Variation in Meal-skipping Rates of Korean Adolescents According to Socio-economic Status: Results of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey

Hong, Seri,Bae, Hong Chul,Kim, Hyun Soo,Park, Eun-Cheol The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine 2014 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.47 No.3

Objectives: To identify and evaluate the trend of meal-skipping rates among Korean adolescents with their contributing causes and the influence of household income level on meal skipping. Methods: Using 2008, 2010, and 2012 data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey of 222 662 students, a cross-sectional study with subgroup analysis was performed. We calculated odds ratios for skipping each meal 5 or more times in a week by household socio-economic status using a multiple logistic regression model. The secular change in the meal-skipping rates by the students' family affluence scale was analyzed by comparing the meal-skipping students within each subgroup and odds ratios for the same event over time. Results: Through 2008 to 2012, most of the meal-skipping rates generally showed a continuous increase or were almost unchanged in both sexes, except for breakfast skipping in several subgroups. Students in low-income households not living with both parents had the highest meal-skipping rates and odds ratios for frequent meal skipping. In a time-series subgroup analysis, the overall odds ratios for the same event increased during 2008 to 2012, with a slight reduction in the gap between low and higher income levels with regard to meal skipping during 2010 to 2012. Conclusions: Household socio-economic status and several other factors had a significant influence on Korean adolescent meal-skipping rates. Although the gap in eating behavior associated with household socio-economic differences is currently decreasing, further study and appropriate interventions are needed.

Variation in Meal-skipping Rates of Korean Adolescents According to Socio-economic Status: Results of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey

홍세리,박은철,배홍철,김현수 대한예방의학회 2014 Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Vol.47 No.3

Objectives: To identify and evaluate the trend of meal-skipping rates among Korean adolescents with their contributing causes and the influence of household income level on meal skipping. Methods: Using 2008, 2010, and 2012 data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey of 222 662 students, a cross-sectional study with subgroup analysis was performed. We calculated odds ratios for skipping each meal 5 or more times in a week by household socio-economic status using a multiple logistic regression model. The secular change in the meal-skipping rates by the students’ family affluence scale was analyzed by comparing the meal-skipping students within each subgroup and odds ratios for the same event over time. Results: Through 2008 to 2012, most of the meal-skipping rates generally showed a continuous increase or were almost unchanged in both sexes, except for breakfast skipping in several subgroups. Students in low-income households not living with both parents had the highest meal-skipping rates and odds ratios for frequent meal skipping. In a time-series subgroup analysis, the overall odds ratios for the same event increased during 2008 to 2012, with a slight reduction in the gap between low and higher income levels with regard to meal skipping during 2010 to 2012. Conclusions: Household socio-economic status and several other factors had a significant influence on Korean adolescent meal-skipping rates. Although the gap in eating behavior associated with household socio-economic differences is currently decreasing, further study and appropriate interventions are needed.

울산시 주민의 건강을 위한 식행동 조사 연구

신애숙,김광기 동아시아식생활학회 1999 동아시아식생활학회지 Vol.9 No.2

This is a descriptive study of consumption patterns of how to take meals in everyday life. The data used was collected from a probability sample by multi-stage cluster sampling, drawn from those who were living in the Ulsan Metropolitan Area. Face-to-face interviews were conducted by trained interviewers with a household member who was between the ages of 15 and 60 in 1989 and had the earliest birthday, resulting in a sample of 1.232 respondents. Univariate and bivariate analyses were made to describe behavioral patterns of taking meals. Meal-taking behaviors under this study include frequency of taking meals per day, regularity of taking meals, which meal to skip, number of frequency of taking a meal by oneself, reasons of skipping and irregular meals, and eating out. Half of the respondents reported to take meals three times a day, while those who skipped at least a meal reported breakfast as one most frequently skipped. Of reasons not to take a meal on a regular basis, "too busy to eat" was most frequently mentioned. Only 32.8% of the respondents reported dining-out once a week.

