• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2008

This study investigated the association between the weight status of middle school students and the various weight-related characteristics including desired weight, weight perception, weight-related practice, physical activity, and overeating behavior. Questionnaires were administered to 473 middle school students (178 boys and 295 girls) in Daejeon. Boys and girls were divided into three groups respectively; (1) underweight (BMI<$5^{th}$ percentile) (2) normal weight ($5^{th}$ percentile$\leq$BMI<$85^{th}$ percentile) (3) overweight (BMI$\leq85^{th}$ percentile). Using BMI calculated from measured height and weight, 14.0% of boys and 6.8% of girls were underweight, and 16.3% of boys and 14.2% of girls were overweight. However, among this sample of students, 38.4% of boys and 13.6% of girls perceived themselves as underweight and 29.4% of boys and 44.9% of girls perceived themselves as overweight. We found that overweight students reported their body weights lower and their heights higher compared to non-overweight students, resulting in an underestimation of BMI. Based on desired BMI, 79.9% of the girls desired to be underweight and 73.0% of the boys desired to be normal weight. Overweight or normal weight students were less satisfied with their body weights than underweight students. Girls had more weight control experience and concern compared to boys. Overweight girls spent longer times in watching TV compared to non-overweight girls (p < 0.001) and had more overeating behaviors (p < 0.05). Overweight students reported that they ate snacks less frequently than non-overweight students, which may be due to their tendency to report less eating. In conclusion, significant gender differences and weight status differences existed in weight perception, weight satisfaction, and weight control experience and concern. Because perception of overweight is likely to lead to unhealthy eating behaviors and weight control, efforts for adolescents to improve accuracy of weight perceptions and to understand the benefits of being healthier are needed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.167-175
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• 2011

Objective: This study was designed to describe the trends in body mass index (BMI) during 6 years (2002-2008) and to identify associations between these trends and the amount of physical activity of South Korean career soldiers. Method: This study targeted the 40 993 (38 857 men and 2136 women) of the 58 657 career soldiers who had undergone four (2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008) biennial medical examinations conducted by the National Health Insurance Corporation; 17 664 soldiers with missing data on height, weight, and physical activity were excluded. A linear mixedregression model was used to categorize changes in BMI due to age versus those due to amount of physical activity. Results: Career soldiers experienced significant increases in BMI compared with baseline data gathered in 2002. The increases in each age group were as follows: men aged 20-29: 1.16, men aged 30-39: 0.61, men aged 40-49: 0.05, women aged 20-29: 0.35, women aged 30-39: 0.30, women aged 40 -49: 0.26, and women aged 50-59: 0.21. However, men aged 50 or older showed significant decreases (as high as 0.5) in BMI compared with baseline data obtained in 2002. They also experienced significant decreases in BMI compared with those who reported no physical activity. The differences between baseline and final BMIs were: 0.02 for men exercising 1-2 times per week, -0.07 for men exercising 3-4 times per week, -0.19 for men exercising 5-6 times per week, -0.21 for men exercising seven times per week, -0.05 for women exercising 1-2 times per week, -0.19 for women exercising 3-4 times per week, -0.30 for women exercising 5-6 times per week, and -0.30 for women exercising seven times per week. Conclusions: Obesity in South Korean career soldiers increased markedly between 2002 and 2008, and our data showed that the amount of physical activity was inversely related to increases in BMI. Policies to prevent obesity are needed to reduce this trend.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.11
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• pp.416-421
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• 2019

