• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.1-16
• /
• 1997

Recently obesity which had not been at issue very much before comes to the fore as an important health problem. But women frequently attempt excessive weight controls not to cure obesity but to fit false norms of women's appearances. Both these trends and tendencies of perceiving themselves to be fatter than what thay are work as a kind of stressor which impose psychological burden on most women, and finally threaten their mental health. In this point, the purpose of this study was to analize the factors having an effect on women's weight-related stress. This study included a survey and obese level measurement of a systematic random samples of 431 E. University senior students for 17 days(from 13 May 1996 to 29 May 1996). As results, obese level, especially the subject's evaluation for her obese level, history of weight control, and strong weigh control beliefs that the success depends on herself influenced stress.

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

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.111-117
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The prevalence of obesity has significantly increased among children and adolescents worldwide and is becoming an important health care problem in parallel with the increased prevalence of obesity pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Betatrophin is a newly define hormone that is commonly secreted by liver and plays role in glucose tolerance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum betatrophin levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children. Methods: The study included 40 obese children with a body mass index (BMI) above 95th centile, and 35 non-obese subjects with a BMI 3-85th centile, whose age and gender were similar to those of the patient group. For the evaluation of metabolic parameters fasting serum glucose, insulin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lipid profile and serum betatrophin levels were measured. Total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios were calculated as "atherogenic indices." Results: Serum betatrophin levels of the obese subjects were similar to that of non-obese subjects (p=0.90). Betatrophin levels were not correlated with the metabolic parameters. Conclusion: In the present study, levels of betatrophin are not different between obese and insulin resistant children and non-obese subjects, and they are not correlated with atherogenic indices. To elucidate the exact role of betatrophin in obesity, further studies are required to identify the betatrophin receptor and/or other possible cofactors.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• /
• v.35
• /
• pp.40.1-40.10
• /
• 2023

Background: Efforts for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in workers have been actively pursued. Obesity is one of the important risk factors related to CVDs. Obesity has various metabolic characteristics, and some individuals can be metabolically healthy. Body composition including skeletal muscle mass is known to have protective effect in obesity. The study aims to investigate the association between skeletal muscle mass and Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) CVD risk among obese male manufacturing workers in Korea and to identify appropriate indicators of skeletal muscle mass for predicting risk of CVDs. Methods: The study was conducted on 2,007 obese male workers at a manufacturing industry aged more than 19 years. Skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle index (SMI), skeletal muscle mass percent (SMM%) and skeletal muscle to body fat ratio (MFR) were used to evaluate body composition and these indicators were divided into quartiles. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the KOSHA CVD risk groups according to quartiles of skeletal muscle mass indicators were estimated using ordinal logistic regression analysis. Results: The OR for the KOSHA CVD risk groups in the highest quartile of SMI was 1.67 (95% CI: 1.42-1.92), while the ORs for the KOSHA CVD risk groups in the highest quartiles of SMM%, SMM/body mass index (BMI), and MFR were 0.47 (95% CI: 0.22-0.72), 0.51 (95% CI: 0.05-0.76), and 0.48 (95% CI: 0.23-0.74), respectively. Conclusions: We found that high SMI increase the likelihood of high risk of CVDs, while high SMM%, SMM/BMI, and MFR lower the likelihood of high risk of CVDs. Accurate evaluation of skeletal muscle mass can help assess the cardiovascular risk in obese male workers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.759-768
• /
• 2012

The purpose of this study was to determine differences in perception of weight management, balanced food intake, knowledge of obesity, and nutrition knowledge in university students. The average weight and height of male subjects were $175.0{\pm}5.7cm$ and $69.1{\pm}11.8kg$, whereas those of female subjects were $161.7{\pm}5.0cm$ and $51.7{\pm}6.9kg$, respectively. Average scores for balanced food intake were not significantly different between male and female students. The total number of correct answers for obesity knowledge was not significantly different according to gender, but four responses related with losing weight showed higher perception scores in females compared to males (p<0.05). The total number of correct answers for nutrition knowledge was not significantly different between males and females. The average BMI of male and female subjects were $22.5{\pm}3.44$ and $19.7{\pm}2.21$, respectively, ranged in normality. Self-evaluation of body shape was mostly in the normal or standard range in both males and females, but females showed a higher perception rate of chubby or fat than males. The percentages of interest in weight management was 36.0% in males and 50.8% in females, with higher interest in female subjects (p<0.01).

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2007

This study was designed to evaluate Saturday nutrition classes for obese elementary students in Chungnam Province. Obesity index, nutrient intake, nutrition knowledge, nutrition attitude, and self-satisfaction of 36 obese elementary students were compared before and after attending nutrition classes every other Saturday for 3 months. The average age, height, weight, body fat, % body fat, and obesity index were 11.9 years, 145.5 cm, 53.3 kg, 24.5 kg, 45.7%, and 32.4%, respectively. Most of the subjects(94.5%) viewed themselves as fat. Sixty-three percent of children were discontent with their body-image. All answered that they have experience with weight control. The major methods of weight control were exercise and reduction of snacks. The mean serum cholesterol, blood glucose, GOT/GPT, and hemoglobin were 177.4 mg/dL, 90.4 mg/dL, 25.8/25.5 IU/L, 14.5 g/dL, respectively. After attending nutrition classes, the daily intakes of energy, plant protein, plant fat, carbohydrate, crude fiber, and cholesterol increased significantly. The scores for nutrition knowledge, nutrition attitude, and self-satisfaction also increased after nutrition classes, but there were no significant differences. Percent body fat decreased significantly after nutrition classes. In conclusion, nutrition education for elementary students is effective for the prevention and control of obesity. Further research is needed to develop a systematic program of nutrition education for obese children.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.257-268
• /
• 2017

