J Nutr Health.  2015 Aug;48(4):335-343. 10.4163/jnh.2015.48.4.335.

Evaluation of dietary behavior and nutritional status of elementary school students in Jeju using nutrition quotient

• Boo MN
• Cho SK
• Park K

• KMID: 2209900
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2015.48.4.335

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the food behavior and nutritional status of elementary school students in the Jeju area using Nutrition Quotient (NQ).
METHODS
The subjects were 440 students (235 boys and 205 girls) in the fifth and sixth grade at four elementary schools located in Jeju. Demographic, lifestyle, and environmental information was collected using a self-reported questionnaire. The food behavior checklist for children's Nutrition Quotient (NQ), consisting of 19 items, and nutrition education related information were also obtained.
RESULTS
The mean score of the children's NQ was poor, reaching 60.3 points. The percentage distribution of NQ grade was 19.8% (lowest), 18.6% (low), 45.0% (medium), 10.7% (high), and 5.9% (highest) and the factor scores for balance, diversity, abstinence, regularity, and practice were 56.6, 68.4, 71.3, 57.4, and 54.8 points, respectively. Compared with the NQ cut-off points for defining malnutrition (balance; 57, diversity; 87, abstinence; 66, regularity; 69, and practice; 67 point), average score of abstinence factor was only above the cut-off point and scores of the other factors were below the cut-off point. Subjects with higher NQ scores tended to have higher levels of exercise activity (p < 0.001), frequency of family meals (p < 0.01), and father's educational levels (p < 0.01) compared to those with lower NQ score. NQ score showed positive association with nutrition education experience and practice (p < 0.001)
CONCLUSION
NQ score of elementary school students residing in Jeju was lower than the national average. More opportunities should be provided for participation in nutrition education, which incorporates a range of program strategies, as well as communication and education activities.

Keyword

nutrition quotient; Jeju island; children; nutritional status; dietary behavior

MeSH Terms

Checklist
Child
Education
Humans
Life Style
Malnutrition
Meals
Nutritional Status*

Reference

1.Lee YS., Lim HS., Ahn HS., Chang NS. Nutrition through the life cycle. 3rd edition.Paju: Kyomunsa;2011. p.243.

2.Pérez-Rodrigo C., Aranceta J. School-based nutrition education: lessons learned and new perspectives. Public Health Nutr. 2001. 4(1A):131–139.

3.Tanner JM. Growth and maturation during adolescence. Nutr Rev. 1981. 39(2):43–55.

4.Kim DM., Ahn CW., Nam SY. Prevalence of obesity in Korea. Obes Rev. 2005. 6(2):117–121.

5.Ramachandran A., Snehalatha C. Rising burden of obesity in Asia. J Obes. 2010. 2010:868573.

6.Lobstein T., Jackson-Leach R., Moodie ML., Hall KD., Gortmaker SL., Swinburn BA., James WP., Wang Y., Mcpherson K. Child and adolescent obesity: part of a bigger picture. Lancet. 2015. 385(9986):2510–2520.

7.Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Korea Health Statistics 2013: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI-1). Cheongju: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;2014.

8.Ministry of Education (KR); Ministry of Health and Welfare (KR); Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 3. Result table. In: The Ninth (2013) Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey Statistics. Cheongwon: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;2013. p. 146–197.

9.Gunnell DJ., Frankel SJ., Nanchahal K., Peters TJ., Davey Smith G. Childhood obesity and adult cardiovascular mortality: a 57-y follow-up study based on the Boyd Orr cohort. Am J Clin Nutr. 1998. 67(6):1111–1118.

10.Franks PW., Hanson RL., Knowler WC., Sievers ML., Bennett PH., Looker HC. Childhood obesity, other cardiovascular risk factors, and premature death. N Engl J Med. 2010. 362(6):485–493.

11.Hu FB., Rimm EB., Stampfer MJ., Ascherio A., Spiegelman D., Willett WC. Prospective study of major dietary patterns and risk of coronary heart disease in men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000. 72(4):912–921.

12.Baranowski T. 24-hour recall and diet record methods. Willett W, editor. editor.Nutritional Epidemiology. 3rd edition.New York (NY): Oxford University Press;2013. p.54.

13.Seo JS., Lee JH., Yoon JS., Cho SH., Choi YS. Chapter 3. Dietary intake survey. In: Nutritional Assessment. Seoul: Powerbook;2008. p. 101–113.

14.Livingstone MB., Robson PJ. Measurement of dietary intake in children. Proc Nutr Soc. 2000. 59(2):279–293.

