title: A 12-week, randomised, controlled trial to examine the acceptability of the Korean diet and its effectiveness on weight and metabolic parameters in an Australian overweight and obese population.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  South Korea has a significantly lower prevalence of overweight and obesity compared to Western countries. This may be due to differences between the traditional Korean diet (KD) and western diet (WD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our study investigated whether a Western population would accept a KD, compared to a WD, in a weight loss oriented lifestyle program.
  
  
  METHODS
  70 overweight or obese participants were randomised to a 12-week weight loss program. All participants followed a standardised lifestyle intervention incorporating diet, exercise and behavioural modification techniques. KD participants were provided with a traditional Korean lunch and dinner (Monday to Saturday). WD participants were provided with a weekly grocery food voucher. Weight and metabolic parameters were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  60 participants completed the study (KD = 25; WD = 35). No significant difference was found for percentage weight loss (KD: -5.8 ± 4.7%; WD: -5.7 ± 4.1%; p = 0.93). On the 10-item Food Acceptability Questionnaire, there was a decline in acceptance for the KD group over the 12-week intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When incorporated into a lifestyle intervention a traditional KD resulted in similar weight loss to a WD, despite a significantly higher energy intake. Food acceptability scores significantly favoured the WD for some of the measures at week 12, and the most common staple Korean foods were reported highest amongst the food returns, suggesting that the KD was not as well accepted and less enjoyable on a range of measures. More variability in the menu and flexibility in portion sizes of the KD may improve its acceptance and could further optimise its weight loss potential for Westerners.
authors: The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address:nick.fuller@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Nicholas R
authors: NR
authors: Fuller
authors: The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors: Namson S
authors: NS
authors: Lau
authors: School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors: Gareth
authors: G
authors: Denyer
authors: The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors: Annie E
authors: AE
authors: Simpson
authors: The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Gerofi
authors: The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Wu
authors: School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Holmes
authors: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors: Tania P
authors: TP
authors: Markovic
authors: Institute for Clinical Nutrition, Inje University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae-Heon
authors: JH
authors: Kang
authors: The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, The University of Sydney, Australia.
authors: Ian D
authors: ID
authors: Caterson