title: Perception of sugar reduction, nutrition education, and frequency of snacking in children by the self-perceived sweet dietary habits of mothers in Busan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of sugar reduction, nutrition education, and frequency of snacking in children according to the self-perceived dietary preferences for sweet taste by mothers in Busan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 277 mothers were surveyed, and their perceptions of sugar reduction and the frequency of snacking in children were assessed using a questionnaire. The subjects were classified into either a sweet (n = 91) or an unsweet (n = 186) group according to their self-perceived preferences for a sweet taste.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the sweet group, the results for sweet products were sweetened ice (86.8%), confectionery (74.7%), processed milk (73.6%), carbonated beverages (71.4%), and fermented milk (53.9%). In the unsweet group, the results were sweetened ice (88.7%), carbonated beverages (78.5%), processed milk (75.8%), confectionery (69.4%), and fermented milk (50.5%). The necessity of sugar intake reduction was high in both groups (sweet = 89.0%, unsweet = 82.8%). Beverage purchases after identifying the nutrition labeling was significantly lower in the sweet group than in the unsweet group (P< 0.05). The reasons for the beverage purchases instead of water were "habitually" (50.5%) and "like sweet taste" (25.3%) in the sweet group (P< 0.01). Snacking in children was significantly higher in the sweet group based on the increased frequencies of carbonated drinks (P< 0.01), fast food (P< 0.001), candy and chocolate (P< 0.05), crackers (P< 0.01), ramen (P< 0.01), and fish paste/hotdogs (P< 0.01). The frequency of purchase education after identifying the nutrition labeling was significantly lower in the sweet group than in the unsweet group (P< 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that a perception of sugar reduction and practical nutrition education aimed at reducing the sugar intake are necessary to improve dietary habits.
authors.affiliation: Department Food and Nutrition, Seowon University, Cheongju 28674, Korea.
authors.forename: Jee-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Safety Policy Division, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, 187, Osongsangmyung-2ro, Heongduk-gu, Chungju, Chungbuk 28159, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Dietary habit; nutrition education; snack frequency; sugar reduction