Although fine dust pollution in Korea is increasing, there is no information regarding nutritional standards for fine dustrelated disease patients. This study analyzed the food and nutrient intake status in adult men with disease associated with fine dust in the area with the increased level of fine dust pollution using the sixth and seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2017). The daily intakes, and average nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) values of energy were significantly increased in the control group compared with patient groups. Compared with the control group, protein, fat and cholesterol intakes were significantly increased in the patient groups. Daily intakes of cereals and grain products in the control group were increased, whereas seasoning intake was decreased in the control group compared with patient groups. The patient groups had low daily water and vitamin B1 intakes, and the niacin intake of patient groups was significantly lower than that of the control group. Nutrition density and nutritional quality of vitamin C were significantly reduced in patient groups. This study can be used as basic data for nutrition education that emphasizes sufficient calorie, water and antioxidant vitamin intakes for patients related to fine dust pollution.

This study was conducted to examine the status of food consumption and nutrition intake of young adults according to food security using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) (2008~2018). A total of 10,655 young adults aged 19~34 years participated in the study. The subjects in the moderately/severely food insecure group consumed less fruits, vegetables, meat, nuts and seeds than those in food secure/mildly food insecure group after adjusting for confounding factors. The moderately/severely food insecure group significantly decreased mean adequacy ratio (MAR) and nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) for protein, vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus and iron compared to the food secure/ mildly food insecure group. The percentages of the participants consuming a daily diet with carbohydrate, protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, phosphorus and iron less than the estimated average requirement (EAR) increased in the moderately/severely food insecure group compared with the food secure group. This study suggested that the nutrition intake of young adults was related to food security status. These findings can be used as basic data for developing nutritional policies for young adults.

This study was conducted to investigate the intake status of beverages and water in Korean adults using data from the 8th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The ‘total water’ intake was 2,250.6 g for men and 1,871.2 g for women. Men and women consumed an average of 314.9 g of ‘total beverages’, of which ‘coffee’ was the largest at 107.5 g, followed by ‘others’(65.4 g), ‘milk’ (44.8 g), ‘soda’ (44.1 g), ‘teas’ (20.9 g), and ‘fruits and vegetables’ (18.5 g). The intake of ’plain water’ was 1,059.9 g, and the intake of ’water from food’ consumed was 547.3 g. The ‘total water’ intake decreased with increasing age in males and females (p<0.001). Both men and women showed a tendency toward increased ‘total water’ intake as income levels increased. ‘Plain water’ intake accounted for 51.4% of the ‘total water’ intake in males and females. The intake of all nutrients significantly increased from the Q1 group to the Q4 group by quartile ranges of total water intake. The results of this study showed that the intake of healthy water should be considered, and care and educational programs are needed, especially for older people, to ensure adequate water intake.

This study aimed to assess the association between the weight status and dietary behavior of preschool children. The survey included 412 preschool children aged 2-5 years in 31 childcare facilities in Gwangju. General characteristics of children and their mothers, weight, height, feeding type, complementary feeding, food allergy, and dietary behavior of children based on the Nutrition Quotient for preschoolers (NQ-P) questionnaire were considered. Children were classified into 4 groups by weight status; underweight, normal, overweight, and obese, based on the 2017 Korean National Growth Charts. The percentage of children in the respective groups was 5.3, 70.9, 10.7, 13.1%. Weight status was not related to breast feeding duration nor the starting time of complementary feeding. The NQ-P scores of underweight, normal, overweight, and obese groups were 55.4, 60.0, 60.8, 60.0. Among the three factors covered by the NQ-P, ‘balance’ and ‘environment’ scores of the underweight group were lower than that of other groups. Underweight children consumed beans, fish, and white milk less frequently. The ‘moderation’ scores of the overweight/obese group were lower than those of the normal or obese groups. Obese children more frequently ate processed meat and fast foods. Proper nutrition education is thus needed for not only obese children but also underweight children based on their age, along with their parents, and caregivers.

