Seo Ah Hong

A case-control study on the dietary intake of mushrooms and breast cancer risk among Korean women

To evaluate the association between dietary mushroom intake and breast cancer risk, a total of 362 women between the ages of 30 and 65 years who were histologically confirmed to have breast cancer were matched to controls by age (±2 years) and menopausal status. Mushroom intake was measured via a food frequency questionnaire that was administered by well‐trained interviewers. The associations between the daily intake and the average consumption frequency of mushrooms with breast cancer risk were evaluated using matched data analysis. Both the daily intake (5th vs. 1st quintile, OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.30–0.78, p for trend 0.030) and the average consumption frequency of mushrooms (4th vs. 1st quartile, OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.35–0.82, p for trend 0.008) were inversely associated with breast cancer risk after adjustment for education, family history of breast cancer, regular exercise [≥22.5 MET (metabolic equivalent)‐hr/week], BMI (body mass index, Kg/m2), number of children and whether they are currently smoking, drinking or using multivitamin supplements. Further adjustments were made for energy‐adjusted carbohydrate, soy protein, folate and vitamin E levels, which tended to attenuate these results. After a stratification was performed according to menopausal status, a strong inverse association was found in postmenopausal women (OR = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.04–0.54, p for trend = 0.0058 for daily intake; OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05–0.54, p for trend = 0.0037 for average frequency), but not in premenopausal women. In conclusion, the consumption of dietary mushrooms may decrease breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women.

Educational attainment and differences in fruit and vegetable consumption among middle-aged adults in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV

We investigated whether socioeconomic differences affect fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption with respect to total intake and intake of various FV subgroups. Our study included 6667 adults aged 40-64 years who completed a dietary survey in the fourth Korean NHANES (2007-2009). FV intake was estimated from 24-hour recalls and food frequency questionnaires. Differences in FV consumption related to educational attainment were analyzed according to different nutritional categories of FV. Both men and women in the low-education group had the lowest intake of total FV and total fruits, and women also had the lowest intake of total vegetables. Also lowest in this group was consumption of mushrooms and vegetables (excluding kimchi) among men, and cruciferous and allium vegetables (excluding Chinese cabbage and radish) among women, while kimchi consumption was the highest in this group. Additionally, an association between educational level and intake of citrus fruits was evident among men. Adults in the low-education group consumed less carotene-rich FV, red fruit and/or vegetables, and dark-green leafy vegetables, fewer total vegetable dishes, and fewer types of fruit than in other groups. Men in this group had the lowest intake of yellow/orange fruit and/or vegetables, and women consumed the least folate-rich FV. There is a clear association between educational attainment and FV intake with regard to total intake, and to specific nutrients, bioactive compounds, colors, and variety.

Trends in nutritional inequality by educational level: A case of South Korea

OBJECTIVE There is much evidence of a cross-sectional relation between socioeconomic position and dietary intakes but the trend of this relation is little studied. This study aimed to examine the extent and trend of nutritional inequality by educational level based on the prevalence of inadequate nutrient intakes. METHODS Three cross-sectional nationwide surveys (1998, 2001, 2005) of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. A total of 20 777 participants > or = 20 y old were included. The socioeconomic position indicator was educational level. Dietary nutrient intakes were assessed by a 24-h recall and inadequacy of intake for nutrients was assessed on the basis of the percentage of attainment of the dietary reference intakes for Koreans. To assess nutritional inequality by educational level, the prevalence ratio, relative index of inequality, and slope index of inequality were used. RESULTS Poorer dietary intakes and higher estimated prevalence of nutrient inadequacy were more apparent in the lower education group than the higher education group for both genders and each survey year. Graded patterns of inequalities in nutrient intakes by educational level were generally clear at each survey year. The trend of the relative nutritional inequalities in Korean men and women remained unchanged from 1998 to 2005, with some exceptions. CONCLUSION The inequality in nutrient intakes by educational level was persistently apparent for both genders in the Korean adult population, although the relative inequalities did not increase over time.

