both subindicators of healthy dietary practices, had a 1.66 (95% CI: 1.05-2.62) and 1.58-fold (95% CI: 1.06-2.37) higher odds of prediabetes, respectively, than those who did. Increasing the proportion of adolescents engaging in healthy dietary practices, such as consuming ≥500 g of fruit and vegetables daily and reading nutritional fact labels when selecting food, is imperative.

This study aimed to investigate the dietary changes among adults living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Korea. An online survey was conducted to examine dietary changes before (in 2019) and during (in 2021) the pandemic. The data from 337 adults living alone who responded to the survey were used for analysis. The proportion of the respondents reporting frequent food consumption at convenience stores (≥3 times/week) increased during the pandemic (p=0.024), and the proportion of those frequently eating ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food (≥3 times/week) was more than doubled (p<0.001). Additionally, the proportion of those frequently consuming delivered food (≥3 times/week) increased by 2.5 times (p<0.001). In conclusion, the dietary habits of adults living alone changed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have a negative impact on their health. Therefore, the development of customized nutrition management programs to improve the dietary habits of adults living alone during emergencies like a pandemic is deemed necessary. This study can serve as a foundation for understanding the dietary changes of adults living alone in prolonged crisis.

This study was conducted to analyze relationships between depression indices, mini nutritional assessment scores, and nutritional quotients among 80 elderly in Yangpyeong-gun and to identify factors that help prevent depression and malnutrition. Nutrition assessment scores were low in the high-risk group (PHQ-9 score 10), and nutritional quotient scores were lower in the high-risk group than in the normal group (PHQ-9 score 4). Interestingly, the consumption frequencies of fruits, eggs, and nuts were low in the high-risk group, and subjective health awareness, dental condition, and sleep were poorer. The total PHQ-9 score was correlated with malnutrition, body mass index, calf circumference, weight change, independent daily living, reduced meal amount, water intake, and the need for help when eating. Analysis of correlations between items of the PHQ-9 and nutritional status evaluation indices showed that a self-perceived feeling of depression, low energy, difficulty controlling sleep or appetite, negative thoughts (e.g., failure, disappointment), and difficulty concentrating were negatively correlated with total nutritional status scores. These results show that attention is required when food or water intake decreases and that deviation from normal sleep and appetite cycles flags the need to prepare guidelines to prevent depression.

This study was to identify the effects of education on Korean foods preferred by elementary students and their sustainability. A survey was conducted on 5th-grade elementary school students. Korean food preferences were classified by exploratory factor analysis as creative, healthy, or considerate, and the effects of education on Korean dietary life were classified as cognitive or emotional. Dietary life sustainability was evaluated separately. Results showed that creative and considerate preferences had significant impacts on cognitive and emotional education effects and that a healthy preference type significantly impacted the emotional effect of education. Analysis showed that creative and considerate food preference types significantly influenced dietary life sustainability and that cognitive and emotional education effects mediated these relationships. Sex was not found to have a significant moderating effect. The study shows that Korean dietary life sustainability is influenced by education on topics that promote the value and excellence of Korean food and suggests that experiential education combining practice and theory should be used to increase interest in Korean food among elementary students. Additional studies are required to determine Korean food preferences to facilitate the development of a dietary life education program that enables students to understand and maintain healthy dietary practices.

This study aimed to determine the association between household types and healthy dietary practices among Korean adults. A cross-sectional analysis was performed using nationwide data on 23,488 participants from the 2017-2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Based on self-reported data, the participant household types were classified into single- and multi-person households. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for healthy dietary practices according to household types were calculated by applying multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjusting for confounders. Of total, 11.21% and 88.79% were single- and multi-person households, respectively. Compared with individuals living in multi-person households, those in single-person households had lower odds of adhering to healthy dietary practices (AOR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.79-0.98) and consuming adequate saturated fatty acids (<7% of energy) (AOR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.69-0.88). In addition, men and individuals aged 65 years living in single-person households exhibited lower odds of consuming adequate saturated fatty acids and 500 g of fruit and vegetables per day than those in multi-person households. Single-person households often find it a challenge to practice a healthy diet. Hence, nutritional policies and educational support that help individuals living alone consume healthier diets are warranted.