There is little information on the nutrient intake according to the city size and small town in Korean elderly. This study analyzed the nutritional consumption of older people in metropolitan, middle and small cities, and rural areas according to four income levels. The recent data from the 2016~2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used. The final analysis included 4,325 individuals (Male: 1,856, Female: 2,469) over 65 years old. Multivariable regression with a complex sample design was conducted to compare the nutrient intake among the groups. In a comparison within regions, the nutrition status of the elderly in small towns was more vulnerable than metropolitan and middle & small cities. The energy intakes were similar between the groups. The carbohydrate intake of middle & small cities was significantly higher than the other regions. The intake of other nutrients in metropolitan and middle & small cities appeared to be higher than in rural areas. The number of nutrients with statistical significance between low and high-income levels were 19 in metropolitan, 11 in middle & small cities, and 5 in rural areas. Each contribution of carbohydrate, fat, and protein to the total energy intake was lower in the low-income level than the high-income level in metropolitan and middle & small cities. On the other hand, in rural areas, only the contribution of protein to energy intake was lower in the low-income level than the high-income level. Cities with higher levels of urbanization had more severe nutritional inequality in relation to the income level. There was also nutritional inequality present in rural areas but it was to a lesser extent. Moreover, the generally low level of nutrient intake was problematic in rural areas. These findings could be used as fundamental evidence for developing community nutritional policies for the elderly.

This study was conducted to evaluate the overall dietary habits and nutritional status of 294 elementary school students located in Gwangju using the NUTRILITE nutrition quotient (NQ). The NQ score of the subjects was 59.5 out of 100, which corresponds to the level requiring “monitoring”. Compared to the 64.4 score of students in the 5th and 6th grades of six metropolitan cities, the scores of the present subjects were lower. The NQ components were 57.4 for balance factors, 52.4 for moderation factors, 55.0 for diversification factors, 57.6 for practice factors, and 80.1 for environmental factors. Regarding the characteristics according to the NQ level, the score (61.5 in 7 times/wk vs. 55.3 in 1-2 or none times/wk) tended to be higher in subjects who frequently eat with their families (p<0.001). In conclusion, nutrition education should be provided to students to increase the frequency of meals with their families, to develop a habit of exercising regularly, and reduce the consumption of ramen, cookies, and processed drinks that are frequently consumed. These results can be used as basic data to develop nutrition education programs to improve the dietary habits and nutritional status of students in Gwangju.

This study aim to evaluate dietary quality and nutritional status according to the consumption of health functional food using Nutrition Quotient for Korean elderly (NQ-E) for 288 elderly people attending senior welfare centers in Gyeonggi-do. The questionnaire consisted of items about general information, health functional food, and Nutrition Quotient for Korean elderly (NQ-E). Chi-squared test, Fisher's exact tests, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) were performed using the SAS program ver. 9.4. Among the male and female subjects, the female subjects consumed more health functional food. The results of the dietary quality and nutritional status difference according to the intake of health functional food showed significant differences only in the areas of variety and abstinence among nutrition quotient factors for men, while no significant differences were observed in any of the nutrition quotient factors for women. In conclusion, focused-nutrition education program and useful guideline is needed for promoting adequate consumption of health functional foods in elderly.

