Kyoung Eun Oh

Abstract

Adolescents have increased nutrition needs and report frequent meal skipping and snacking, but there are few studies that examine the determinants of unhealthy eating, especially among ethnic minority groups. This study investigated dietary intake and snacking behavior among Korean-American adolescents in the Los Angeles area. We determined the relationship between dietary fat intake and overall quality of the diet as assessed by two healthy eating indices: the Healthy Eating Index (HEl) and Mean Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (MNAR). HEl assessed degree of compliance to Food Guide Pyramid and Dietary Guidelines for Americans while MNAR assessed nutrient consumption compared to Recommended Dietary Allowance. We also identified predictors of healthy eating indices that assess overall quality of the diet.

A non-random sample of 230 Korean-American adolescents in the Los Angeles area completed at least one 24 hour dietary recall, a snack food frequency instrument and a questionnaire that assessed possible factors associated with healthy eating. Snacking behavior was defined as any food eaten between meals; 83% (n=158) were classified snackers and 17% (n=33) were non-snackers. Overall subjects consumed a diet composed of 27% fat, 17% protein, and 56% carbohydrate. Among snackers, snacks provided significantly more vitamin C, while meals provided significantly more protein, iron, sodium and zinc. There was no difference in fat consumption between meals and snacks.

Fat intake was significantly inversely associated with the Healthy Eating Index, indicating overall poor dietary habit among subjects who consumed a high fat diet (r = -0.45, p2=0.100, p2= 0.085, p<0.001).

This research provides a basis for developing educational interventions that target the determinants of unhealthful eating practices of Korean-American adolescents.

School

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Helen Hopp Marshak

Second Advisor

Glen Blix

Third Advisor

Ella Haddad

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2000

Date (Title Page)

2000

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Adolescent Nutrition -- California -- case studies; Cultural Characteristics.

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

viii; 100

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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