Korean Journal of Community Nutrition

Research Articles

[English]
Effects of a nutrition education program on metabolic syndrome risk factors in middle-aged Korean adults: an intervention study: Minji Kang, Young-Hee Park, Subeen Kim, Eunyoung Tak, Hyun Wook Baik, Hee Young Paik, Hyojee Joung; Korean J Community Nutr 2024;29(4):265-277. Published online August 31, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2024.00005

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub: Objectives
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a nutrition education program on metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Korean adults.
Methods
A total of 411 Korean adults 30–59 years of age were allocated randomly into three groups: the nutrition education group for promoting Han-sik consumption (HG), the nutrition education group for eating balanced diet (EG), and the control group (CG). The HG and EG received four face-to-face nutrition education sessions over 16 weeks to improve nutritional problems based on the individual’ usual diet. Effectiveness of the program was evaluated with the differences of self-reported dietary behaviors, dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements and biochemical indices between the baseline and the end of the nutrition education program. The changes within groups were analyzed using paired t-test and McNemar test and effectiveness among three groups was analyzed by repeated analysis of variance.
Results
After the nutrition education, the percentages of participants who achieved the recommended food group consumption in the Korean Food Guidance Systems significantly increased in HG (P = 0.022). Body weight (P = 0.007), body mass index (P = 0.002), and triglycerides (P = 0.002) significantly decreased in HG. Waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure decreased in all three groups (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
This study found that tailored nutrition education program for middle aged Korean adults showed beneficial effects on improving dietary behaviors and metabolic syndrome risk factors. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term effects of the nutrition education programs on metabolic syndrome risks.

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[English]
Developing educational videos to inform rightly about school foodservice from kindergarten to high school: a case study: Gyoungok Gang, Chaewon Park, Haejin Kang, Wan Soo Hong, Yoo Kyoung Park, Sook Hee Choi, Seung Hye Kim, Jieun Choi, Jihyun Park, Hyeja Chang; Korean J Community Nutr 2024;29(2):97-113. Published online April 30, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2024.29.2.97

Abstract PDF: Objectives
Since the enactment of the School Nutrition Act in 1981, school lunch programs in South Korea have grown quantitatively and qualitatively with a current student participation rate of 99.8%. Nonetheless, educational materials are needed to reduce misunderstanding and ignorance about school lunch programs. This study aimed to develop 3 educational videos that help students of various ages (kindergarteners/lower-grade elementary, upper-grade elementary, and secondary school, respectively), understand the school lunch program.
Methods
A scenario was created, was made, and the opinions on the scenario from experts in foodservice sectors were collected. A survey was conducted to students and parents to determine topics they wanted to know about school foodservice. The final videos were produced using this information and the expert opinions. The data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 for Mac (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA); a P-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results
Three videos on school foodservice were developed for various age levels of students: kindergarten/lower-grade elementary, upper-grade elementary, and secondary school. Additionally, English subtitles were included for the multicultural student population. These videos, each lasting about 7 minutes, cover topics such as nutrition, hygiene, and the cultural significance of the school lunch program. The survey results showed that parents and students wanted to know the following topics about the school lunch program: “nutritionally balanced diet” (11.9%), “purchasing safe food ingredients” (10.9%), and “healthy eating habits” (9.9%).
Conclusions
The developed videos will serve as valuable educational resources on school foodservice, foster a deeper understanding of the school lunch program in parents and students, and potentially address their inquiries regarding production processes, nutrition, hygiene, cultural heritage, and health.

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[English]
Nutrition education programs necessary for social welfare facilities for persons with disabilities: a cross-sectional study: Jinkyung Kim, Min-Sun Jeon; Korean J Community Nutr 2024;29(1):1-15. Published online February 29, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2024.29.1.1

Abstract PDF: Objectives
This study investigated the need for nutrition education aimed at improving the health of residents and users of social welfare facilities for persons with disability and aimed to provide basic information for developing a nutrition education program that meets the needs of the field.
Methods
Altogether, 249 employees working in social welfare facilities for people with disabilities were included in the study. Data on the health status of residents/users, meal management, nutritional education, nutritional education needs, and awareness of nutritional education were obtained through online surveys. A descriptive analysis was conducted to analyze the demographic characteristics, needs, and perceptions of the respondents, and independent t-tests and χ² tests were performed to analyze and compare the differences between residential and daycare facilities.
Results
The majority of residents/users of social welfare facilities for persons with disabilities have developmental disabilities. When educating residents with residents/users of social welfare facilities, ‘personal hygiene’ was the most necessary topic, followed by ‘obesity management’ education. Regarding the methods of providing education, face-toface lectures demonstrated a high demand. They responded that when nutrition education experts provide nutrition education to people with disabilities, they must understand ‘the physical characteristics of persons with disabilities’ and have the ability to determine appropriate nutrition for such people. The most appropriate nutrition program training would be twice a year, lasting 30 min to 1 h per training session.
Conclusions
It will present a direction for operating a nutrition education program for persons with disabilities that meets their needs of social welfare facilities and ultimately contribute to the establishment and activation of nutrition education tailored to welfare facilities for such individuals in Korea.