본 연구는 어린이급식소를 대상으로 체계적인 위생관리 및 영양관리를 지원하고 있는 어린이급식관리지원센터 기반 유아 당류 줄이기 교육프로그램 개발 및 운영을 위한 기초자료 마련의 일환으로 센터의 예산규모에 따른 유아 당류 교육실태 및 요구도를 비교․분석하였다. 본 조사는 2015년 10월 온라인 설문조사를 통하여 전국 115개 어린이급식관리지원센터의 팀장 또는 팀원을 대상으로 이루어졌다. 센터의 예산규모에 따라 1~2억원 센터(21.7%), 3~4억원 센터(52.2%), 5~7억원 센터(26.1%)로 분류하였다. 1~2억원 센터는 읍면지역이 72.0%로 가장 많았고, 3~4억원 센터와 5~7억원 센터는 대도시가 각 46.7%, 56.7%로 가장 높아 유의적인 차이를 보였다(p<0.001). 유아 대상 당류 섭취 줄이기 교육 실태조사 결과, 교육을 실시하는 비율은 1~2억원 센터 8.0%로 낮았고, 3~4억원 센터의 경우 16.7%, 5~7억원 센터의 경우 16.7%로 예산규모에 따른 유의적인 차이를 보였다(p<0.05). 유아의 당류 섭취 관련 영양교육을 실시하지 않는 이유에 대하여 조사한 결과, 1~2억원 센터는 ‘영양교육 자료 부족’이 47.1%로 가장 많았고, 3~4억원 센터와 5~7억원 센터는 ‘당류 교육보다 더 시급한 영양교육 내용이 많음’이 각각 66.7%와 50.0%로 높게 타났다. 유아의 학부모를 대상으로 한 유아 당류 섭취 관련 영양교육 실시여부를 조사한 결과, 실시 비율은 1~2억원 센터가 8.0%로 가장 낮았고, 3~4억원 센터 28.3%, 5~7억원 센터 23.3%로 예산규모에 따른 유의적인 차이를 보였다(p<0.05). 유아 당류 줄이기 교육의 필요성에 대한 조사에서 ‘매우 필요하다’와 ‘필요하다’의 비율이 예산규모에 따른 유의적인 차이 없이 90% 이상 높게 나타났다. 유아를 대상으로 한 효과적인 교육방법에 대한 질문에 대하여 예산 규모에 상관없이 75% 이상의 높은 비율을 보인 것은 동화나 인형극을 활용한 교육 방법이었고, ‘영양교육 활동지를 통한 교육’은 1~2억원 센터에서 낮았고(p<0.05), ‘실험활동을 통한 교육’은 3~4억원 센터에서 낮았다(p<0.05). 효과적일 것으로 생각하는 유아 대상 교육 담당자로는 모든 센터에서 ‘어린이급식관리지원센터 영양사+담임교사’가 80.0% 이상으로 나 타났다. 이상을 통해 어린이급식관리지원센터에서의 유아 당류 섭취 관련 교육에 대한 필요성과 효과적일 것으로 생각하는 교육 방법 및 시간 등에서는 사업 규모별 차이가 없었지만, 교육 실태는 사업 규모에 따라 유의적인 차이를 보여, 1~2억원 규모의 소규모 센터의 경우 유아 당류 섭취 관련 교육의 실시율이 낮고, 교육 자료의 부족을 느끼고 있는 것으로 나타났다. 현재 어린이급식관리지원센터의 사업비 분배는 회원 어 린이집의수에 따라 1억원 단위로 비례적으로 정해지고 있다. 비록 본 연구는 영양교육 프로그램에 한정된 결과를 보여주고 있기는 하지만, 1~2억원 규모의 소규모 센터의 경우 예산 및 인력부족으로 사업의 운영에 어려움을 보이고 있고, 이로 인해 큰 센터에 비하여 상대적인 사업의 질 저하를 초래할 가능성이 높음을 보여준다. 그러나 소규모 센터의 경우, 인구가 적은 읍면 지역에 위치하는 경우가 많기 때문에 대상자가 여러 가지 사회․문화적 혜택으로부터 소외되어 있는 계층일 가능성이 높다. 따라서 국가에서 시행하는 사업에서 이러한 부분을 보완해야 할 책임 또한 더 클 것으로 사료된다. 따라서 사업의 규모에 따른 차이 없이 질적으로 평준화된 교육프로그램의 제공 및 소규모 센터의 예산 및 인력부족으로 인한 교육프로그램 개발 및 운영의 어려움을 해결하기 위해서 표준화된 유아 당류 섭취 줄이기 관련 교육프로그램의 개발 및 보급과 함께 어린이급식관리지원센터 사업 예산 분배에 대한 재고의 필요성이 큰 것으로 생각된다.

The objective of the this study was to identify the potential relationship between eating breakfast together as a family and the nutritional status among Korean adolescents based on the 2013~2015 Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey data. This study investigated 1,300 adolescents ranging in agee from twelve to eighteen years-old. In this study, according to their eating breakfast together as a family or skipping breakfast, we classified the subjects into the eating breakfast together as a family (EBF group) (male=379, female=295), eating breakfast alone (EBA group) (male=177, female=169) and skipping breakfast (SB group) (male=152, female=128). Both male and female, age in the EBF group was lower than those of the EBA and SB group (p<0.0001, respectively). In the male, the EBF group exhibited significantly higher fiber (p=0.0168) and potassium density (p=0.0065) and lower beverage intake (% energy) (p=0.0040) than the EBA and SB groups. No difference was observed the proportion of subjects who practiced a healthy diet between three groups, however, the EBF and EBA groups had a smaller proportion of subjects who were in a condition of hypo-nutrition compared to the SB group (p<0.0001, respectively). The present findings suggest that the practice of eating breakfast together as a family in adolescents may bean important consideration in relation to micro-nutrient intake status.

