• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study was to assess whether individuals who visit clinics to ask medical help for obesity treatment depict comparable levels of depression, body dissatisfaction, eating psychopathology and lower quality of life. Methods : This is a cross sectional study with 534 females who sought treatment for their obesity or overweight being recruited in seven clinical units in Seoul, Korea. The patients group was divided into two groups. The group 1 consisted of the patients with BMI >$25\;kg/m^2$. The women who showed BMI ${\leq}\;25\;kg/m^2$ among patients recruited for this study were classified as the group 2. The control group (group 3) was composed of 398 healthy females who have never tried to lose weight. Results : We found that group 1 had higher frequency of more than moderate level of depression than group 2 and group3 did. Both patients groups showed greater eating disordered attitudes and behaviors regardless of obese condition than the control group. Group1 showed relatively lower level of quality of life than group2 and group3 in terms of the quality of life related to physical well-being. In addition, the control group reported higher quality of life in psychological health than both patients groups did. Conclusions : In conclusion, it is necessary for clinicians to make a careful evaluation of depressive tendency and eating disorders when obese women seek for medical help. The combination of medical treatment and psychological approach for obese women would result in higher quality of life.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.sup1
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• pp.53-69
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To determine the weight change trend among the adult Turkish population after 1 yr of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and factors associated with weight change. MATERIALS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 26 February and 6 March 2021 using an online questionnaire that included questions for sociodemographic variables, eating habits, stress level, and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18. Those who weighed themselves 1-2 weeks before the pandemic was declared in Turkey and remembered their weight were invited to participate in the study. Trends in weight and body mass index (BMI) change were calculated. The variables associated with a 1% change in BMI were assessed using hierarchical regression analysis. RESULTS: The study was conducted with 1,630 adults (70.25% female) with a mean age of 32.09 (11.62) yrs. The trend of weight change was found to increase by an average of 1.15 ± 6.10 kg (female +0.72 ± 5.51, male +2.16 ± 7.22 kg) for the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of participants with a normal BMI (18.50-24.99 kg/m²) decreased to 51.91% from 55.75%. Consuming an "Increased amount of food compared to before the pandemic" was found to be the independent variable that had the strongest association with a 1% increase in BMI (β = 0.23 P < 0.001). The average change in the BMI was higher in older individuals than in those who were younger. A high stress level was associated with a decrease in BMI (β = -0.04 P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the factors associated with weight change after 1 yr of the pandemic in the Turkish population was reported for the first time. A high stress level and increased weight gain trend still occur in Turkey after 1 yr of the pandemic.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.269-281
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• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare dietary habits and mental health among middle school students in urban and rural areas based on bedtime, and to provide evidence supporting appropriate bedtime for Korean middle school students in relation to their healthy dietary habits and mental well-being. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study population consisted of 25,681 second-year middle school students who participated in the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 2020-2022. Participants were asked about their bedtime and wake-up time during the past 7 days and were classified into five categories. The study compared the general characteristics, academic factors, dietary habits, and mental health of urban and rural students based on their bedtime. RESULTS: Bedtime was found to be later in the following order: urban female students, rural female students, urban male students, and rural male students. As bedtime got later, the rates of smoking and alcohol consumption increased. Students who went to bed before 11 p.m. had lower academic performance, while rural male students who went to bed after 2 a.m. had lower academic performance. Later bedtime was associated with increased smartphone usage, skipping breakfast, consuming fast food, and drinking carbonated beverages. Later bedtime was also associated with higher perceived stress levels, particularly among students who went to bed after 2 a.m., higher rates of suicidal ideation, experiencing sadness and despair, as well as the prevalence of clinically significant anxiety disorders. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that middle school students who go to bed too late have higher rates of smoking and alcohol drinking, as well as unhealthy eating habits, stress, suicidal ideation, sadness, and anxiety. Therefore, it is necessary to provide educational and social institutional support to promote adequate sleep for the health of adolescents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2024

Purpose: Sodium is essentially required for homeostasis and physiological functions, but excessive sodium consumption increases the risk of obesity and other chronic disorders. Korean studies on the sodium-obesity relationship are limited, and thus, this study was undertaken to determine the nature of the relationship between sodium intake and obesity in Korean adults. Methods: Forty-two participants were divided into 2 groups according to body mass index (BMI, non-obese BMI < 25 kg/m², obese BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²). Dietary intakes and eating habits were analyzed using 3-day food records and a food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric data were obtained from bioimpedance results, and fasting glucose and lipid levels were measured. Results: Mean weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences, and body fat mass were greater in the obese group than in the non-obese group for men and women. Skeletal muscle mass and body fat mass were higher in obese women than in non-obese women. Biochemical data were no different in these two subgroups except triglycerides (TGs), which were higher in obese women. Nutrient intakes were not significantly different in obese and non-obese groups. However, obese men consumed excessive sodium, while obese women consumed slightly more than non-obese women. Obese men preferred salty foods and tended to overeat. Positive correlations were found between sodium intake and weight in men and percent body fat mass (PBFM) in women. Correlation analysis (adjusted for energy intake) of the relation between sodium intake and obesity-related factors showed sodium intake was positively correlated with PBFM and TG in women. Conclusion: This anthropometric and biochemical data analysis emphasizes the need for awareness and interventions to mitigate the health risks of elevated sodium consumption. Our findings should aid future studies on the relationship between sodium and obesity and contribute to preventing and managing this metabolic condition.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2020