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Educational Materialses

[Korean]
Systematization of food and nutrition education content based on national kindergarten curriculum: a qualitative formative study: Jung-Hyun Kim, Eugene Shim, Eunyoung Baik; Korean J Community Nutr 2023;28(6):509-522. Published online December 31, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2023.28.6.509

Abstract PDF: Objectives
This study is intended to develop a curriculum for kindergarten food and nutrition education aimed at preschool children, reflecting government policy and meeting the demands of preschool settings.
Methods
Existing educational materials were analyzed, and key elements of the 2019 Revised Nuri Curriculum (“Nuri Curriculum”) and Guidelines for Nutrition and Food Education in Kindergartens, Elementary, Middle, and High Schools (“Guidelines”) were examined as foundational information for developing the curriculum for food and nutrition education.
Results
Basing ourselves on the five domains of the Nuri Curriculum, “Physical Activity and Health,” “Communication,” “Social Relationships,” “Art Experience,” and “Natural Science Inquiry,” we integrated three areas from the Guidelines, namely “Dietary Habits and Health,” “Dietary Habits and Safety,” and “Dietary Habits and Culture,” to structure the curriculum for kindergarten food and nutrition education. Three specific domains, “Nutrition and Health,” “Food and Culture,” and “Safe Dietary Practices,” were tailored for preschool children, each comprising core concepts, content elements, and educational materials. In the “Nutrition and Health” domain, core concepts such as “nutrition” were addressed through content elements such as “balanced eating” and “vegetables and fruit,” while “health” included elements such as “eating regularly” and “nutrients for disease prevention,” each with two educational content components. The “Food and Culture” domain focused on “food” with content on “local foods (vegetable-garden experience)” and “food culture” with content on “our dining table (rice and side dishes),” “our agricultural products,” “global cuisine (multiculture),” and “considerate dietary practices,” each with four educational content components. The “Safe Dietary Practices” domain included core concepts such as “hygiene” with content on “hand-washing habits” and “food poisoning management,” and “safety” with content on “food labeling.” Conclusions: The systematized curriculum for kindergarten food and nutrition education aligns with the Nuri Curriculum and is interconnected with the Guidelines. This curriculum can be used as foundational material for developing educational resources tailored to the characteristics of preschoolers, contributing to effective implementation in early childhood education.

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[English]
Development of a campus-based intervention program to strengthen food literacy among university students: A qualitative formative study: Eunji Ko, Eunjin Jang, Jiwon Sim, Minjeong Jeong, Sohyun Park; Korean J Community Nutr 2023;28(6):495-508. Published online December 31, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2023.28.6.495

Abstract PDF: Objectives
This study aimed to develop a campus-based intervention program to enhance food literacy (FL) among university students.
Methods
In the initial phase, we conducted a literature review of FL intervention studies and held in-depth interviews with university students to identify facilitators and barriers to improving and practicing FL. Expert counseling sessions were conducted with nutrition education, marketing, and service design professionals. The results of this phase led to the creation of an initial curriculum draft. In the second phase, a follow-up survey was conducted with young adults to assess the acceptability of the developed curriculum. After the follow-up survey, additional meetings were conducted with the aforementioned experts, and the curriculum was further refined based on their input.
Results
An 11-week FL intervention program was devised using constructs from the Social Cognitive Theory. The weekly curriculum consisted of 90-min theory-based and 90-min hands-on experience sessions. Three primary aspects of FL were covered: nutrition and food safety, cultural and relational dimensions, and socio-ecological aspects. Program highlights included cooking sessions for crafting traditional Korean desserts, lectures on animal welfare, insights into zero-waste practices, and communal eating experiences. Based on the study team’s previous research, the program also addressed mindful eating, helping participants understand the relationship with their eating habits, and providing strategies to manage negative emotions without resorting to food. Yoga sessions and local farm visits were incorporated into the curriculum to promote holistic well-being.
Conclusions
This study elucidated the comprehensive process of creating a campus-based curriculum to enhance FL among university students, a group particularly susceptible to problematic eating behaviors and low FL levels. The developed program can serve as a blueprint for adaptation to other campuses seeking to bolster students’ FL.

