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  • Original Article
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Secular trends in dietary patterns and obesity-related risk factors in Korean adolescents aged 10–19 years

International Journal of Obesity volume 34, pages 48–56 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

Along with its rapid economic growth, Korea has been undergoing considerable changes in the diet. But the influence of these changes on nutrition and health profiles has scarcely been investigated.

Objective:

We explored secular trends in dietary patterns to clarify their influence on obesity and its related risk factors among Korean adolescents using data from three consecutive Korean Nutrition Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Design:

Using data from the three KNHANES, 4347 adolescents (1572 from 1998, 1484 from 2001, and 1291 from 2005), who completed a 24-h diet recall, were included in the analysis. Percentiles of BMI were used to determine obesity; abdominal obesity was identified by waist circumference; and serum triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol=high density lipoproteins (HDL)-cholesterol were measured for obesity-related risk factors.

Results:

We identified evident three dietary patterns: ‘traditional’ (45.8% of total population), ‘modified’ (19%), and ‘western’ (35.2%). Secular trends were observed in dietary patterns, with a decline in the traditional diet pattern and gradual increases in the modified and western patterns. The percent of energy from fat increased over time, and it was positively associated with abdominal obesity in boys. The western dietary pattern increased the risk of being overweight (P=0.05) and having elevated serum triglycerides (P=0.07) in boys.

Conclusions:

Gradual changes over time in dietary patterns are occurring in Korean adolescents. The emerging western dietary pattern and high-fat intake could negatively affect the adolescent population studied here in later life; therefore, appropriate monitoring is suggested.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Catholic University of Korea, Research Fund, 2009.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Major of Food and Nutrition, School of Human Ecology, The Catholic University of Korea, 43-1 Yeokgok 2-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

    Y Song

  2. Department of Pediatrics, InJe University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Sanggye 7 dong 761-7 Nowon-gu, Seoul, Korea

    M J Park

  3. Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, San 56-1 Shillim-dong Kwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea

    H-Y Paik

  4. Graduate School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, 28 Yungun-dong Chongro-gu, Seoul, Korea

    H Joung

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Correspondence to H Joung.

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Song, Y., Park, M., Paik, HY. et al. Secular trends in dietary patterns and obesity-related risk factors in Korean adolescents aged 10–19 years. Int J Obes 34, 48–56 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.203

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