The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between eating habits and health among adolescents in Shanghai and Heze, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2013 on 2,089 adolescents; 1,089 students were from Shanghai and 999 students from Heze region. Eating habits, weight, height, and nutritional knowledge were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. Eating habits score was classified into two categories: healthy eating habits and unhealthy eating habits, based on「Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey」, for statistical data analysis. Associations between eating habits, BMI, and nutritional knowledge were examined using a general linear model with adjustment of potential confounding factors such as region, gender, age, parents’ education level, and pocket money. Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS (version 9.3) program. Proportions of healthy eating habits group were 90.0% for breakfast (3-7 times/wk), 29.1% for fruit (≥once/d), 12.5% for vegetable (≥3 times/d), 7.3% for milk (≥2 times/d), 90.0% for fast food (<3 times/wk) consumption, respectively. The average BMI score was 20.1 (Shanghai 20.5 Heze 19.6), which is in the range of normal weight. Rates of obesity and overweight were 16.5% and 8.3% in Shanghai and Heze, respectively. There were significant negative correlations between intake frequencies of breakfast, fast food, biscuits, sugar, chocolate, and BMI score. Eating habits and nutritional knowledge score showed a significant positive correlation. These results showed better eating habits regarding eating regularity and consumption of fruits and soft drinks in Chinese adolescents compared with Korean adolescents, although cultural differences were not fully considered. This study demonstrated significant associations of BMI and nutritional knowledge with dietary behavior in Chinese adolescents in two regions of China. Further studies on Chinese adolescents from other regions in China should be considered.

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in perception of weight management, balanced food intake, knowledge of obesity, and nutrition knowledge in university students. The average weight and height of male subjects were 175.0±5.7cm and 69.1±11.8kg, whereas those of female subjects were 161.7±5.0cm and 51.7±6.9kg, respectively. Average scores for balanced food intake were not significantly different between male and female students. The total number of correct answers for obesity knowledge was not significantly different according to gender, but four responses related with losing weight showed higher perception scores in females compared to males (p〈0.05). The total number of correct answers for nutrition knowledge was not significantly different between males and females. The average BMI of male and female subjects were 22.5±3.44 and 19.7±2.21, respectively, ranged in normality. Self-evaluation of body shape was mostly in the normal or standard range in both males and females, but females showed a higher perception rate of chubby or fat than males. The percentages of interest in weight management was 36.0% in males and 50.8% in females, with higher interest in female subjects (p〈0.01).

This study was conducted to investigate the change in the anthropometric values, biochemical index, nutritional knowledge, food habits and nutrient intakes in obese children after a weight control program. The subjects of the study were 22 obese children with an obesity index over 120%. The children that participated in this study took nutritional education for weight control along with exercise once a week. The weight control program was conducted for 10 weeks. The BMI, WHR (Waist-Hip ratio), body fat (%) significantly decreased at the end of the weight control program. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were also significantly decreased. The nutritional knowledge scores and knowledge score about obesity were slightly improved. Energy intake significantly decreased from 1768 to 1421 kcal. Intake of Ca, Na, K, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C and folate increased, while intakes of P, Zn, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin E and niacin decreased. The distribution of energy intake was significantly changed for the better. The percent fat consumed decreased from 26.5 to 19.7%. In addition, the distribution of energy intake in the meals was changed, where the percent calories consumed during lunch significantly increased from 31.4 to 40.1% and the calorie percentage consumed from snacks significantly decreased from 17.6 to 10.7%. In conclusion, the nutritional education in the weight control program, which was conducted for 10 weeks, was effective in improving the anthropometric values, biochemical index and nutrient intake although nutrition knowledge and eating behaviors only changed slightly. Thus, nutritional weight control programs for obese children should be continuously provided under the proper cooperation of a nutritional teacher at elementary schools.

The principal objective of this study was to determine the effects of mothers' nutrition knowledge on preschoolers' obesity and dietary habits. The subject population included 456 mothers and their preschoolers, aged 3 to 5 years, who were enrolling in kindergartens located in Seoul and KyongGi-Do, Korea. The results of this study are as follows: 1. The majority of mothers responded correctly to those questions concerning obesity-related nutritional knowledge, but responded incorrectly to questions regarding basic nutritional knowledge. 2. The mothers' nutritional knowledge was associated significantly with the mother's age (p<0.05) and degree of education (p<0.05). 3. The mothers' nutritional knowledge was significantly and negatively correlated with their obesity, but not with their preschoolers' obesity. 4. Mothers' nutritional knowledge was determined to be positively associated with higher interest in nutritional information and food selection in regard to weight management strategies for their kids. 5. In general, preschoolers whose mother had excellent nutrition knowledge evidenced better dietary habits than preschoolers whose mothers had poor nutrition knowledge. In particular, one question regarding serving size was significantly associated with mothers' general level of nutritional knowledge(p<0.05).