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Research Articles

[Korean]
The association between nutrition label utilization and disease management education among hypertension or diabetes diagnosed in Korea using 2018 Community Health Survey: a cross-sectional study: Miran Jin, Jayeun Kim, Kyuhyun Yoon; Korean J Community Nutr 2023;28(1):38-47. Published online February 28, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2023.28.1.38

Abstract PDF

Objectives
This study examined the association between the experience of disease management education and the use of nutrition labels according to the sociodemographic characteristics and health behaviors of people diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes living in the community.
Methods
Among the participants from the Community Health Survey (2018), 74,283 individuals diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes were included in the study population. According to gender, this study evaluated nutrition label use by the experience of disease management education, individual sociodemographic characteristics, and health behavior. Finally, using multiple logistic regression analysis, the association between disease management education and nutrition labels was calculated using the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results
Males (24.5%) experienced more disease management education than females (22.6%). In addition, younger age, higher education level, and higher equalized personal income experienced more disease management education (P < 0.001). The educational experience rate was higher in the male subjects who did not smoke or were involved in high-risk alcohol consumption (P < 0.001). In addition, the rate of disease management education experience was significantly higher for both men and women who exercised by walking (P < 0.001). The use of nutrition labels was higher in females (9.9%) than males (5.8%), and both males and females were significantly higher in young age, high education, high income, and professional and office positions (P < 0.001). The utilization rate of nutrition labels was high in non-smoking male subjects and high-risk-drinking female subjects. In addition, the utilization rate of nutrition labels was significantly higher in males and females who exercised by walking and those who experienced disease management education (P < 0.001). After adjusting for individual sociodemographic characteristics, health behavior, and disease management education, the use of nutrition labels was high among females (OR 3.19, 95% CI 2.85-3.58), high income (Q4; OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.41-1.87, Q5; OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.37-1.84) and highly educated (high school; OR 2.87, 95% CI 2.62-3.14, above college; OR 5.60, 95% CI 5.02-6.23) while it was low in the elderly (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.40-0.47), and economically inactive (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.76-0.96). The use of nutrition labels was high in non-smokers (OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.13-1.48), nonhigh-risk drinkers (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08-1.38), and subjects who exercised walking (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.34-1.54). There was no difference in the utilization rate of nutrition labels according to obesity, and the utilization rate of nutrition labels was significantly higher in subjects who had experienced disease education (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.24-1.44).
Conclusions
Education on the use of nutrition labels, which contributes to food selection for healthy eating, might be a tool for dietary management. Moreover, the utilization rate can be a good indicator for predicting the proportion of the population practicing the guide for disease management. Improving the utilization rate of nutrition labels through disease management education can be a useful intervention for people with chronic diseases who need healthy eating habits for disease management and preventing complications, particularly those diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes.

Citations

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Clinical Nutrition Research.2024; 13(1): 42. CrossRef
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[Korean]
Nutrition teacher’s perception and current status of nutrition education for free learning semester program: a preliminary study: Mi Joo Park, Jeong-Hwa Choi, Young-Ran Heo; Korean J Community Nutr 2023;28(1):24-37. Published online February 28, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2023.28.1.24

Abstract PDF: Objectives
This study aimed to investigate the current status of nutrition education via a free learning semester program (NE). The understanding of the program, the potential difficulties, and future initiatives for NE improvement were also investigated.
Methods
A total number of 161 nutrition teachers from Gwangju and Jeonnam filled in a questionnaire and participated in this survey, which was performed from July to August 2019.
Results
Our results showed that 8.1% of the nutrition teachers had taught nutrition education in free learning semester programs. The most frequently implemented model was subject selection, followed by club activities. Most of the nutrition teachers comprehended the purpose of NE. The attitude of nutrition teachers to NE differed by the understanding of its purpose. Positive attitude was evident due to a better understanding of the purpose by nutrition teachers. Nutrition teachers reported the most common difficulties of NE were the lack of preparation due to the heavy workload and the lack of a standard running program. The most effective method of NE was the activity classes. The experience of practicing NE influenced the choice of contents for each operating model. Nutrition teachers that were experienced in NE conducted via free learning semester programs preferred the selected topics model, but those without experience chose the career search model.
Conclusions
Although some obstacles exist, nutrition teachers had a positive attitude and perceived well the importance of NE. Therefore, the awareness for the significance of NE of nutrition teachers needs to be improved. For better NE practice, it is necessary to reduce/ manage the workload of general food service. Furthermore, the development of standard running and promotion programs, and teacher training programs should be ensured.

