• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.97-114
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• 2000

Minority populations in the United States have a higher prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and more persons die of the disease than white persons. This study was to review and compare risk factors and prevalence rates of NIDDM in African Americans, Hispanic s, Korean Americans and Native Americans in the United States. The risk factors of NIDDM, including family history of diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, diet and age, were reviewed in the minority populations. Risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity and family history of diabetes occurred to a greater extent in some minority populations than in the white population. Diabetes should be treated as a public health problem for minority populations. Due to the increase of older populations and the increased prevalence of obesity and sedentariness, NIDDM in minorities is nearing epidemic proportions. Good diet and regular exercise can reduce the incidence of NIDDM but an understanding of the cultural aspects of diabetes is imperative in order to provide adequate community health education programs because those programs involve diet and behavior changes, characteristics that are often culturally determined. In summary, it is important to plan a community health education program targeted on NIDDM in a culturally adapted manner that will be received with both comprehension and acceptability. In particular, the program for high-risk populations should be stressed so to prevent diabetes. Preventive approaches to diabetes should be considered because they can be both therapeutic and cost effective.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.218-225
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• 2006

Purpose: With a remarkable increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is assumed to be increasing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, and glucose intolerance in normal and obese children. Methods: A total of 2,206 elementary students (boys: 1340, girls: 866) were grouped according to obesity index; normal group and obesity group (mild, moderate, severe). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, SGPT) were measured with total cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose. Results: Compared with the 4.6% of elevated aminotransferases in normal group, obese groups showed significantly higher prevalence; 12.1% in mild obesity group, 19.4% in moderate group, and 21.6% in severe group (p<0.0001). The prevalence of hypertriglyceremia was 16.9% in normal weight group, which was significantly lower than obesity group (mild obesity group 30.3%, moderate and severe 37.6%, 38.2% each). In boys, the prevalences of elevated aminotransferases in normal weight and obese groups (mild, moderate, severe) were 6.8%, 18.0%, 23.0%, and 26.0%, respectively (p<0.0001). In girls, those were 2.1%, 5.1%, 12.0%, and 12.6%, respectively (p< 0.0001). The prevalence of hypertriglyceremia was relative to severity of obesity in boys and girls (p<0.0001). Conclusion: The prevalence of elevated serum liver enzymes increased with severity of obesity. For the prevention and treatment of fatty liver and hypertriglycemia, it is important to lower the obesity degree and enforce the education for a weight loss in the student and the parents.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.521-528
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• 1999

Cardiovascular disease is very prevalent in Korea, and many risk factors, if properly identified are possibly corrected. However, the study results on prevalence and distribution of risk factors may not be reliable while the risk factors of disease are always issued on health promotion projects conducted recently in a community. The subjects of this study were 854 adults who participated in the health and nutrition survey in a community. They were aged between 20 and 69 and sampled representatively. This study intended to estimate the prevalence and the distribution of risk factors of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure levels were estimated at $123.9{\pm}2.2mgHg(men)$, $117.9{\pm}1.7mgHg$(women), and $80.4{\pm}1.5mg(men)$, $74.9{\pm}1.1mgHg(women)$, respectively. Glucose level was estimated at $99.1{\pm}2.3mg/dl$ in men, and $95.7{\pm}1.7mg/dl$ in women. The estimated level of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were $183.4{\pm}3.8mg/dl(men)$, $181.7{\pm}3.1mg/dl(men)$, and $122.0{\pm}4.5mg/dl(women)$, and body mass index was estimated at $24.0{\pm}0.4kg/m^2$ in men and $23.9{\pm}0.4kg/m^2$ in men and $23.9{\pm}0.3kg/m^2$ in women. The prevalence of hypertension was 20.5% for men, and 14.4% for women. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was estimated to 6.9% for men, and 6.1% for women. The estimated prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 3.8%(men), 3.9%(women). The rate of obesity was estimated to 28.5%(men), 28.4% (women), respectively. The levels of blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol were higher in men than in women in almost all the almost ate groups. The prevalence of hypertension for men is about 20%. It was found that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus for males aged between 40 and 59 was rapidly increased. The risk factor with highest prevalence was obesity, and hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the second and third most prevalent.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.261-269
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and diagnostic components in adult women. Methods: The subjects of this study were 12,016 women that were aged twenty years or older and underwent an annual health check-up for National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) from 2009 to 2013. Data including blood pressure, waist circumstance, fasting glucose, triglyceride, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were received from the NHIS. This data was analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$-test, and multiple logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and diagnostic components increased with age. In the five diagnostic components of the metabolic syndrome, the prevalence of low HDL-C was highest in 20s to 40s. The prevalence of high blood pressure was highest in the people aged fifty or older. The risk of metabolic syndrome in 2013 was higher in women with abnormal diagnostic component of metabolic syndrome in 2009 and highest in women with abnormal waist circumstance in 2009. Conclusion: There was a need to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome components according to age. Education on metabolic syndrome was required for those that had one or two abnormal diagnostic components. The risk of abdominal obesity related to metabolic syndrome needs to be emphasized. Moreover the education for management of abdominal obesity also needs to be emphasised.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.593-602
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aims to assess the relationship between the body mass index and waist circumference, which are indicators of obesity, and dental caries according to gender. Methods: Data were used from the 6th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015). Out of a total of 29,321 subjects, 13,222 persons aged 19 or older and who responded to the survey items of this study were selected as subjects to determine the relationship between obesity and dental caries. Results: In the body mass index, the obese group had a higher prevalence of dental caries in both males (1.25 times) and females (1.35 times) than the normal group. Even in the underweight group, males were 1.83 times more likely to have dental caries than the normal group. In the waist circumference, the obese group had a 1.48 times higher prevalence of dental caries than the normal group in women only. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, it was observed that obesity was related to dental caries, and it was thought that obesity management and oral care education programs for adults in Korea were necessary.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.35-37
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• 2016