We performed a study to examine the association between diet quality and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Our study included 3,586 women aged 40-64 years who participated in the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study subjects were classified into the NAFLD group (n=816) and the normal group (n=2,770) using the hepatic steatosis index. The anthropometric indices, blood profiles, and dietary intake data of the subjects were obtained. The waist circumference, body mass index, and the serum levels of triglycerides, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher in the NAFLD compared to the normal groups (p<0.001, respectively). The intakes of protein (g/kg body weight, p<0.001), potassium (p<0.001), and vitamin A (p=0.006) were significantly lower in the NAFLD group. It was observed that the higher the total Korean Healthy Eating Index score, the lower the risk of NAFLD. A reverse relationship was shown between the NAFLD risk and the intakes of total fruits, total vegetables, vegetables excluding Kimchi and pickled vegetables, meat, fish, eggs and beans. Therefore, it is recommended that middleaged women in Korea increase their intakes of fruits, vegetables, and foods high in protein for the proper management of NAFLD.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition education on dietary knowledge, dietary attitudes, and dietary behavior of elderly by analyzing changes before and after nutrition education. This study was conducted in Seoul from March 2022 to December 2022 for 50 elderly (6 male, 44 female) who participated in nutrition education for 8 weeks at three senior welfare centers (Seodaemun, Seongbuk, Jongno). A total of 35 responses were used in the final analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, paired t-test, and Wilcoxon’s signed rank test by age, hypertension, and dislipidemia to find effect of nutrition education on their nutritional knowledge, dietary attitudes, and dietary behavior. Results showed that nutrition education had a significant effect on the elderly. In particular, for those with chronic diseases such as hypertension and dislipidemia, the difference after education was significant, indicating significant changes in dietary habits. This study is expected to provide basic data for the development of a systematic nutrition education program for the elderly in the future.

This study analyzed the determinants that affect the purchase of ready-to-cook seafood products using the “Consumer Attitude Survey on Processed Foods” from 2018 to 2021. Dietary lifestyle, food awareness and preference survey questions were categorized, and factors affecting the purchase probability of ready-to-cook seafood were identified through a binomial logit model. The main research findings are as follows. First, consumers had higher preference for quality, safety, and new taste factors than health and price factors when purchasing HMR (Home Meal Replacement). Second, through binomial logit model analysis, the probability of purchasing ready-to-cook seafood products was low in the group pursuing taste and economy. On the other hand, the purchase probability was high in the group seeking convenience. Third, the purchase probability of ready-to-cook seafood products was higher in households with two or more persons than in single-person households. These results suggest that differentiated product development and marketing strategies should be needed for each consumer groups in the seafood convenience food market

This study aimed to investigate the need for dietary education and programs for young Koreans belonging to singleperson households in the metropolitan area. A total of 500 young adults aged 19-34 participated in the study through an online survey. Participants responded to questions on general characteristics, dietary problems, and the need for dietary education and programs. The subjects were divided into three groups as follows: Undergraduate students, employed workers, and others. Among the subjects from single-person households, 20.2, 67, and 12.8% were undergraduate students, employed workers, and others, respectively. When asked for their estimation of an appropriate self-pay when participating in a cooking class, 39.8% of total subjects responded ‘5,000-10,000 won’. The most preferred program for young adults in single-person households was the ‘support food package’. For the preferred method of dietary education, undergraduate students showed a greater preference for classes ‘at campuses’. However, employed workers and others had a higher preference for ‘non-face-to-face online classes’. Undergraduate students tended to generally have a higher preference for dietary education and support programs compared to employed workers and others. This study provides data that will be useful for establishing healthy dietary policies and education programs for young single-person households in Korea.

This study investigated the potential role of dietary factors associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Koreans. The scoping review method was used to evaluate the studies that utilized the secondary data sets comprising the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). Articles published between 2012 and 2022 were identified using RISS, KISS, DBpia, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. In all, there were 32 published articles on obesity and 119 on MetS. Obesity research included eight articles on nutrients, 12 on food items/food groups, two on dietary patterns, nine on dietary behavior/eating habits, and one on the dietary index. MetS studies comprised 34 articles on nutrients, 43 on food items/food groups, seven on dietary patterns, 25 on dietary behavior/eating habits, and 10 on the dietary index. Carbohydrates, alcohol, and coffee consumption were the most frequently studied dietary factors for obesity and MetS. The primary areas of study were largely focused on nutrients and food items/food groups. Thus, to overcome the paucity of information on the relationship of dietary patterns and dietary indexes with obesity and MetS, there is a need for further research using the KNHANES and KoGES data sets.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs introduced the Agrifood Voucher in 2020. The Agrifood Voucher is the program that provides vouchers to purchase selected food items with dietary management education. This study aimed to explore value and meaning of dietary management based on the Agrifood Voucher. First, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program of the United States and the Agrifood Voucher of Korea were reviewed. Second, various terms used for describing the purpose of food assistance programs were comparatively reviewed and ‘food and nutrition security’, together with the corresponding Korean term, was proposed to be the most appropriate term for the purpose. Subsequently, the value and meaning of dietary management based on the Agrifood Voucher were presented as enhancing food and nutrition security of the vulnerable. Diverse education programs should be developed and implemented to improve the dietary management capacity of the Agrifood Voucher recipients in order to properly realize the meaning and value of dietary management based on the Agrifood Voucher in the future.

