• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.79-88
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• 2024

The study aim was to investigate the relationship between adolescents' physical activity and subjective health perceptions and determine whether body mass index (BMI), an obesity-related indicator, had a mediating or moderating effect on this relationship. To achieve the purpose of this study, raw data from the 18th Youth Health Behavior Online Survey (2022) were used, and data from 23,612 people were ultimately selected for the research analysis. A confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to the data, and bootstrapping techniques were used to verify the mediating effect. To verify the moderating effect, a multigroup analysis of the structural equation model was applied to calculate pairwise parameter comparison values. All statistical significance levels were set at .05. The results of this study follow. First, the greater the amount of physical activity among adolescents, the more positive was the effect on subjective health perception. Second, subjective body type perception had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between physical activity and subjective health perception. Third, subjective body type had a moderating effect on physical activity and subjective health perception. Specifically, people who perceived their subjective body types as average viewed their subjective health more positively when they engaged in more physical activity than those who perceived their body types as slightly or very overweight. In conclusion, preventing obesity and positively changing the subjective health status through sufficient physical activity during adolescence are important.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.799-808
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• 2013

Previous research reported that body size measured as Body Mass Index (BMI) and body shape measured as waist-hip-ratio (WHR) are two essential factors that form the perceptions of body attractiveness. However, the debate on the importance of BMI versus WHR is ongoing. In addition, scholarly articles, that focus on the role of geographic and cultural variability on perceptions of attractiveness, report inconsistent results. Some suggested that according to globalization and the rise of mass media, geographic variability of perceptions of attractiveness have been altered, while others believed that it remains. This study cross-regionally investigates the role of body size and body shape on the perceptions of female attractiveness. Samples were composed of 107 female college students in Alabama and 107 female college students in California. Participants viewed 27 three-dimensional body scan images of women in three body shapes (pear, hourglass, and rectangle) and three body sizes (underweight, normal weight, and overweight) and rated their perceptions of attractiveness. Images were shown to students in a random order with an overhead projector and Microsoft Office PowerPoint software. A three-way mixed-ANOVA was conducted to analyze the data. The results of the study showed that some regional differences exist between the two sample groups. However, regardless of the regional difference, hourglass shapes were perceived to be the most attractive shape and underweight sizes were perceived to be the most attractive size for both samples.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.61-70
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics in obesity classification group of college students having health checkup by analyzing their BMI and blood test and determine the association between factors contributing to obesity and obesity according to BMI. Methods A group of 2992 test subjects took their medical examination and their body composition, height, weight, blood pressure were measured and blood test was done. With these results we diagnosed obesity, and analysed relationship between obesity and cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL (low density lipoprotein)-cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein)-cholesterol, liver function, renal function and blood pressure. Results 1. Overweight individuals showed high total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, GOT (glutamic oxalacetic transaminase), GPT (glutamic pyruvate transaminase), Urea-nitrogen, Creatinine and low HDL-cholesterol. 2. BMI showed a significant association with other factors. BMI has a negative correlation with sex and HDL-cholesterol. BMI had positive correlations with other factors. 3. There was no relation between BMI and sex. Those six factors, liver function, cholesterol, blood pressure, kidney function, neutral fat, and blood sugar were related to BMI. Conclusions There was a significant relation between college students' BMI and their liver function, cholesterol, blood pressure, kidney function, neutral fat, and blood sugar. The diseases related to liver function, cholesterol, blood pressure, kidney function, neutral fat, and blood sugar were clearly associated with obesity.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2002