Meal skipping children in low-income families and community practice implications

Hwa-ok Bae,Meesook Kim,Soon Myoung Hong 한국영양학회 2008 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.2 No.2

We examined dietary habits, food intakes, health status, and school and community life of meal skipping children, and investigated factors predicting meal skipping of children. A sample was composed of 944 children in low-income families who were provided with public meal service. The sample was obtained from the Survey of Meal Service for Poor Children conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2007. Meal skipping was significantly associated with a lower nutrition and health status, and poor school performance of children, as hypothesized. The school age of child, family structure, region, job of caretaker, concern about diet, and the child’s visit to welfare center significantly predicted frequency of meal skipping. We suggested a few implications for community practice to reduce meal skipping of children.

수도권에 거주하는 1인 가구 식생활 태도 조사

허윤경,심기현,Heo, Yun Kyung,Sim, Ki Hyeon 한국식품영양학회 2016 韓國食品營養學會誌 Vol.29 No.5

This study conducted a survey with 203 single households among men and women in their 20s to 40s who were living in metropolitan areas from October 6 to November 4, 2012 in order to investigate the dietary attitude of the single households. The ratio of single households who had three meals a day regularly was 2.85 points, which was lower than the normal level, and it turned out that those in their 20s and 30s had meals more regularly than those in their 40s did (p<0.001). As for the irregular meal time, most were breakfast (85.9%), and it turned out that they often skipped meals mostly because they did not have time to eat and (41.7%) or because that bothered them (26.0%). 62.6% of the single households did overeating and most of them (39.4%) did overeating because of their irregular meals. Of the single households, women or persons who had lived alone for less than 3 years or more than 7 years cooked at home, more often (p<0.05), and most of them (42%) cooked noodles, easy to cook, but women cooked Korean food-based homemade food such as rice (31.7%) or soup and stew (21.2%), often (p<0.05). It turned out that 36.9% of the single households often ate out about two to three times a day, and as for their favorite eating-out menus, 39.4% were Korean food, followed by Western food (23.8%), flour-based food (13.5%), fast food (9.8%), Chinese food (7.3%) and Japanese food (6.2%). Lastly, as for inconveniences when they ate out, most were the 'price' (22.8%), followed by 'too much amount of food for one person' (20.2%) and 'limitations in menu selection' (19.2%). As a result of this study, it appeared that the single households had an irregular dietary life, often did overeating and often ate out, so it is judged that it would be necessary to develop a variety of nutritionally-balanced HMR food and eating-out menus in a reasonable price range for their healthy dietary life.

혼자 또는 온 가족이 함께 하는 식사형태가 아동의 정신적,신체적 건강에 관한 자각증상에 미치는 영향

성순정(Soon Jung Sung),권순자(Sun Ja Kwon) 대한지역사회영양학회 2010 대한지역사회영양학회지 Vol.15 No.2

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of eating with family or alone on the self-rated mental or physical health and then work out strategies of making people recognize the importance of eating with family and its practice. Study subjects were 610 primary school 5th- and 6th-grade students in Daejeon Area. A questionnaire survey was carried out. 57.9% of students had working mothers. The frequency of meal in a day was 2.90±0.42 and this frequency was lower in students who had working mothers (p <0.05). The frequency of skipping breakfast (times/week) was 1.02±1.77. The frequencies of eating alone (times/week) were 1.04±1.65 for breakfast and 0.97±1.52 for dinner. Also, the frequency of eating alone for dinner was higher in students who had working mothers (p <0.001). When the frequency of eating alone for breakfast or dinner was higher, the frequencies of skipping breakfast and dinner were also higher (for all, p <0.01). When the frequency of eating alone for breakfast or dinner was higher, the self-rated positive mental health were lower (p <0.05 and p <0.01 respectively) and the self-rated negative mental health (for dinner, p <0.05) and the self-rated negative physical health was higher (p <0.05 and p <0.01 respectively), thus presenting negative health. The frequencies of eating with family (times/week) were 3.37±2.50 for breakfast and 4.14±2.19 for dinner. Also, the frequency of eating with family for dinner was lower in students who had working mothers (p <0.01). When the frequency of eating with family for breakfast was higher, the frequency of skipping breakfast was lower (p <0.01). When the frequency of eating with family for dinner was higher, the frequency of skipping dinner was lower (p <0.01). In addition, when the frequency of eating with family for breakfast or dinner was higher, the self-rated positive mental health were higher (for both, p <0.01) and the self-rated negative mental health was lower (for breakfast, p <0.01) and self-rated negative physical health were lower (for both, p <0.01), thus presenting positive health. Therefore, in order to maintain positive health, it is necessary to recognize the importance of eating with family at home and educate people to carry out a systematic and continuous dietary life, thus increasing eating with family and reducing eating alone and skipping a meal. (Korean J Community Nutrition 15(2): 206~226, 2010)