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the correlation between obesity, threshold of salty taste, optimal saltiness and blood pressure in middle school students in a fishing village. The subjects were 115 boys and 103 girls in middle school in a fishing village. The BMI index and systolic and diastolic blood pressures of subjects were measured, and the subjects were divided into a normal and obese group according to their BMI. The threshold of salty taste and salt preference for a semisolid dish (steamed egg dish), liquid dish (bean sprout soup), and a solid dish (raw radish salad), were estimated by sensory evaluation. Calorie intake was measured using the weighing plate method. The boys in the obese group showed significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures than those in the normal, but girls did not. Furthermore, calorie intakes of the boys in the obese group were significantly higher than those in the normal group, but this was not shown in girls. On the threshold of salty taste, both boys and girls in the obese group needed higher concentration of salt than those in the normal group. The threshold of salty taste were significantly positively correlated with systolic pressure and diastolic pressure in boys. Regarding the salt preference in the steamed egg dish, bean-sprout soup, and raw radish salad, both boys and girls in the obese group preferred higher concentrations. The higher concentration they preferred, the higher the systolic and diastolic pressures were in boys, but only systolic blood pressure was higher in girls. From these results, it is evident that a nutritional education program is needed in school to help restricting middle school students salt consumption and decreasing obesity to prevent hypertension.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.837-845
• /
• 2014

Background: Overweight and obesity are recognized as major drivers of cancers including breast cancer. Several cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10 and lipocalin 2 (LCN2), as well as dysregulated cell cycle proteins are implicated in breast carcinogenesis. The nuclear, casein kinase and cyclin-dependent kinase substrate-1 (NUCKS-1), is a nuclear DNA-binding protein that has been implicated in several human cancers, including breast cancer. Objectives: The present study was conducted to evaluate NUCKS-1 mRNA expression in breast tissue from obese patients with and without breast cancer and lean controls. NUCKS-1 expression was correlated to cytokine profiles as prognostic and monitoring tools for breast cancer, providing a molecular basis for a causal link between obesity and risk. Materials and Methods: This study included 39 females with breast cancer (G III) that was furtherly subdivided into two subgroups according to cancer grading (G IIIa and G IIIb) and 10 control obese females (G II) in addition to 10 age-matched healthy lean controls (G I). NUCKS-1 expression was studied in breast tissue biopsies by means of real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Serum cytokine profiles were determined by immunoassay. Lipid profiles and glycemic status as well as anthropometric measures were also recorded for all participants. Results: IL-6, IL-12 and LCN2 were significantly higher in control obese and breast cancer group than their relevant lean controls (p<0.05), while NUCKS-1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in the breast cancer group compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Significant higher levels of IL-6, IL-12, and LCN2 as well as NUCKS-1 mRNA levels were reported in G IIIb than G IIIa, and positively correlated with obesity markers in all obese patients. Conclusions: Evaluation of cytokine levels as well as related gene expression may provide a new tool for understanding interactions for three axes of carcinogenesis, innate immunity, inflammation and cell cycling, and hope for new strategies of management.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 2016

Objectives : Mori Follium (Morus alba L. leaf) has been cultivated in many Asian countries. Especially, mulberry leaf has been used as an anti-diabetic remedy in oriental medicine. However, anti-obesity effect of mulberry has not been unknown. In this study, our objectives of study is to investigate the anti-adipogenic effect of mulberry water extract (MLE) and to reveal potential molecular anti-obesity mechanism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes differentiation model.Methods : The cytotoxicity of MLE in 3T3-L1 was examined by MTT assay. Anti-adipogenic effect of MLE was evaluated by Oil Red O (ORO) staining. To elucidate the molecular mechanism, inhibitor assay was employed. The mRNA expression levels of adipogenic transcriptional factors such as PPARγ and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymer chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.Results : The MLE treatment for 24 h did not affect to the 3T3-L1 cells at concentrations of 1, 10, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1,000 ㎍/㎖. Thus, non-toxic concentration rages of MLE were used during adipogenesis period (day -2 to 7). Intracellular lipid accumulation in MLE-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes (day 6) were quantitatively evaluated by ORO staining. The MLE treatment significantly and dose-dependently suppressed 3T3-L1 adipogenesis by 60.42%, 38.24%, and 5.97% at 10, 100, and 200 ㎍/㎖, respectively. In addition, our inhibitor assay and RT-PCR analysis revealed that the MLE-inhibited 3T3-L1 adipogenesis through inhibition of PPARγ mediated by Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Conclusions : In conclusion, these findings indicate that the MLE could be used in prevent and/or treatment of obesity-related diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.39 no.7
• /
• pp.684-691
• /
• 2006

Abdominal obesity (AO) is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which has shown a remarkable increase in Korea. This study aimed to identify prevalence of AO and related risk factors in Korean adults. A total of 5,132 men and women aged 20-85 years old from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in the analyses. AO was defined as waist circumference >=90 cm in men and >=85 cm in women as proposed by Korean Society of Obesity. Multiple logistic regression was carried out to identify risk factors for AO. Three models were specified: (i) demographic and socioeconomic factors (model 1: age, education, poverty income ratio, employment), (ii) lifestyle factors and covariates (model 2: physical activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary quality, type 2 diabetes, co-morbidity) and (iii) demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors (model 3). The prevalence of AO was 24.1 % in men, 23.5% in women. High poverty income ratio in men and low education attainment in women were risk factors for AO in model. 1. There was a significant association of AO with alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and dietary quality in men, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking in women. These factors except alcohol consumption in men became insignificant in model 3. This findings underscore the importance of developing AO prevention programs in Korea that target the at risk groups identified in this study. A program focusing on low income men or less educated women would be more efficient.