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) often develops type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) related to severe obesity. The prevalence of T2DM in adults with PWS (7-20%) exceeds greatly the prevalence in the general population (5-7%). It is uncommon for pre-pubertal children with PWS to develop overt diabetes or glucose intolerance. GH therapy and genotype did not influence the development of altered glucose metabolism. It has been assumed that T2DM in PWS develops as a consequence of morbid obesity and concomitant insulin resistance. However recent studies suggest the relationship between morbid obesity and T2DM development is more complex and appears to differ in PWS subjects compared to non-PWS subjects. PWS patients had relatively lower fasting insulin levels and increased adiponectin levels compared with BMI-matched obese control despite of similar levels of leptin. So PWS children may be protected to some extent form of obesity-associated insulin resistance. Although there's no data, it seems logical to approach diabetes management including weight loss and increased exercise, using similar pharmacological agents as with non-PWS obesity-related diabetes such as metformin or thiazolidinedione, with the introduction of insulin as required. On the other hand, several recent T2DM in PWS case reports suggest favorable outcomes using Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analog with regard to ghrelin reduction, control of glucose and appetite, weight loss and pre-prandial insulin secretion. The role of GLP-1 agonist therapy is promising, but has not yet been fully elucidated.

• Korean journal of aerospace and environmental medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2021

Background: Obesity is a major public health problem that is causally related to serious medical conditions. In this study, the public health implications of obesity based on body mass index (BMI) with anthropometric measures among adults in the Republic of Korea and Japan in 2019 were compared. Methods: A simple cross-section, nationally representative of the raw data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2019 between Korea and Japan were used. We analyzed the data of those categorized as obese with a BMI of ≥25 kg/m² according to the World Health Organization Expert Consultation. Results: The average values of BMI based on body height and body weight among males and females in Korea were 24.6±0.08 and 23.3±0.09, respectively; those in Japan were 23.9±0.08 and 22.6±0.08, respectively. The measured anthropometric values were obviously higher in Korean than in Japan (P<0.01). The prevalence rates (PRs) of obesity by sex in Korea were 41.4% among males and 27.3% females; those in Japan were 32.5% among males and 22.0% among females. The statistically significant results showed that the total obesity rate was higher in males than in females in both countries (P<0.01). The PRs of obesity in Korea were 41.4% in males and 27.3% in females; those in Japan were 32.5% in males and 22.0% in females. The statistically significantly PR of total obesity among Korean adults was greater than that among Japanese adults (P<0.01). Conclusion: The PR of obesity in Korea relative to that in Japan showed a gradually increasing trend. Obesity is a major problem, especially in the pilot group. Reducing the prevalence of obesity among pilots is important for reducing in-flight medical incapacitation and ensuring flight safety. Obesity management is necessary to prevent obesity-related diseases and promote pilot health.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the degree of adherence to the Korean Dietary Action Guides for Children (KDAGC). In a cross-sectional study based on a child care center-based survey in Seoul, Korea, we collected parental-reported questionnaires (n = 2,038) on children's weight and height, frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption, and the quality of dietary and activity behaviors based on the 2009 KDAGC Adherence Index (KDAGCAI) which was developed as a composite measure of adherence to the KDAGC. Overweight and obesity were determined according to age- and sex-specific BMI percentile from the 2007 Korean national growth chart. Associations were assessed with generalized linear models and polytomous logistic regression models. Approximately 17.6% of Korean preschool children were classified as overweight or obese. Obese preschoolers had lower adherence to the KDAGCAI compared to those with lean/normal weight. Preschoolers with a high quality of dietary and activity behaviors had a 51% decreased odds ratio (OR) of being obese (highest vs. lowest tertile of KDAGCAI-score, 95% CI 0.31, 0.78; P = 0.001); the associations were more pronounced among those who were older (P = 0.048) and lived in lower income households (P = 0.014). A greater frequency of vegetable consumption, but not fruit, was associated with a borderline significant reduction in the prevalence of obesity. Our findings support the association between obesity prevention and high compliance with the Korean national dietary and activity guideline among preschool children.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.631-642
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• 2007