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[Korean]
Development and Effectiveness Evaluation of the STEAM Education Program on Food Groups for Kindergarteners: Jinkyeong Ahn, Seyoen Kim, Donghyuk Kim, Jounghee Lee; Korean J Community Nutr 2022;27(5):361-372. Published online October 31, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2022.27.5.361

Abstract PDF: Objectives
The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education program on the use of specific food groups in improving nutrition-related knowledge and attitude, dietary behavior, creative problem solving, and STEAM attitude.
Methods
We selected two classes at a kindergarten in Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. A total of 44 kindergarteners from the two classrooms participated in this study. The experimental group and the control group were formed with 22 students each. The experimental group attended 11 STEAM classes on the use of the grain, fruit, and milk food groups. First, we performed the paired t-test to examine changes from pre-to-post classes for both groups. Then, we used ANCOVA to compare post-test scores between the experimental and control groups with the adjustment of pre-test scores.
Results
The results demonstrate that the STEAM education program on the use of the food groups significantly improved (1) nutrition-related knowledge and attitude, and dietary behavior (P < 0.001), (2) creative problem solving (P < 0.001), and (3) STEAM attitude (P < 0.001) in the intervention group when compared with the control group.
Conclusions
The STEAM education program on the use of food groups is effective in enhancing nutrition knowledge and attitude, dietary behavior, creative problem solving, and STEAM attitudes among kindergarten students.

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[Korean]
Awareness and Practice of Sugar Reduction in School Foodservice and the Practice of Nutrition Education in Daegu: Suhyang Jang, Kilye Kim, Yeon-Kyung Lee; Korean J Community Nutr 2021;26(3):167-176. Published online June 30, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2021.26.3.167

Abstract PDF

Objectives
This study was conducted to identify the awareness and practice of reducing sugar in school meals and the status of nutrition education regarding sugar reduction.
Methods
An online survey was conducted on 101 nutrition teachers (dietitians) working at elementary, middle, and high schools in Daegu.
Results
School nutrition teachers in Daegu recognized the need for efforts to reduce the sugar intake in the Korean diet, and it was found that elementary nutrition teachers were more aware of the implementation of the sugar reduction policy at the national level than middle and high school nutrition teachers (P = 0.002). Among the policies to reduce sugar intake at the national level, there was a high need for the promotion of self-control and limiting the sales of food with high sugar content in schools and their vicinity. The degree of practice for reducing sugar in school meals was found to be higher in the preparation, purchase, and cooking stage compared to the serving stage (P < 0.05). There was a high need for changing the preferences of the subjects for a sweet taste as a means of reducing the sugar in school meals. Thirty-six percent of nutrition teachers conducted sugar reduction education, and sending out school newsletters was the highest type of nutrition education at 80.6%.
Conclusions
To effectively promote reduced sugar intake in school meals, it is necessary to change the preference of the subjects for sweetness and to conduct continuous education that can improve the awareness of people for reducing their sugar intake. For this, it is necessary to set aside time for nutrition education and to prepare an institutional framework for providing this education.

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[English]
Development and Evaluation of Booklets and Video Clips to Prevent Children from Developing Picky Eating: Sojeong Lee, Seungmin Lee; Korean J Community Nutr 2020;25(6):451-463. Published online December 31, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2020.25.6.451

Abstract PDF: Objectives
The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate booklets and video clips to prevent children from picky eating.
Methods
Based on a survey conducted on food preferences of preschool children aged 2 to 5 years, 14 kinds of less preferred vegetables were selected. Accordingly, educational videos, activity books, and teaching-learning guides were produced for preschool children using the 'food bridge' theory, and the educational materials were named “Friendly vegetables”. Educational materials were distributed to childcare institutions, and their effectiveness was investigated for preschool children who were instructed on these materials once every 30 days from March to November, 2019. The children were examined for changes in their knowledge of names, colors, taste/texture, methods of cultivation, and preferences for vegetables before and after the instructional course.
Results
The awareness of vegetables increased significantly in younger children and the picky eating group. When the assessment was carried out in terms of vegetable knowledge, it was observed that the younger the age or the pickier the in eating food, the more effective the education is compared to the counter part. The preference for vegetables also increased after the instruction compared to the pre-instruction period, but significant changes were seen only in the 2~3 year age group for boys and girls. Also, only the picky group of girls showed changes in preference. The children's average interest in the education materials was 3.85 points out of 5 points.
Conclusions
Through this study, we have developed educational materials for standalone use in childcare facilities and confirmed that they have a significant effect on improving awareness and preferences related to vegetables. In summary, the younger the age or the pickier the child in eating food, the more effective the education. It is believed that additional education on mealtime guidance is needed which can alter the eating behavior of preschool children and improve their diet. It is proposed to widen the scope of use of the materials by collecting diverse opinions from child care teachers.

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Original Articles

[English]
Effects of Nutrition Education and Exercise Program on Obesity Index and Behavioral Modification in Moderate Obese Women: Myung Hee Chang, Su Jin Jung; Korean J Community Nutr 2018;23(4):318-332. Published online August 31, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5720/kjcn.2018.23.4.318

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