Objectives : To investigate the fetal cholesterol levels and related factors in a rural adult population. Methods : 3,207 adults(1,272 men and 1,935 women) were examined in 1997 Their heights, weights, and fasting serum total cholesterol levels were measured, and their body mass indices were calculated. A questionnaire interviewing method was used to collect risk factor data. Results : The mean value of total cholesterol were 190.5 mg/dl, and 198.8 mg/dl, and the age-adjusted prevalence rates for hypercholesterolemia (above 240 mg/dl) were 13.7% and 10.2%, in men and women, respectively. From simple analyses, age, educational level, coffee intake, amount of meat and food intake, waist circumference, waist-hip circumference ratio(WHR), and body mass index(BMI) were significant risk factors in men (p<0.05) relating to serum total cholesterol levels. In women, age, educational level, hypertension history, diabetes history, herbal drug history, amount of feed intake, alcohol consumption, waist circumference, WHR, BMI, and menopausal status were significant risk factors (p<0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, waist circumference (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), and coffee intake (p<0.05) proved to be significant risk factors in men. Whereas, menopausal status (p<0.01), BMI (p<0.01), herbal drug history (p<0.01), amount of food intake (p<0.05), waist circumference (p<0.05), and alcohol consumption (p<0.05) were significant risk factors in women. Conclusions : The significant risk factors, for both men and women, relating to the serum total cholesterol were waist circumference and BMI. Thus, for the reduction of serum total cholesterol level, it is recommended that health education for the control of obesity should be implemented.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.467-472
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• 2014

Obesity is known to be strongly associated with cardiovascular disease and cancer, the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and develops owing to interactions between genes and the environment. DNA methylation can act as a downstream effector of environmental signals, and analysis of this process therefore holds substantial promise for identifying mechanisms through which genetic and environmental factors jointly contribute to disease risk. Global DNA methylation of peripheral blood cells has recently been proposed as a potential biomarker for disease risk. Repetitive element DNA methylation has been shown to be associated with prominent obesity-related chronic diseases, but little is known about its relationship with weight status. In this study, we quantified the methylation of Alu elements in the peripheral blood DNA of 244 healthy women with a range of body mass indexes (BMIs) using pyrosequencing technology. Among the study participants, certain clinical laboratory parameters, including hemoglobin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic- pyruvic transaminase, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were found to be strongly associated with BMI. Moreover, a U-shaped association between BMI and Alu methylation was observed, with the lowest methylation levels occurring at BMIs of between 23 and $30kg/m^2$. However, there was no significant association between Alu methylation and age, smoking status, or alcohol consumption. Overall, we identified a differential influence of BMI on global DNA methylation in healthy Korean women, indicating that BMI-related changes in Alu methylation might play a complex role in the etiology and pathogenesis of obesity. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this relationship.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.135-143
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate polysomnographic and cephalometric characteristics of patients with OSA according to obesity level based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific BMI criteria. Methods: One hundred and thirty-one consecutive patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were evaluated using standard level 1 polysomnography and cephalometric analyses. The subjects were categorized into normal, overweight and obese groups according to the WHO Asian-Pacific BMI criteria. Respiratory indices and cephalometric parameters were compared among groups. Results: The 131 patients consisted of 111 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 44.1±12.4 years. The mean value of BMI was 25.3±3.4 kg/m² for all subjects, 20.6±2.2 kg/m² for normal (n=27), 24.0±0.5 kg/m² for overweight (n=33) and 27.6±2.2 kg/m² for obese (n=71). The obese group had a significantly higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and respiratory arousal index and lower oxygen saturation level than the normal group (p<0.05). Total AHI, mean oxygen saturation level and respiratory arousal index were significantly correlated with BMI (p<0.001). A longer soft palate and anterior position of the hyoid bone were significantly correlated with BMI level (p ≤0.05). Conclusions: Obese patients have a higher risk of compromised craniofacial skeletal features and soft tissue structures, and severe OSA than non-obese patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.316-322
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• 2012