With the advancement in modern information technology, virtual reality (VR) is being increasingly used for the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of mental disorders. Recently, a VR-based cognitive behavioral therapy for social phobia has been recognized as a new medical technology in South Korea. This might lead to an increase in the use of VR in the field of psychiatry. The present review provides an overview of the status of VR therapies in various psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, addiction, and eating disorder. Besides, it summarizes the role of VR therapy in the management of disorders associated with child and adolescence psychiatry as well as various other clinical applications. Additionally, we discuss the merits and limitations of VR therapy, which might serve as a useful reference for researchers. In the current environment wherein novel medical models consisting of a combination of digital devices and medicine are being developed; understanding new technologies such as VR could open new doors to mental health treatments.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.9-25
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• 2024

Objective : Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly suffer from feeding disorders. Major feeding problems include mealtime behavior problems, picky eating, and a lack of food variety can lead to nutritional problems, developmental and social limitations, and stress for the caregivers. A review of the latest literature was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of assessment tools for feeding disorders in children with ASD. Method : This study analyzed assessments to identify feeding problems in ASD based on previous studies searched through keywords such as ASD, ASD feeding problem, and ASD feeding evaluation. Results : The ASD feeding disorder assessment was divided into direct and indirect assessments. Indirect assessment, in which caregivers measure a child's situation using questionnaires, is mainly used. The assessment of feeding disorders in children with ASD was divided into 1) mealtime behavior, 2) sensory processing, 3) food consumption, and 4) others. Conclusion : As the main feeding disorder characteristics of children with ASD are very diverse, a comprehensive evaluation is necessary but is still limited. Swallowing rehabilitation experts, such as occupational therapists, should apply comprehensive assessment tools based on a basic understanding of the feeding problems, behaviors, and sensations in ASD.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.789-794
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• 2015

Swallowing disorders or dysphagia, which are difficulties with the act of swallowing, can occur at different phases such as oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phase in the swallowing process. These disorders can be caused by structural, functional abnormalities or psychological problems. Dentists can actively provide patients suffering from dysphagia with comprehensive professional care, especially from the cognitive stage of food to the pharyngeal stage of the swallow. Many cases of dysphagia can be improved with careful managements based on dental professionals' knowledge, including meticulous evaluation of masticatory and swallowing functions, training on eating and swallowing, and fabrication of palatal or lingual augmentation prosthesis. The important thing is that prevention of these disorders through the oral health care instruction and planned follow-up dental visit at periodic intervals in order to manage the problems caused by anatomical, functional, and psychological reason.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2018

Objective : There is an increasing number of people are not satisfied with their appearance and shape. Therefore, assessment tools are needed to evaluate the appearance or body shape. This study investigated the reliability and validity of a Korean version of the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Methods : Participants completed the BSQ, Body Dysmorphic Disorder Examination-Self Report, Eating Disorder Inventory-2, Beck Depression Inventory, Self-Esteem Scale, State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Results : The Korean version of BSQ presented satisfactory test-retest reliability, internal consistency and validity. Exploratory factor analysis yielded four factors as follow: feeling fat, shame and inferiority about one's body shape, attitudes concerning body image perception, and purging behavior. Conclusion : These results show the Korean BSQ exhibits good psychometric properties and can accurately evaluate the body shape concerns among Korean adults.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2001

Obesity is a metabolic disease associated with multiple hormonal abnormalities. Therefore, obesity management aims at balancing these endocrine malfunctions nowadays. Although many studies proved interactions of hormones related with obesity, there are still lots of controversies. Most of these malfunctions are more pronounced in central, visceral obesity than in peripheral obesity. Recently, it is revealed that a central lesion of endocrine malfunction in human visceral obesity is probably related with a hypersensitivity of hypothalamopituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis. Probably associated with this axis, Insulin and cortisol promote lipid accumulation by expressing lipoprotein lipase activity, while sex hormones and growth hormone exert the opposite effects. Also reviewed was thyroid hormone which is closely related with thermogenesis. Serotonin is prescribed as antidepressant and it is applied to some eating disorders. Recently, leptin made in fat deposit also took attentions in terms of regulator of appetite and messenger of sex signal.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2007

The clinical investigations above suggest that topiramate may be an effective agent in the treatment of BED or BN by reducing binging/purging episodes, improving the HRQOL, and decreasing weight. The case report and case series also support these findings. However, there are several limitations in the above studies and cases. All these had relatively small sample size, and two of them were only 10-week-period studies. Optimal duration of treatment with topiramate in patients with BED or BN is unknown. As most clinicians treat the patient with BED or BN for 6 to 12 months and then reassess, at least 6 months period is needed to show its efficacy. One of studies included only women in the patient group. In the case series, all patients had severe comorbid mood disorders such as major depression and bipolar disorder besides BN. Therefore, notwithstanding its clinical usefulness, additional researches are needed to define the role and the benefits of topiramate in the treatment of BED or BN more thoroughly.