15.Branscum P., Sharma M., Kaye G., Succop P. An evaluation of the validity and reliability of a food behavior checklist modified for children. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2010. 42(5):349–352.

16.Thiagarajah K., Fly AD., Hoelscher DM., Bai Y., Lo K., Leone A., Shertzer JA. Validating the food behavior questions from the elementary school SPAN questionnaire. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2008. 40(5):305–310.

17.Yon M., Hyun T. Development of an eating habit checklist for screening elementary school children at high risk of energy overin-take. Korean J Nutr. 2008. 41(5):414–427.

18.Yon M., Hyun T. Development of an eating habit checklist for screening elementary school children at risk of inadequate micronutrient intake. Korean J Nutr. 2009. 42(1):38–47.

19.Kang MH., Lee JS., Kim HY., Kwon S., Choi YS., Chung HR., Kwak TK., Cho YH. Selecting items of a food behavior checklist for the development of nutrition quotient (NQ) for children. Korean J Nutr. 2012. 45(4):372–389.

20.Kim HY., Kwon S., Lee JS., Choi YS., Chung HR., Kwak TK., Park J., Kang MH. Development of a nutrition quotient (NQ) equation modeling for children and the evaluation of its construct validity. Korean J Nutr. 2012. 45(4):390–399.

21.Huang YC., Kim HY. Assessment of dietary behavior of Chinese children using nutrition quotient for children. J Nutr Health. 2014. 47(5):342–350.

22.Yoo JS., Choi YS. Evaluation of items for the food behavior checklist and nutrition quotient score on children in rural areas of Gyeongbuk. J Nutr Health. 2013. 46(5):427–439.

23.Lee SJ., Kim Y. Evaluation of the diet and nutritional states of elementary and middle school students in the Daegu area by using nutrition quotient for children. J Nutr Health. 2013. 46(5):440–446.

24.Kim JH., Jung YH. Evaluation of food behavior and nutritional status of preschool children in Nowon-gu of Seoul by using nutrition quotient (NQ). Korean J Community Nutr. 2014. 19(1):1–11.

25.Kim JR., Lim HS. Relationships between children's nutrition quotient and the practice of the dietary guidelines of elementary school students and their mothers. J Nutr Health. 2015. 48(1):58–70.

26.Kim NH., Lee IS. Assessment of nutritional status of children in community child center by nutrition quotient (NQ) - Gyeongiu. J East Asian Soc Diet Life. 2015. 25(1):73–86.

27.Kim KJ., Chae IS. A survey of foodservice satisfaction and menu preference of high school boarding students in Jeju. J Nutr Health. 2014. 47(1):77–88.

28.Statistics Korea. Statistics of dual-income household 2013. Daejeon: Statistics Korea;2014.

29.Lee HO. A comparison of nutrient intakes and food lifestyles between double income families' and full-time housewives' children. Korean J Food Nutr. 2008. 21(1):106–113.

30.Sung YS., Bae JH. Eating habits and food preferences of certain middle school students in Daegu area. Korean J Food Nutr. 2011. 24(3):312–319.

31.Lee YM., Lee KW., Oh YJ. The perceptions and attitudes of elementary school children towards family meals. J Korean Diet Assoc. 2009. 15(1):41–51.

32.Videon TM., Manning CK. Influences on adolescent eating patterns: the importance of family meals. J Adolesc Health. 2003. 32(5):365–373.

33.Christian MS., Evans CE., Hancock N., Nykjaer C., Cade JE. Family meals can help children reach their 5 a day: a cross-sectional survey of children's dietary intake from London primary schools. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2013. 67(4):332–338.

34.Eisenberg ME., Olson RE., Neumark-Sztainer D., Story M., Bearinger LH. Correlations between family meals and psychosocial well-being among adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004. 158(8):792–796.

35.Manios Y., Moschandreas J., Hatzis C., Kafatos A. Health and nutrition education in primary schools of Crete: changes in chronic disease risk factors following a 6-year intervention programme. Br J Nutr. 2002. 88(3):315–324.

36.Oh YJ., Lee YM., Kim JH., Ahn HS., Kim JW., Park HR., Seo JS., Kim KW., Kwon OR., Park HK., Lee EJ., Sung HN. Interview survey of elementary school students' nutrition education and practice. Korean J Community Nutr. 2008. 13(4):499–509.

37.Kwon S., Sung SJ., Ly SY. The interrelations among nutrition education, satisfaction with school lunch, school lunch leftovers and self-rated mental or physical health: the elementary school children in Daejeon area. Korean J Community Nutr. 2010. 15(1):94–107.