Parental misperception of child’s weight and related factors within family norms

PurposeParental perception of their child’s weight may be a crucial factor in parental ability for action with regard to their child’s weight problem. This aim of this study was to investigate parental perception of their child’s weight status and dietary healthiness, amount of food consumed and physical activity level and its related factors.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among children (Grades 4–6) selected by cluster sampling in two schools. Children were invited to participate in the measurements of anthropometry and their parents were asked to classify their child’s weight and health behaviors.ResultsIn total, 41.8% of parents misperceived their child’s weight, of which 82% underestimated their child’s weight, in particular regarding overweight or obesity. As parents of overweight or obese children underestimated their child’s weight, around 65% were not concerned with their child’s current weight and about becoming overweight in the future. Factor associated with underestimation of overweight children was not having a sibling, while among children with normal weight, the underestimation was associated with boys, lower body mass index (BMI), maternal employment and low household income. Furthermore, parents underestimating their child’s weight were more likely to be optimistic about their child’s dietary healthiness, food amount taken, and physical activity level than those with correct child’s weight estimates.ConclusionsFindings show a high proportion of parental misperception of their child’s weight status. Family-based weight control interventions will need to incorporate parental misperceptions of the body weight and health behaviors of their children.

Prevalence and determinants of sufficient fruit and vegetable consumption among primary school children in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Low consumption of fruit and vegetable is frequently viewed as an important contributor to obesity risk. With increasing childhood obesity and relatively low fruit and vegetable consumption among Thai children, there is a need to identify the determinants of the intake to promote fruit and vegetable consumption effectively. SUBJECTS/METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted at two conveniently selected primary schools in Nakhon Pathom. A total of 609 students (grade 4-6) completed questionnaires on personal and environmental factors. Adequate fruit and vegetable intakes were defined as a minimum of three servings of fruit or vegetable daily, and adequate total intake as at least 6 serves of fruit and vegetable daily. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS The proportion of children with a sufficient fruit and/or vegetable intakes was low. Covariates of childs personal and environmental factors showed significant associations with sufficient intakes of fruit and/or vegetable (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analyses showed that the following factors were positively related to sufficient intake of vegetable; lower grade, a positive attitude toward vegetable, and fruit availability at home; and that greater maternal education, a positive childs attitude toward vegetable, and fruit availability at home were significantly associated with sufficient consumption of fruits and total fruit and vegetable intake. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed that personal factors like attitude toward vegetables and socio-environmental factors, such as, greater availability of fruits were significantly associated with sufficient fruit and vegetable consumption. The importance of environmental and personal factors to successful nutrition highlights the importance of involving parents and schools.

Impact of self-efficacy and parenting practice on physical activity among school children

ABSTRACT As insufficient engagement in physical activity (PA) is becoming a major health concern in Thailand, we aimed to investigate the impact of parenting practices and children’s self-efficacy on a child’s PA level and further in the subgroups, stratified by the child’s sex and weight status. A total of 609 primary school children recruited by cluster sampling in two schools were asked to complete questionnaires, and general familial factors and parenting practice related to activities were completed by parents. Multivariate linear regressions were conducted to calculate the standardized beta-coefficients (β). Children’s PA level was positively related to greater support seeking self-efficacy (β=0.281) for engaging in PA, and parenting practices, including less limit setting (β=–0.124) and more discipline (β=0.147) in the total sample. In the analyses of subgroups by a child’s sex and weight status, parenting practice, such as less limit setting and discipline played a more important role in children’s PA in normal weight children and girls as taking account of around 10% of variance of the child’s PA, while only seeking support self-efficacy showed great impact in overweight children and boys. In conclusion, impacts of children’s self-efficacy and parenting practices on children’s PA were different by child’s sex and weight status. This can suggest that future interventions to increase children’s PA might need to consider different strategies to increase children’s self-efficacy as well as parenting strategies when targeting different groups of children.

HIV risk-related sexual behavior by cohabiting partner status among factory workers: Results from the 2015 Bangkok behavioral surveillance survey (BSS)

Abstract This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV risk-related sexual behaviors in the past 12 months and their related factors by cohabiting partner status among factory workers in Bangkok, one of the higher AIDS disease-burden provinces. The study found that one in five factory workers engaged in at least one of three HIV risk-related sexual behaviors, including ever-sex and unprotected-sex with a non-regular partner and multiple sexual partners. Those without a cohabiting partner (52%) were 4-fold greater than those with a cohabiting partner (13%). Factors associated with sexual risk behavior include being male, being younger, and having had HIV risk-related sexual behavior at first sex, regardless of cohabiting partner status (despite positive association with frequent alcohol consumption for those without a cohabiting partner). These findings imply the need for promotion of condom use in all episodes of sex with a potentially risk partner, reduction of non-regular partner sex and provision of education for safe sex for Bangkok factory workers.