춘천시 일부 대학생의 식습관과 비만도 조사

이혜숙,이정애,백정자 대한지역사회영양학회 1998 대한지역사회영양학회지 Vol.3 No.1

In order to investigate the relationship among physical status, eating habits and life style, this survey was carried out by questionnaire in 1996. College students(413 cases) who resided in Chuncheon answered. The results are as follows: 1) The means of height and weight were $173.9\pm{5.0cm}$, $64.5\pm{8.3kg}$64.5$\pm$8.3kg in male students and $160.9\pm{4.5cm}$, $51.1\pm{5.8kg}$ in female students. 2) Under 20 of BMI(Body Mass Index) were 23.0% of male students and 58.3% of female students. 6.7% of males and 3.0% of females were over 25 of BMI. 3) There was a significant relationship between the type of favorite snacks and gender. There was a significant difference of BMI according to the level of the frequency and the amount of drinking alcoholic beverages. 72.6% of subjects took exercise regularly. But the BMI of subjects taking regular exercise and watching the weight tended to be higher than that of subjects not doing so. 4) Most students(78.5%) skipped breakfast, which was higher in the self-boarding students in than any other. It was because of the lack of time that they skipped their meals. This study suggests that a comprehensive nutrition education program is needed for college students in self-boarding houses and dormitories to improve their eating habits about skipping meals, and especially for female students to prevent inappropriate weight control.

Meal skipping habits and nutritional status among Ghanaian students living in Korea

Dzatse, Monica E.,Kim, Eun-kyung,Kim, Hyesook,Kim, Hyejin,Vijayakumar, Aswathy,Chang, Namsoo The Korean Nutrition Society 2017 Journal of Nutrition and Health Vol.50 No.4

Purpose: The consistent rise in the number of foreign students in Korea demands an accurate and detailed investigation into their dietary practices and nutritional status. For these international students, assimilation into new cultures can be stressful. The influence this process may have on dietary behaviors as well as overall health cannot be overlooked. Methods: The researchers in this study sought to investigate the nutritional status and dietary practices of Ghanaian students studying in Korea. A total of 81 Ghanaian male students with an average age of $29.4{\pm}4.0years$ were sampled between May and June 2016. Investigations were carried out on the general characteristics of the participants, their daily food and nutrient intakes using a 24-h dietary recall method, meal skipping practices, and the nutritional quality of their diets based on their meal skipping habits. Results: The study revealed that the daily nutrient intake of subjects did not fully meet the daily recommended nutrient intake (RNI) established by Ghanaian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), particularly for energy, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B2 requirements. The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) for calcium was very low, posing a deficiency risk to the participants. Meal skipping practices among participants changed significantly after arriving in Korea. The study also compared the diet quality indicators (Nutrient Adequacy Ratio and Mean Adequacy Ratio) of those who skipped meals ${\geq}7times/week$ with those who skipped meals < 7 times/week. Participants who skipped meals ${\geq}7times/week$ were shown to have lower dietary intakes of vitamins B1 and B2 than those who skipped meals < 7 times/week. Conclusion: Ultimately, the study found that meal skipping among Ghanaian students was common, and their daily nutrient intakes did not meet the set dietary standards. Those who skipped meals ${\geq}7times/week$ had lower dietary intakes of vitamins B1 and B2 than those who skipped meals < 7 times/week. Based on our study findings, we recommend that nutrition education should be organized for the Ghanaian student community in Korea using our results as a template to draw up a nutrition program that is culturally appropriate.