This study investigated the trend of research on ‘Food science and Nutrition’ in previously published papers in the Journal of Korean Society of Food Culture (JKSFC) from 2000 to 2021. Total number of published papers in this category in the JKSFC was 693 which we classified into 7 main categories and 40 subcategories. Of these, 256 articles were on ‘experimental cooking’ which was the most studied field among 7 main categories. There was a total of 19 published papers under the category of ‘microbiology and fermentation’. A total of 133 articles were published on ‘functional foods’ and provided essential data for discovering new materials under the theme of various physiological active functions of food materials. Furthermore, 107 articles were included in ‘food processing and storage’, which provided integrated knowledge of economy, stability and practicality based on various technologies. A total of 144 articles was included in the category of ‘nutrition’. Under the category of ‘nutrition’, the most actively studied topic was ‘eating behaviors and dietary habits,’ and the trending topic was ‘use of healthcare big data.’ In conclusion, this review would provide trends of various categories of food science and nutrition area for recent 21 years and suggest directions for future research.

This study investigated alterations in the health behaviors and eating habits due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) pandemic. An online survey was administered to 270 university students from September 22, 2021 to October 26, 2021. While the frequency of eating at home had increased during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before the pandemic, there was a decrease in the frequency of eating out, drinking, and eating vegetables. However, the frequency of eating delivery, takeout, and convenience foods and the utilization of online shopping and delivery apps had considerably increased. In addition, when selecting menus, considerations of health, hygiene, and convenience were more important during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity more than 3 days a week had decreased, whereas sedentary time showed a proportionate increase. The percentage of people who perceived their health status to be worsening was determined to have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. To prepare for the era of infectious diseases, future research needs to identify health behaviors and dietary problems by administering surveys that include a large sample size and participants of various ages. Moreover, health promotion and nutrition management plans should be prepared accordingly.

This study examines the trend of research on food and culture in papers published in the Journal of The Korean Society of Food Culture from 1986 to 2020. The journals published a total of 329 papers, which we classified into 5 main categories and 13 middle categories. Of these, 204 articles were on “Korean traditional food culture.” The most studied topic in the entire period was “Perception of Koreans towards traditional food, preference, satisfaction, and usage.” A total of 76 studies related to “Korean contemporary food culture.” The most advanced topic researched concerned “Recognition and attitude”; these studies were consistently carried out throughout the research period. The main classification of “World food culture” encompassed 32 studies, with major research focused on “World's Modern Food Culture” and the most advanced being “Comparison of Food Cultures of Foreign and Korean Food Cultures.” All studies were consistently spaced out during the study period. These studies provide an integrated knowledge in the field of food and culture and can be used as a basic material for related research in the future.

For any research study, in order to achieve the researcher’s intended purpose, the depth of research is added, and the area of the subject is expanded by clearly defining the scope and objective. The study was undertaken to analyze the bibliographic data of 254 papers in the field of foodservice and restaurant published in the Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture from 2002 to 2021. The study was divided into two periods: 2002 to 2011, and 2012 to 2021. Research topics were derived and research trends according to temporal changes were confirmed through analysis of keyword networks by period. In addition, analyzing the keyword network of simultaneous appearance of “foodservice” and “restaurant”, the research topics were compared and analyzed in relation to which keywords were expanded by period. Our analysis revealed that the research topics were mostly studied for satisfaction and nutrition. Additionally, they were classified into procurement, Korean food before employee menu, marketing, restaurant industry, and quality. In the period from 2002 to 2011, it was confirmed that studies encompassed a wide range of research topics, focusing on foodservice and restaurant; in the second period from 2012 to 2021, the research topics were more classified and subdivided.

Galactosemia is a rare genetic metabolic disease caused by galactose and its metabolites generated during carbohydrate metabolism, which is relatively rare in Asian countries, including Korea. Patients with galactosemia should be treated with a galactose-restricted diet. However, information is lacking about the exact content of galactose in food, and dietary guidelines for patients with galactosemia in Korea. This study aims to recognize the difficulties faced by parents and clinical experts of patients with galactosemia, and understand their demands. Totally, 5 parents of children diagnosed with galactosemia and 5 clinical professionals participated in the focus group interviews. The parents’ interview focused on the daily life of the patient, which included diet and social difficulties. The clinical experts mainly answered about medical care, including the number and status of patients, and their suggestions for effective treatment. Most parents were worried about social isolation due to conflicts in the family as well as in society due to a lack of understanding of the disease. The clinical experts stated the absence of a disease management system as the greatest problem. An integrated support system for patients with galactosemia, which includes appropriate dietary guidelines by considering the domestic environment, is required.