Background: The seropositivity rate of hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) antibodies is known to be ≥95% after hepatitis B virus vaccination during infancy. However, a low level or absence of anti-HBs in healthy children is discovered in many cases. Recent studies in adults reported that a reduced anti-HBs production rate is related to obesity. Purpose: To investigate whether body mass index (BMI) affects anti-HBs levels in healthy children following 3 serial dose vaccinations in infancy. Methods: We recruited 1,200 healthy volunteers aged 3, 5, 7, or 10 years from 4-day care centers and 4 elementary schools. All subjects completed a questionnaire including body weight, height, and vaccine type received. Levels of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBs in all subjects were analyzed using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The standardized scores (z score) for each sex and age were obtained using the lambda-mu-sigma method in the 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for children and adolescents. Results: Our subjects (n=1,200) comprised 750 males (62.5%) and 450 females (37.5%). The overall anti-HBs seropositivity rate was 57.9% (695 of 1,200). We identified significant differences in mean BMI values between seronegative and seropositive groups (17.45 vs. 16.62, respectively; P<0.001). The anti-HBs titer was significantly decreased as the BMI z score increased adjusting for age and sex (B=-15.725; standard error=5.494; P=0.004). The probability of anti-HBs seropositivity based on BMI z score was decreased to an OR of 0.820 after the control for confounding variables (95% confidence interval, 0.728-0.923; P=0.001). Conclusion: There was a significant association between anti-HBs titer and BMI z score after adjustment for age and sex. Our results indicate that BMI is a potential factor affecting anti-HBs titer in healthy children.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.527-533
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to validate waist circumference (WC) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) corresponding to body mass index (BMI) of $25kg/m^2$ and to survey the prevalence of hypertension according to obesity in female college students. Method: Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences and blood pressure were measured for each of 286 female college students in J City, Chungbuk. Results: The subjects' mean BMI was $21.4kg/m^2$, and the estimated prevalence of obesity was 11.2%. The subjects, the 80th-90th percentile of whom had BMI exceeding $25kg/m^2$, were found to have WC of 75-78.1 cm and WHR of 0.79-0.80, respectively. Of the subjects with obesity($BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$), 53.1% exhibited abdominal obesity ($WC{\geq}80cm$) and 40.6% had WHR over 0.80. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were correlated with BMI, WC, and WHR. The prevalence rate of hypertension in subjects with obesity($BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$) was 25%. Additionally, the prevalence rate of hypertension in subjects with abdominal obesity ($WC{\geq}80cm$) was 39.1%. Conclusions: Our study indicates that WC corresponding to BMI of $25kg/m^2$ in female subjects in their twenties is different from that of adult women. We also found that the prevalence rate of hypertension in subjects with abdominal obesity was high. Therefore. we suggest further studies to determine the cutoff value of WC for evaluating abdominal obesity and to investigate the long-term effects of obesity on women in their twenties.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.555-563
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with and without obesity and to correlate PFF with body mass index (BMI) z-score, hepatic fat fraction (HFF), and ultrasonography-derived pancreato-perihepatic fat index (PPHFI). Methods: This prospective study included 45 children with obesity and 19 without obesity (control group). PFF and HFF were quantitatively assessed using the abdominal multi-echo Dixon method for MRI. The PPHFI was assessed using transabdominal ultrasonography. Anthropometric, MRI, and ultrasonographic characteristics were compared between the two groups. Correlations between PFF, HFF, PPHFI, and BMI z-scores in each group were also analyzed. Results: The PFF, HFF, PPHFI, and BMI z-score were higher in the group with obesity than in the control group (PFF: 6.65±3.42 vs. 1.78±0.55, HFF: 19.5±13.0 vs. 2.31±1, PPHFI: 3.65 ±1.63 vs. 0.94±0.31, BMI z-score: 2.27±0.56 vs. 0.42±0.54, p<0.01, respectively). PFF was correlated with BMI z-scores, PPHFI, and HFF in the obesity group, and multivariate analysis showed that PFF was strongly correlated with BMI z-score and PPHFI (p<0.05). The BMI z-score was strongly correlated with PFF in the control group (p<0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that MRI-derived PFF measures are associated with childhood obesity. PFF and PPHFI were also highly correlated in the obesity group. Therefore, PFF may be an objective index of pancreatic fat content and has the potential for clinical utility as a non-invasive biomarker for the assessment of childhood obesity.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.90-98
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• 2002