This study was an investigation of obesity, food habits and daily nutrient intakes of the 4th grade elementary school students in daejeon. A total of 148 children(male:71, female:77) participated in the study. We classified the subjects into normal group and obese group according to the grade of obesity indices by body fat ratio(BFR), 70% of the male and 31% of the female were obese group. The average height, weight were $140.1{\pm}4.9cm$, $33.0{\pm}3.6kg$(obese group), $141.9{\pm}5.7cm$, $42.0{\pm}3.6kg$(normal group) for the male, $141.2{\pm}6.4cm$, $42.4{\pm}6.2kg$(obese group), $139.5{\pm}6.4cm$, $33.0{\pm}4.5kg$(normal group) for the female. Weight showed a noticeable increase in the obese group, but height was not statistically significant. In dietary habits, it wasn't statistically significant but male obese group showed statistically increase in terms of eating fast(p>0.05) and eating snacks before sleeping(p>0.01) and female obese group was higher in frequency of eating out a month than normal group. Energy intakes of obese group was more than normal group and the average intakes of Vit. A, folic acid, Ca, were below the RI. The average intakes of vit A, vit C, folic acid, Ca, were also below the RI in normal group. The average intakes of vit A, folic acid, Ca, Fe were below the RI in female. Especially in female the intake of Ca was only 53.6%(obese group), 56.4%(normal group) of RI. From these results, we knew prevalence of obesity in elementary school students were high and obese groups were high in energy intakes but low in essential nutrients. Therefore we have to try to prevent and treat childhood obesity. So nutrition education of balanced diet and good dietary habits is needed for elementary school students.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.198-212
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• 2001

This study was designed to compare the prevalence rate of obesity, food attitude, food frequency and food habits between children in Kangnung and Seoul areas. 1,005 children aged 9-12 were included in this study. They were composed of 343 children living in Kangnung from one elementary school, and 662 children in Seoul from two elementary schools. The body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences of children were measured and food frequency scores of Korean and Western foods were examined by questionnaire. And questionnaires about food attitude, food habits and life style were administered to the mother of each child. There was no significant difference in body weight and obesity index among three groups(one school of Kangnung area and two schools of Seoul area). The male children\`s prevalence rates of obesity in Kangnung and two schools(A, B) of Seoul were 10.3%, 10.3% and 7.3%, respectively. Female children\`s prevalence rate were 5.4%, 4.7%, and 6.3%, respectively. Children in Seoul turned out to more frequently eat such Korean foods like pulkogi, kalbi and fried rice and such western foods like butter, margarine, hamburger, pizza, and fried chicken. Children in Seoul had more tendency to eat regularly and spent less time in sleeping and watching TV and more time in exercise than the respondents in Kangnung. The obesity index of parents had a significantly positive correlation with that of children. These results suggest that children in Seoul have tendency to eat high-energy food frequently and to have more energy expenditure than children in Kangnung. In conclusion, further studies on the evaluation of energy intake and energy expenditure of obese and normal children different in area should be conducted. (Korean J Nutrition 34(1) : 198∼212, 2001)