Nutr Res Pract.  2022 Apr;16(2):233-247. 10.4162/nrp.2022.16.2.233.

Development of the Korean Healthy Eating Index for adults, based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Yun S
• Park S
• Yook SM
• Kim K
• Shim JE
• Hwang JY
• Oh K

• KMID: 2527813
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2022.16.2.233

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to describe the development process of the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
SUBJECTS/METHODS
The components of KHEI were selected based on Dietary Guidelines for Koreans, domestic and overseas dietary quality indices, and results of the analysis of association with chronic diseases. The standards for scoring of KHEI were selected based on the 2015 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRI). The KHEI scores of Korean adults were calculated using a 1-day 24-h recall data in the 2013–2015 KNHANES.
RESULTS
The KHEI included eight adequacy components evaluating the proper intake of recommended foods such as fruit, vegetable, and milk and three moderation components evaluating the consumption of food that limit intake such as sodium and saturated fatty acid. In addition, three balance components assessing the balance of energy intake were included. The KHEI score was defined to range from the minimum of 0 point to the maximum of 100 points. Among Korean adults, the total KHEI score was 63.2 out of 100. Gender and age differences were found in the average of total KHEI scores. Women showed higher score than men (61.7 in men and 64.7 in women, respectively). By age group, 20s and 30s showed the lowest scores with 57.4 and 61.1 respectively, and the scores increased with age by peaking at 67.8 in ages 60–69 and slowed down again in ages 70 or over.
CONCLUSIONS
The KHEI can be useful for establishing and assessing national nutritional policies and in epidemiological studies to assess the relationship between overall dietary quality and chronic diseases. KHEI will need to be continuously updated to reflect changes in dietary guidelines and the KDRI.

Keyword

Healthy eating index; healthy diet; health eating; Korea

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The development process of the KHEI for adults.Primary selection of component based on previous overall dietary assessment tools, Dietary Guidelines for Koreans, KDRI, and the 4th Health Plan 2020. An analyses of relation between primary selection components and obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic syndrome using 2010–2012 Korea Health and Nutrition Survey data.KDRI, Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans; KHEI, Korean Healthy Eating Index.

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