Korean Journal of Community Nutrition

Heejin Lee

4 Articles

[Korean]
Intake of energy and macronutrients according to household income among elementary, middle, and high school students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study: Chae-Eun Jeong, Heejin Lee, Jung Eun Lee; Korean J Community Nutr 2024;29(3):234-252. Published online June 30, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2024.29.3.234

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Objectives
This study examined the intake of energy and macronutrients among elementary, middle, and high school students according to household income before the COVID-19 pandemic (2016–2019), during the social distancing period (2020–2021), and after the social distancing measures were lifted (2022).
Methods
We included 5,217 students aged 5–18 from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2016 and 2022. Dietary intake was assessed using one-day 24-hour dietary recalls. We estimated the least squares means (LS-means) of intake according to household income for each period using a weighted linear regression model, adjusted for age and sex. Differences in LS-means between the periods were analyzed using the t-test.
Results
During the social distancing period, the LS-means of energy intake among students decreased significantly by 143.2 kcal/day compared to pre-pandemic levels (P < 0.001). Students from low-income households experienced a more pronounced decrease in energy intake (−379.1 kcal/day, P < 0.001) and macronutrient intake compared to those from other income groups. Energy intake at school significantly declined for all income groups during the social distancing period compared to before the pandemic. No significant changes in home energy intake were observed among low-income students, whereas there was an increase for students from higher-income groups. Before the pandemic, 8.5% of students from low-income households reported insufficient food due to economic difficulties; this figure rose to 21.3% during the pandemic.
Conclusions
During the pandemic, students from low-income families experienced significantly lower intake of energy and macronutrients compared to pre-pandemic levels. The most substantial reductions were noted among low-income students, largely due to the lack of compensation for decreased school-based intake with increased intake at home.

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[Korean]
Development and Validation of a Questionnaire on the Feasibility of a Mobile Dietary Self-Monitoring Application: Heejin Lee, Jeong Sun Ahn, Jung Eun Lee; Korean J Community Nutr 2022;27(2):146-157. Published online April 30, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2022.27.2.146

Abstract PDF: Objectives
This study aimed to develop and assess the content validity and internal consistency of a questionnaire on the feasibility of mobile dietary self-monitoring applications.
Methods
We developed a feasibility questionnaire to assess the overall usage, convenience, usefulness, and satisfaction of mobile dietary applications. The initial draft of the questionnaire contained 17 items with yes/no, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions and 52 items on 5-point Likert scales. To validate the content, ten experts evaluated the relevance of the items for each subscale using a 5-point scale. We calculated the item-level content validity index (I-CVI) and scale-level content validity index (S-CVI). A total of 102 adults answered the questionnaires which reflected the experts' reviews. We conducted an exploratory factor analysis to determine the underlying structure of responses and categorized convenience, usefulness, and satisfaction. We also calculated Cronbach's alpha coefficient to examine the internal consistency of items in each subscale.
Results
The S-CVI score of the items was 0.86, and we removed items with an I-CVI score of < 0.80. We combined, revised, or separated some remaining items and added one item as per the experts' comments. As a result, we included 16 items about overall usage and 42 sub-questions. Based on the responses of the 102 adults, we performed exploratory factor analysis using the principal axis method. We retained items with a factor loading of > 0.40, resulting in a final set of 35 questions (convenience: 15, usefulness: 12, satisfaction: 8 items). The Cronbach's alpha values of the three scales were 0.93, 0.91, and 0.91 for 1) usefulness, 2) convenience, and 3) satisfaction, respectively.
Conclusions
We developed a feasibility questionnaire for mobile dietary self-monitoring applications and examined its content validity and internal consistency. Our questionnaire has the potential to measure the feasibility of mobile dietary self-monitoring applications.

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[English]
Effects of Nutrition Education Promoting Vegetable, Fruit, and Fish Intake on the Severity of Atopic Dermatitis in Children: Results from a One-year Follow Up Study: Heejin Lee, Kangmo Ahn, Youngshin Han, Sang Jin Chung; Korean J Community Nutr 2013;18(5):515-524. Published online October 31, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2013.18.5.515