Diet is important for muscle health and offers a protective effects against the loss of skeletal muscle mass and physical functions with advancing age. We analyzed the relationship between diet, metabolic disease risk, and sarcopenia in Korean female adults using the 2009-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A total of 2038 adult women aged 50-64 years were classified into four groups based on the diagnosis of menopause and sarcopenia. The groups were the non-menopause and non-sarcopenia group (NMNS, n=249), the non-menopause and sarcopenia group (NMS, n=14), the menopause and non-sarcopenia group (MNS, n=1,653), and the menopause and sarcopenia group (MS, n=122). The socio-demographics, anthropometrics, blood profile, and dietary data of the subjects were collected. Those who were in both the sarcopenia groups were more obese (p<0.001), had greater waist circumferences (p<0.001), higher body mass index (p<0.001), and higher obesity rates (p<0.001) after adjustment for covariants. Both the sarcopenia groups also had higher plasma levels of total cholesterol (p<0.001), HbA1c (p=0.001), and vitamin D (p=0.020) than both the non-sarcopenia groups. Both the sarcopenia groups demonstrated a decreased intake of calcium (p=0.05), potassium (p=0.008), and niacin (p=0.008) than both the non-sarcopenia ones. Among the four groups, the NMS group showed the highest levels of total cholesterol, obesity, and lowest intake of micronutrients such as calcium, niacin, and potassium. Thus, muscle mass maintenance through weight control and adequate nutrient intake appears to demonstrate a potential association with preventing sarcopenia in Korean middle-aged women.

With the globalization of Korean education and the rise in the average level of education, the number of international students in Korea, especially those from China, is rapidly increasing every year. This study aimed to provide the basic information for healthy dietary education by evaluating the dietary and nutritional status of Chinese students living in Gwangju province of Korea. Data from 468 subjects who met the study participation criteria and who had given their written informed consent were used for analysis. Of the total subjects, 52.4 and 80.1% were non-drinkers and non-smokers, respectively (p<0.01). It was observed that women were more stressed than men when they did not have convenient access to a Chinese food market near their place of residence (p=0.032). The subjects with a high cultural adaptation consumed kimbap (p<0.001) and pizza (p=0.017) more frequently than the subjects with a low cultural adaptation. An analysis of the nutrient quotient revealed that male scores were higher than those of the females with regard to water intake (p=0.035) and exercise level (p=0.021). For Chinese students living in Korea to maintain proper dietary habits, it is necessary to educate them on how to purchase convenience foods and improve their lifestyle, including limiting drinking and smoking. It is also necessary to develop emotional support programs for stress management and cultural adaptation.

This study was conducted to investigate the dietary adaptation and use of the university foodservice (UF) in Korea according to the residence period of foreign students. The average length of residence in Korea of t he subjects was 8.2 months. The period of residence was divided into quartiles: 1-4 months in the first quartile (average 2.2 months), 5-7 months in the second quartile (average 6.3 months), 8 months in the third quartile, and 9-66 months in the fourth quartile (average 18.3 months). The regularity of meals tended to be the highest in the 1st quartile and lowest in the 2nd quartile and then increased in the 3rd and 4th quartiles. The frequency of consumption of delivery food and convenience store food was lowest in the first quartile and highest in the second quartile and then decreased with the period of residence. The frequency of night eating increased according to the period of residence after the second quartile. The degree of adaptation to Korean foods was highest in the first quartile. The use of the university cafeteria was significantly higher in the 1st and 4th quartiles than in the 2nd and 3rd quartiles (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). The satisfaction with the UF decreased as the residence period increased. Based on these results, since international students are very positive and try to adapt to the dietary life in Korea in their early years of studying in Korea, it would be desirable to intensively support them to adjust to their dietary life at this time. In addition, since it takes about 18 months or more to assimilate the Korean food culture and show positive changes, it is necessary to continuously operate the Korean food culture adaptation program for international students over this period.

This study was performed to improve the effectiveness of dietary education using a food ethics approach. Dietary education is a way of practicing food ethics based on Korean culture. The core values of dietary education and the keywords related to food ethics can be combined into environment · life, health · wisdom, and consideration · happiness. Sustainable dietary life comprises the value system of dietary education based on core values. To reach the ultimate goal of food ethics -sustaining the survival of the human race, the coexistence of humans and nature, the coexistence of humans and humans, and the fulfillment of food requirements are needed. These needs yield certain core principles, including respect for life, environmental preservation, justice, the priority of consumers, dynamic equilibrium, and the priority of safety. The extended ethical matrix with six core principles and three interest groups can be used for an ethical analysis either qualitative or quantitative. It is believed that if food ethics are introduced into dietary education programs, the effectiveness of education can be improved.