In this study, we have analyzed the 2015 KNHANES to understand the nutritional and health status of Korean middle-age adults from the perspective of frequency of eating breakfast. Those that eat breakfast five to seven times a week were 76.3 percent (male) and 72.7 percent (female). Frequency of eating lunch and dinner, and eating out was significantly higher among male subjects. The higher the frequency of eating breakfast, the higher the frequency of eating lunch, dinner and eating out. Female subjects that ate breakfast five to seven times a week had lower height and weight compared with other groups, but there was no significant difference of BMI and waist circumference among the four groups. Adults that eat breakfast five to seven times a week had consumed more carbohydrates, dietary fiber, phosphorus, potassium and vitamin C regardless of gender, which validates the nutritional benefits of eating meals regularly. Male adults that ate breakfast five to seven times a week revealed lower levels of diastolic blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol compared with other groups, which validates eating breakfast regularly was beneficial to their health. In conclusion, it is necessary to eat regular meals daily relative to the nutritional status and health of Korean middle-age adults.

This study investigated the current status and needs for nutrition education to help reduce children’s sugars intake at the Center for Children’s Foodservice Management (CCFM, n=115), and Child Care Facilities (CCF, n=646) through an online survey conducted from October 5th to 30th 2015. A total of 14.8% of CCFM respondents and 31.9% of CCF respondents provided nutrition education on sugars intake to young children as a main topic (p<0.001). A higher percentage (CCFM 47.8%: CCF 42.4%) delivered nutrition education on sugars intake to young children as a sub-component (p<0.001). Over 90% of the CCFM and CCF participants agreed on the necessity of providing nutrition education on sugars intake to children. The most common reasons given for delivering nutrition education on children’s sugar intake were “there are many more urgent nutrition education topics” for CCFM, and “insufficient nutrition education information and materials” for CCF. The percentage of nutrition education on children’s sugar intake provided to the children’s parents was low showing about 20% in the both groups. The percentage of CCFM participants providing nutrition, education on children’s sugar intake to the teachers in CCF was also low, showing about 14.8%; however, 68.0% of the CCF participants wanted to received teacher's education on guiding children’s sugar intake. Regarding ideas about a nutrition education program on children’s sugar intake for young children, most respondents in both groups answered “sugar intake and dental cavities or obesity” for appropriate education contents, “story telling or puppet show” for appropriate education methods, and “dietitian from CCFM and class teacher together” for appropriate educator. For appropriate education time, there was a significantl difference between the CCFM responses (average 2.7 times) and the CCF responses (average 4 times). Based on the above results, we found that implementing nutrition education on children's sugar intake at the CCFM and CCF, was low; however, awareness of the need for nutrition education on children’s sugar intake and the program development and supply was very high. Also, the opinions of CCFM and CCF participants about a nutrition education program on children’s sugar intake for young children can provide foundation data to develop and implement the CCFM-based nutrition education program.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the fad dieting status and needs of nutrition education on healthy dieting in male and female collegians according to the desired loss weight. The subjects were 611 students (287 males, 324 females) from universities in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces in Korea. The subjects were divided into the following four groups based on the difference between their current body weight and their desired body weight: no desired weight loss (WL0), desired weight loss less than 5 kg (WL5), desired weight loss 6 to 10 kg (WL10), and desired weight loss more than 11 kg (WL11). The fad dieting status was surveyed using a questionnaire about 11 selected trendy dieting methods. The higher desired weight loss group showed higher current weight and BMI in both males and females. Self weight overestimation was higher in the females than in the males, and in the WL10 group than in the other groups of males. As desired loss weight increased, weight loss trials and experienced trendy dieting types increased in both males and females. In the male subjects, the experience of the half meal diet and the chicken breast diet was significantly associated with the desired loss weight. In females, trials of more trendy diet types including the half meal diet, cereal diet, fasting, and Atkins diet were significantly associated with the higher desired loss weight. The need for nutrition education on healthy dieting was high among all the different desired weight loss groups, showing that a minimum of 60% of subjects in each group answered ‘necessary and strongly necessary’, with the highest in the WL11 group in both males and females. From these results, desired loss weight is associated with higher current weight status, unhealthy weight control practices, and needs for nutrition education in both male and female subjects. Therefore, in the future, nutrition education programs should give greater attention to providing healthy dieting methods for young collegians who desire more weight loss.