Objectives: Abdominal obesity increases mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease and there is a possibility that smoking effects obesity. However, previous studies concerning the effects of smoking on obesity are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine whether smoking is positively related to abdominal obesity in men with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Subjects consisted of 2197 type 2 diabetic patients who visited Huh's Diabetes Center from 2003 to 2009. Indices of abdominal obesity were defined as visceral fat thickness (VFT) measured by ultrasonography and waist circumference (WC). Overall obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI). Results: Statistically significant differences in WC and VFT by smoking status were identified. However, there was no statistical difference in BMI according to smoking status. Means of WC and VFT were not significantly higher in heavy smokers and lower in mild smokers. Compared to nonsmokers, the BMI confounder adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for VFT in ex-smokers and current-smokers were 1.70 (1.21 to 2.39) and 1.86 (1.27 to 2.73), respectively. Conclusions: Smoking status was positively associated with abdominal obesity in type 2 diabetic patients.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate if organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were associated with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance among non-diabetes. Methods: Among subjects who participated in a community-based health survey, 50 non-diabetic subjects with metabolic syndrome and 50 normal controls were selected. Insulin resistance was measured by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Eight OCPs were selected. Results: After adjusting for confounders except for body mass index (BMI), beta-hexachlorocyclohexane ($\beta$-HCH) and heptachlor epoxide were positively associated with metabolic syndrome. Odds ratios across tertiles of $\beta$-HCH and heptachlor epoxide were 1.0, 3.2 and 4.4, and 1.0, 4.0 and 6.0, respectively (p for trend = 0.01 and <0.01). After additional adjustment for body mass index (BMI), heptachlor epoxide still showed an increasing trend with adjusted odds ratios of 1.0, 4.1, and 4.6 (p for trend = 0.10). When the five components of metabolic syndrome (with the definition of high fasting glucose ($\geq$ 100 mg/dL) were separately analyzed, all components were positively, but not significantly, associated with heptachlor epoxide. As the serum concentration of heptachlor epoxide increased, HOMA-IR increased significantly in subjects with metabolic syndrome even after adjusting for BMI (p value <0.05 and <0.01). Conclusions: Despite the small sample size, this study suggests that the background exposure to some OCPs may be associated with metabolic syndrome.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2010

Epidemiological evidence of the effects of dietary sodium, calcium, and potassium, and anthropometric indexes on blood pressure is still inconsistent. To investigate the relationship between dietary factors or anthropometric indexes and hypertension risk, we examined the association of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) with sodium, calcium, and potassium intakes and anthropometric indexes in 19~49-year-olds using data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) III. Total of 2,761 young and middle aged adults (574 aged 19~29 years and 2,187 aged 30~49 years) were selected from KNHANES III. General information, nutritional status, and anthropometric data were compared between two age groups (19~29 years old and 30~49 years old). The relevance of blood pressure and risk factors such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), weight, waist circumference, and the intakes of sodium, potassium, and calcium was determined by multiple regression analysis. Multiple regression models showed that waist circumference, weight, and BMI were positively associated with SBP and DBP in both age groups. Sodium and potassium intakes were not associated with either SBP or DBP. Among 30~49-year-olds, calcium was inversely associated with both SBP and DBP (P = 0.012 and 0.010, respectively). Our findings suggest that encouraging calcium consumption and weight control may play an important role in the primary prevention and management of hypertension in early adulthood.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2010

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with recurrent hospital admissions for exacerbation of COPD in Korea. Methods: A retrospective study of 77 consecutive patients hospitalized for exacerbation of COPD at Pusan National University Hospital during the time period January 2005 to May 2008 was performed. The information was collected from the hospitalization period: clinical information, spirometric measures, and laboratory variables. In addition, socioeconomic characteristics, co-morbidity, anxiety, and depression were reviewed. Frequent readmission was defined as 2 or more hospitalizations in the year following discharge. Results: During the 1-year period after discharge, 42 patients (54.6%) reported one hospital admission and 35 patients (45.4%) reported 2 or more hospital readmissions. Among the 35 frequent readmission patients, 4 had more than 10 readmissions. Univariate analysis showed that a body mass index (BMI) <$18.5kg/m^2$, duration >36 months, forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) <50% predicted, arterial $CO_2$ partial pressure ($PaCO_2$) >40 mm Hg, and arterial oxygen saturation ($SaO_2$) <95% at discharge were associated significantly with frequent readmissions. The multivariate analysis revealed that BMI <$18.5kg/m^2$, $PaCO_2$ >40 mm Hg at discharge were independently associated with frequent readmissions for exacerbation of COPD. Conclusion: Frequent readmissions for exacerbation of COPD were associated with low BMI and hypercapnia at discharge.