Abstract PDF PubReader

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is believed to be associated with the intake of antioxidant nutrients and fatty acids due to its immunological dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of nutrition education promoting vegetable, fruit, and fish intake on the severity of AD in children. Children with AD aged 6 months to 5 years were randomly assigned into education and control groups, and followed for 1 year. Seventy-six children completed the study (38 for control, 38 for education). The education group received education promoting the intakes of antioxidant-rich foods (vegetables, fruits) and n-3 fatty acid foods (fish). A 24-hour food recall was collected for the diet information. After education, all vegetables (p < 0.001), fruits (p < 0.01), and fish (p < 0.05) intakes per 1000 kcal increased significantly in the education group, whereas only vegetable intake increased in the control group (p < 0.001). The SCORAD index, the severity of atopic dermatitis, decreased significantly in the education group (p < 0.05). Increased consumption of dietary vitamin E was significantly associated with reduction in the SCORAD index, after adjusting for age and gender (p < 0.05). A nutritional education program to increase vegetable, fruit, and fish intake may be effective in reducing the severity of AD, and vitamin E intake may be associated with the decreased severity of AD. More controlled studies on the relationship between these intakes and severity of AD, with intensive diet and/or supplement intervention programs, are needed to obtain conclusive results.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Nutritional Intervention for a Korean Adolescent with Atopic Dermatitis: a Case Report
Sunghee Kim, Sung-Im Lee, Shin-Sook Kang
Clinical Nutrition Research.2021; 10(4): 364. CrossRef
Evaluation of nutritional status and adequacy of energy and nutrient intakes among atopic dermatitis children under 12 years of age: based on Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2013–2015)
Hye Won Kim, Ji-Myung Kim
Journal of Nutrition and Health.2020; 53(2): 141. CrossRef

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[English]
Excessive Food Restriction in Children with Atopic Dermititis: Seokhwa Lee, Heejin Lee, Youngshin Han, Kangmo Ahn, Sangil Lee, Sang Jin Chung; Korean J Community Nutr 2011;16(6):627-635. Published online December 31, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2011.16.6.627

Abstract PDF PubReader

The prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis (AD), a non-infective chronic inflammatory skin disease, is increasing worldwide. Avoiding the allergen is the basic principle in the treatment of AD. However, when the allergen is food, excessive restriction can lead to nutrition deficiency. The objective of the study was to examine the status of the dietary restriction and compare the caregiver's restriction practice with doctor's recommendation in Korean children with AD. A total of 158 children diagnosed with Atopic Dermatitis were recruited for this study. Information about foods that aggravate AD symptoms and food restriction were collected from the mothers of 158 children aged 6 month-5 year with AD using questionnaires. Food restriction recommendation by doctor was collected through medical chart. McNemar and Margianl homogeneity tests were used to detect a relationship between food restriction recommended by doctor and current practice by mother. There were significant proportion differences of food restriction for each food between by doctor and mother. We found 75.9% of children were avoiding eggs although only 61.4% were recommended for egg restriction by a doctor. Children with restriction of more than 4 kinds of food were 53.2% compared to 13.3% by doctor. Excessive restrictors tended to be younger and diagnosed at younger age. The caregivers of excessive restrictors had trends of "being older" and "having higher income". Avoidance of common foods in children without food allergy could result in malnutrition or impaired growth. Nutrition education is needed for sound practice and nutrition care in children with Atopic Dermatitis as well as interactive communication between caregivers and experts.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Relationship between intake of soft drinks and current prevalence of adult atopic dermatitis: based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2015-2016)
Hye Won Kim, Ji-Myung Kim
Journal of Nutrition and Health.2021; 54(5): 501. CrossRef
Evaluation of nutritional status and adequacy of energy and nutrient intakes among atopic dermatitis children under 12 years of age: based on Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2013–2015)
Hye Won Kim, Ji-Myung Kim
Journal of Nutrition and Health.2020; 53(2): 141. CrossRef
Risk factors for food allergy among children in Seoul: focusing on dietary habits and environmental factors
Mijung Jang, KyooSang Kim
Journal of Nutrition and Health.2019; 52(6): 559. CrossRef
Study on Food-Intake and Atopic Dermatitis among Adolescents : Findings from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey
Jee Hye Lee
Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association.2016; 22(2): 79. CrossRef
Comparison of elementary school students in atopy-friendly and general schools for their knowledge about environmentally-friendly produces and practice levels for dietary guidelines
Sang-Mi Lee, Hoikyung Kim
Korean Journal of Human Ecology.2014; 23(4): 733. CrossRef
The Comparison of Growth and Nutrient Intakes in Children with and without Atopic Dermatitis
Seung-joo Park, Jae Sun Lee, Kangmo Ahn, Sang-Jin Chung
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition.2012; 17(3): 271. CrossRef

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