This study investigated the nutrition education realities and nutrition status of children in community child centers, by analyzing the status of nutrition education, nutrition quotient (NQ), and the level of maintaining dietary guidelines. The subjects were 173 children from grades 1 to 6, enrolled in community child centers, Jinju, Kyungnam. The NQ was examined by a questionnaire, which was a checklist of 19 food behavior items. The distribution of scores (out of 100) in the nutrition quotient were as follows: total score of NQ was 59.4, balance 56.6, diversity 60.6, moderation 65.6, regularity 60.9, and practice 56.7. Nutrition quotient was higher in the higher graders due to significant differences in the area of variety. The level of maintaining dietary guidelines was higher in girls, especially in the area ‘eat politely with family’, and higher amongst the upper graders in the area ‘have safe snack wisely’. To improve the eating habits and nutritional status of the children in community child centers, their nutritional state should be checked with regular and systematic education, and their nutritional management should be pursued continuously. Since the assessment of the eating behaviors and the nutritional state of children is important at home as well as in schools and community child centers, nutritional education should be further extended to the parents and their care givers. This study can be implemented as basic material for the nutritional education of children, to minimize the dangers of malnutrition and to help build up the right eating habits amongst children in community child centers.

The purpose of this study was to determine the health behaviors and nutritional status related to dyslipidemia in Korean middle-aged adults (between 50 and 64 years old) from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey data (2007~2010). A total of 4,721 subjects were analyzed in this study. The subjects were divided into three groups (normal, borderline, and dyslipidemia) according to serum lipid levels. Parameters included in this study were drinking and smoking, anthropometric parameters, blood and nutritional parameters. The latter parameter included food/nutrients intake. All data was adjusted by sex, region, education level, and age. General linear model and logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. The dyslipidemia group was comprised of more men than women. By contrast, the borderline group was comprised of more women than men (p<0.001). No significant differences were observed for other general characteristics. There were more smokers and drinkers(drinking per time) in the dyslipidemia group (p<0.05). Anthropometric data showed significant difference, ie, height (p<0.05), weight, body mass index, waist circumference, percent body fat, and blood pressure were higher in the dyslipidemia group (p<0.001). Only blood urea nitrogen showed no significant difference among groups. The HbA1c (p<0.01), fasting blood glucose, GOT, GPT, creatinine levels were higher in the dyslipidemia group (p<0.001). So it is required for the management of obesity in dyslipidemia group. The dyslipidemia group ate less sea food (p<0.05). The nutrients intake of energy and protein, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus were lower in the dyslipidemia group (p<0.05). Therefore, to lower dyslipidemia prevalence rates, it is necessary to increase the intake of foods containing ω-3 fatty acids. We also suggest a meal management program and nutritional education to recognize the risk of dyslipidemia, especially for people such as the individual in the borderline and dyslipidemia study groups. Key words: dyslipidemia, Korean middle-aged adults, nutritional status, health behaviors

The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between white rice consumption and dietary intake, the risk of metabolic syndrome in Korean based on 1st (1998), 4th (2007~2009), 6th (2013) KNHANES. This study included 25,799 subjects who were age 10 or over. Three groups(low, medium, high) were divided according to white rice consumption (per day). In the low group, the meat and oil intake were significantly higher than the high group. In the 1st survey year, the BMI, waist circumstances, hypertriglyceridemia and fasting blood glucose in the high group were higher than other groups, however the 4th and 6th survey year showed no significant results. In the 1st survey year the risk of waist circumstances was higher in the high white rice consumption group and also had high risk with hypertriglyceridemia. Since the lower white rice consumption in 4th than 1st survey year we found no significant results. But in the 6th survey year with the lowest white rice consumption the risk of high diastolic pressure was reduced in high group. Because continuously reduced white rice consumption meantime showed more intake of meat and oil, it can be concluded that defensive effects with the Korean health.

The purpose of this study was to synthetically examine the relationship between systemic diseases and periodontal diseases. The data obtained from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. SPSS 18.0 for Windows was applied for statistical analysis. The surveyed data were analyzed by using independent sample t-test for the difference between Body Mass Index and clinical test according to the existence of periodontal disease, and X2 test for the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic disease. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used in order to figure out the influence upon the periodontal disease prevalence among general characteristics and systemic diseases. As results, the values of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and HBA1C were statistically significant, depending on the presence of periodontal disease. As for the relationship between periodontal disease and systemic disease, hypertension (odds ratio 1.362, p<.05), cardiovascular disease (odds ratio 2.118, p<.05), arthritis (odds ratio 1.289, p<.05) and cirrhosis (odds ratio 6.124, p<.05) were statistically significant. According to Multiple logistic regression analysis, gender (odds ratio 1.24, p<.05), alcohol intake (odds ratio 1.25, p<.05), cardiovascular diseases (odds ratio 1.56, p<.05), and liver cirrhosis (odds ratio 1.17, p<.05) were related to the prevalence of periodontal diseases. In conclusion, the systemic diseases such as cardiovascular system, diabetes, and liver diseases revealed to have relationship with periodontal disease. To strengthen oral health education is needed to enhance systemic health as well as oral health. Moreover, basic biological research should be followed to support this surveyed study.