Meal skipping habits and nutritional status among Ghanaian students living in Korea

Monica E. Dzatse,Eun-kyung Kim,Hyesook Kim,Hyejin Kim,Aswathy Vijayakumar,Namsoo Chang 한국영양학회 2017 Journal of Nutrition and Health Vol.50 No.4

Purpose: The consistent rise in the number of foreign students in Korea demands an accurate and detailed investigation into their dietary practices and nutritional status. For these international students, assimilation into new cultures can be stressful. The influence this process may have on dietary behaviors as well as overall health cannot be overlooked. Methods: The researchers in this study sought to investigate the nutritional status and dietary practices of Ghanaian students studying in Korea. A total of 81 Ghanaian male students with an average age of 29.4 ± 4.0 years were sampled between May and June 2016. Investigations were carried out on the general characteristics of the participants, their daily food and nutrient intakes using a 24-h dietary recall method, meal skipping practices, and the nutritional quality of their diets based on their meal skipping habits. Results: The study revealed that the daily nutrient intake of subjects did not fully meet the daily recommended nutrient intake (RNI) established by Ghanaian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), particularly for energy, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B2 requirements. The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) for calcium was very low, posing a deficiency risk to the participants. Meal skipping practices among participants changed significantly after arriving in Korea. The study also compared the diet quality indicators (Nutrient Adequacy Ratio and Mean Adequacy Ratio) of those who skipped meals ≥ 7 times/week with those who skipped meals < 7 times/week. Participants who skipped meals ≥ 7 times/week were shown to have lower dietary intakes of vitamins B1 and B2 than those who skipped meals < 7 times/week. Conclusion: Ultimately, the study found that meal skipping among Ghanaian students was common, and their daily nutrient intakes did not meet the set dietary standards. Those who skipped meals ≥ 7 times/week had lower dietary intakes of vitamins B1 and B2 than those who skipped meals < 7 times/week. Based on our study findings, we recommend that nutrition education should be organized for the Ghanaian student community in Korea using our results as a template to draw up a nutrition program that is culturally appropriate.

Meal skipping relates to food choice, understanding of nutrition labeling, and prevalence of obesity in Korean fifth grade children

Hye-Young Kim,Na-Rae Lee,Jung-Sug Lee,Young-Sun Choi,Tong-Kyung Kwak,Hae Rang Chung,Sehyug Kwon,Youn-Ju Choi,Soon-Kyu Lee,Myung-Hee Kang 한국영양학회 2012 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.6 No.4

This study was performed to investigate the differences in food choice, nutrition labeling perceptions, and prevalence of obesity due to meal skipping in Korean elementary school children. A national survey was performed in 2010 to collect data on food intake frequency, understanding of nutrition labeling, and body mass index from 2,335 fifth grade students in 118 elementary schools selected from 16 metropolitan local governments by stratified cluster sampling. The data were analyzed using the SAS 9.1 and SUDAAN 10.0 packages. Students who consumed three meals for 6-7 days during the past week were classified into the regular meal eating (RM) group (n = 1,476) and those who did not were placed into the meal skipping (MS) group (n = 859). The daily intake frequency of fruits, vegetables, kimchi, and milk was significantly lower in the MS group compared to that in the RM group (P < 0.001), whereas the daily intake frequency of soft drinks and instant noodles (ramyeon) was significantly higher in the MS group than that in the RM group (P < 0.05). The MS group demonstrated a significantly lower degree of understanding with regard to nutrition labeling and high calorie foods containing low nutritional value than that in the RM group. The distribution of obesity based on the percentile criteria using the Korean growth chart was different between the MS and RM groups. The MS group (8.97%) had a higher percentage of obese subjects than that in the RM group (5.38%). In conclusion, meal skipping was related to poor food choice, low perception of nutrition labeling, and a high prevalence of obesity in Korean fifth grade children.