This study was performed to examine the dietary and BMI change of Koreans after moving to America and to identify the factors influencing changes of BMI. The subjects were 192 Korean-Americans (men : 86, women : 106) residing in the eastern area of the U.S.A. 1) subjects reported significantly increased consumption frequency in American foods like, low fat milk(p<0.001), cold cereals (p<0.001), whole wheat bread(p<0.001), hamburger(only in males p<0.01) and pizza(only in males p<0.01). Whereas significantly decreased consumption frequency in fish (p<0.05), cooked vegetables(p<0.001), kimchi(p< 0.001) and cooked rice (p<0.001) were reported. 2) It was reported that weight, accordingly BMI were significantly increased (p<0.01). The smoking habit score was significantly decreased for males (p<0.05). 3) Multiple linear regression analysis for BMI change showed that education years in Korea was the most prominent negative factor(p<0.001) in predicting BMI change in America. Elevated frequencies of alcohol, chicken and soft drink in America were also associated with greater increase of BMI. When the length of residence (increase of age) was included in regression model, the increase of age was the most significant factor (p<0.001). Changes of chicken and soda scores were other significant factors.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.485-492
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify body satisfaction and weight loss experience according to individual's discrepancy between obesity by BMI (body mass index) and self-assessment. Method: The data were obtained by measuring height, weight and using a questionnaire to obtain data on self-assessment of obesity, body satisfaction and weight loss experience. The participants were 286 women college students in J city, Chungbuk. Results: The mean BMI of the women college student was $21.4{\pm}2.93kg/m^2$ which is within the normal range. The concordance rates between obesity by BMI and self-assessment were 54.1%, 39.9%, 61.5%, 78.6% (Kappa=.29) in underweight, normal, overweight, obese students respectively. Forty seven percent of students who were not obese (BMI $<23kg/m^2$) assessed themselves as obese. The mean body satisfaction of college students was very low and 64.3% of the students had a weight loss experience. The students who perceived themselves to be 'obese' even when their BMI was under $23kg/m^2$ reported lower body satisfaction and higher weight loss experience than other students. Conclusion: There were significant discrepancies between obesity by BMI and self-assessment in women college students. The self-assessment of obesity had a greater effect on body satisfaction and weight loss experience than actual BMI in women college students.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2015

The present study showed WHtR to be significantly better than BMI and WC for prediction of metabolic-related diseases in the middle-aged and older people in Korea, based on Bayesian ordered probit model analysis. The variations of WC, BMI and WHtR were compared according to the number of metabolic-related diseases such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris and diabetes. It was found that the three measures showed the similar variation except a very few extreme cases for age less than 40. For subjects over the age of 40, WC was not significant and WHtR gave more influence in greater variability than BMI on the number of metabolic diseases. Also, the rate of change for WHtR was higher than for BMI as the number of metabolic-related diseases increased. Specifically, the difference of the marginal effect of WHtR between no disease and only one disease was 1.81 times higher than that of BMI. Moreover, it was pointed out that the threshold value of WHtR for obesity should be considered differently by age.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.30 no.2 s.150
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• pp.348-357
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• 2006

This study was designed to find out how the sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, BMI and body image of adult women affect their self-esteem. A questionnaire was prepared in the survey and a total of 456 adult women were selected by way of stratified random sampling. The research findings are as follows: 1. The sociocultural attitudes toward appearance were shown in two factors of 'internalization' and 'awareness'. The body image was shown in three dimensions of 'care for appearance', 'concern about weight', and 'appearance attractiveness'. 2. Internalization, recognition, and BMI influenced on 'care for appearance'. 'Concern about weight' was affected by internalization and BMI. Appearance attractiveness was affected only by BMI. 3. Adult women's self-esteem was influenced by appearance attractiveness, internalization, and care for appearance. 4. The behaviors of appearance management were differed according to the sociocultural attitudes towards appearance. Therefore, adult women form a higher degree of self-esteem is formed when they accept what they are regardless of their actual BMI and when they evaluate their body positively.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2023

The benthic macroinvertebrates index (BMI) was developed based on the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), which is the amount of biodegradable organic matter in stream water. However, benthic macroinvertebrates mainly live in the streambed substrate and are affected by the interaction of water quality and substrate. This study was conducted to examine the interactive relationship between water quality items (BOD₅, total phosphorus (TP), total suspended solids (TSS)) and substrate with BMI by performing statistical analyses (four-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation analysis, partial correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis). The data used in the analyses were collected from 19,915 sampling units at 1,937 sites in South Korea from 2010 to 2020. The interaction effect between BOD₅ and substrate types was confirmed through a four-way analysis of variance. Partial correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis estimated the degree of influence on the change in BMI value in the order of mean grain size of the substrate as (𝜱_m) > BOD₅ > TP > TSS. BMI can be regarded as an index that evaluates the comprehensive effects of water quality and streambed status, although it is an index that was developed based on the amount of biodegradable organic matter in a water column.