Eating breakfast provides crucial nutrition for brain function and helps promote overall health. It is especially critical in growing adolescents, as it is known to form good eating habits and better study habits. This study investigated the effects of skipping breakfast on nutritional state, fatigue level, and attention level. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010 on total of 828 adolescents composed of 414 boys and 414 girls. Students who ate breakfast never to twice per week were placed in the breakfast-skipper group while students who ate breakfast more than five times per week were included in the breakfast-eater group. Students performed a self-reported questionnaire on food behaviors, amount of food consumption, fatigue level, attention deficient hyperactivity disease (ADHD) level by Conners-Wells’ Adolescent Self-Report Scales, depression scale, and self-esteem level. Statistical analysis was conducted using the SAS program (version 9.1). A total of 135 boys (32.6%) and 138 girls (33.3%) were included in the breakfast-skipper group, whereas 241 boys (58.2%) and 223 girls (53.9%) were included in the breakfast-eater group. The breakfast-skipper group showed irregular food behaviors and lacked nutrients. Specifically, energy (p< .001), protein (p< .001), dietary fiber (p< .001), calcium (p< .01), vitamin A (p< .01), thiamin (p< .05), niacin (p< .001) levels in boy breakfast-skippers were statistically lower compared to boy breakfast-eaters. Intakes of all nutrients except fat in girl breakfast-skippers were statistically lower than in girl breakfast-eaters. Girl breakfast-skippers (41.3%) showed significantly higher fatigue risks compared to girl breakfast-eaters (21.5%). Low attention level was also observed only in girls in the breakfast-skipping group. Moreover, students in the breakfast-skipper group showed higher scores for depression and low self-esteem (p< .001). In conclusion, skipping breakfast has effects on young adolescents’ nutrition, manifesting as high fatigue level and low attention level, especially in girls.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate dietary habit and nutritional status by household income in female adults, using data from the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007~2009). Subjects were 8,356 women over the age of 20 years. The subjects were classified into 4 groups by household income level. Dietary data from 24 hr recall methods were used to analyze nutritional status. The obesity rate of the low income group was significantly higher than the rates of other income groups. Additionally, the nutritional status of the low income group was worse than those of other groups. The percentage of carbohydrate in total energy intake was higher and food security status was lower in the low income group than in other groups. Awareness and adherence to dietary guidelines were also lower in the low income group. Adherence to a dietary guideline of ‘avoiding salty foods and trying to eat foods with bland taste’ and ‘eating a variety of foods from each food group’ were lower than those of other groups. However, the frequency of skipping breakfast among the low income group was lower than that of others. Therefore, this study suggested that low income women should decrease the percentage of carbohydrate in total energy intake and adhere to dietary guidelines, especially those of avoiding salty foods and eating a variety of food groups, in order to improve their nutritional status.

This study was conducted to measure the effect of a community-based nutritional intervention program on dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes of low-income elderly women in Korea. The subject of the study was a group of 88 elderly women using the free meal service in Dong-gu, Gwangju city in Korea. The study was carried out from April to July 2009, and the pretest, application of nutrition education, and post-test were applied in each stage. This community-based nutrition intervention program consisted of snack supplement and nutrition education provided three times a week and 36 times in total. The nutrition education was led by the nutritionists and professionals using various educational media. Snack supplement included were milk, soymilk, carrot juice, bread, yogurt, and bananas. The result of pretest showed that the nutrient intakes of the subjects were much below the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) level of Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans. Comparison of the dietary behavior score and nutrient intakes before and after the nutritional intervention program indicated that the food behavior score increased from 3.1 to 5.6 (P<0.001) and intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate, thiamin, niacin, vitamin C, iron, and potassium of the subjects all increased significantly (P<0.05). Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) of their nutrient intakes was also improved from 0.53 to 0.64 (P<0.01). These results indicated that the nutrition intervention program conducted in this study was effective in improving dietary behavior and nutrient intakes of elderly women in local community.