• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.206-212
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• 2019

Purpose: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight in Iranian children under 5 years of age using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, CINHAL, and the Iranian databases, including Scientific Information Database (www.sid.ir), Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (Irandoc.ac.ir), Iranmedex (www.iranmedex.com), and Magiran (www.magiran.com), for all articles published between January 1989 and August 2017. Sources of heterogeneity were determined using subgroup analysis and meta-regression. Results: Six articles were ultimately included in the meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence, based on which the prevalence of obesity and overweight were estimated to be 8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6%-10%) and 9% (95% CI, 7%-11%), respectively. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of obesity in boys and girls was 9% (95% CI, 6%-13%) and 7% (95% CI, 4-10%), respectively, and the prevalence of overweight in boys and girls was 10% (95% CI, 5%-15%) and 9% (95% CI, 5%-13%), respectively. Conclusion: Despite high heterogeneity among the results of the articles included in the meta-analysis, the prevalence of obesity and overweight is higher in Iranian children under 5 years of age. Therefore, parents and the health system must pay more attention to the lifestyle, nutritional habits, and physical activity of these 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.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.404-413
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• 2018

Background: Dynapenic obesity and sarcopenic obesity increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in nonuremic patients. The present study was designed to determine the prevalence of dynapenic obesity and sarcopenic obesity and their associations with CVD risk factors in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods: All eligible PD patients in Tehran peritoneal dialysis centers were included in this cross-sectional study. Skeletal muscle mass and fat mass were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Muscle strength and physical performance were determined using hand grip strength and a 4-meter walk gait speed test, respectively. In addition, a 5-mL blood sample was obtained from each patient. Results: The prevalence of dynapenic obesity and sarcopenic obesity were 11.4% and 3.8% in PD patients, respectively. Serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule type 1, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly higher in PD patients with dynapenic obesity than in dynapenic nonobese and nondynapenic nonobese patients. Similarly, serum concentrations of CVD risk factors in PD patients with sarcopenic obesity were higher than in nonsarcopenic nonobese patients, but these differences were statistically significant only for serum hs-CRP and triglyceride. In addition, muscle strength and skeletal muscle mass percentage were negatively associated with markers of inflammation and dyslipidemia, whereas body fat percentage was positively associated with these CVD risk factors. Conclusion: This study indicates that although the prevalence of dynapenic obesity and sarcopenic obesity are relatively low in PD patients, these disorders may be associated with CVD risk factors.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.182-188
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• 1993

This study was accomplished to investigate the prevalence of obesity and the factors related to obesity of high school girls in the large cities from May 20 to July 10 1990. In this study, three hundred eighty nine high school girls were chosen from high schools located in Seoul and Inchon. Anthropometry including weight, height, and skinfold thickness (triceps) were measured, and dietary intakes were calculated according to food composition tables. Means of the obesity index, food pattern, nutrients intakes were compared by Pearson's correlation coefficient. Nutrient intakes of the groups categorized by tricep skinfold thickness were compared by means of Duncan's multiple range test. Prevalence of obesity was 16.7%, 3.6%, and 20.8% by criteria of skinflod thickness, BMI, and Rohrer Index, respectively. Most of the subjects had three meals and took snacks two times per day 23.9% of the subjects were taking nutrient supplements of which vitamin supplement was the most popular. Food habit of subjects such as frequency of snack and bedtime meal were positively related to fatness. Nutrient intakes of the obese groups classified by tricep skinfold thickness, tended to consume more calories than another tricep category groups. Therefore, it could be concluded that prevalence of obesity in this subject was higher than the one for the past years, and it was more profound in girls who had a poor food habits and high calorie intakes. Thus, these results suggested that a good food habits and adequate nutrient intakes are essential to prevent the obesity of high school girls.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.121-127
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• 2014

This study was executed to provide the basic data to prevent and manage the workers' metabolic syndrome (MS) in workplace by analyzing the health examination data of 1,152 workers at the ages from 19 to 34 and comparing the differences in MS prevalence, its components and living habits according to obesity. As a result, MS prevalence showed 8.9% in male and 1.5% in female respectively. MS prevalence according to obesity showed the differences that prevalence of male subjects without obesity was 1.6% and 21.7% with obesity and prevalence of female subjects without obesity was 0% and 12.5% with obesity. Components of MS according to obesity showed 4 factors except hypertriglyceridemia were significantly related with obesity in female subjects and all factors were significantly related with obesity in male subjects. With the above results, obesity is identified as the risk factor affecting MS prevalence and components of younger than 40 year old workers. Therefore, it is suggested health manager should consistently implement obesity management to prevent and manage the MS in working place and increase the workers' participation through the development and utilization of a web-based obesity management program considering space-time restriction and efficiently manage the MS.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate secular trends in height, weight, obesity among Korean children and adolescents in 2006-2015. Methods: The study participants were 1,249,698 children and adolescents 6-17 years in age who participated in health examinations for school students supervised by Korean Ministry of Education and conducted by the Korea Association of Health Promotion in 2006-2015. Height and weight were measured unified procedures at each period. Obesity was defined as being 95th percentile of sex-specific body mass index(BMI) for age in the 2007 Korean National Growth Charts or $BMI{\geq}25$. Results: Between 2006 and 2015, the median of height and weight, BMI of Korean children and adolescents has increased significantly. The overall prevalence of obesity was 10.7%(boys 12.6%, girls 8.7%). In 2012-2015, the prevalence of obesity 12.2%(boys 14.1%, girls 10.2%), compared to 9.1%(boys 10.9%, 7.2%) in 2006-2008. The increase in obesity prevalence was statistically significant(p<0.05). The prevalence was highest in Gyeonggi area, lowest in Chungcheong area when compared to other regions(p<0.001). Conclusions: During the period 2006-2015, growth trends, prevalence of obesity among Korean children and adolescents increased significantly. Health promotion and intervention programs promoting healthy growth and development of Korean children and adolescents were need consider the demographic and regional characteristics.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.12
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• pp.1310-1314
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• 2008

Purpose : This study aimed to assess the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia in children from low-income families in Gunpo and to evaluate whether economic status affects the prevalence of obesity. Methods : Between October 2007 and March 2008, 341 children (167 girls and 174 boys; age, 6 to 13 years) were enrolled in this study. All these children came from families who earned minimum wages and who were supported by government. We measured height, weight, and blood pressure and performed laboratory examinations, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using weight and height. We compared the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia in children from low-income families with the prevalence of these maladies found in other studies. Results : Prevalence of obesity ($BMI{\geq}95^{th}$) was 7.1%. Prevalence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia was 8.2% and 16.7%, respectively. In the obese group, prevalence of hypertension and hyperlipidemia was 25.0% and 45.8%, respectively. Obesity and hyperlipidemia were slightly more frequent in our study than those found in other reports, and the prevalence of hypertension in the obese group was very high compared with statistics from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (25% vs. 19.5%) and those from other reports. Conclusion : Low-income status was associated with an increased incidence of obesity, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Hypertension showed an especially strong association with economic status, which seemed to correlate with genetic, environmental, and dietary effects.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.328-338
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• 2018

The incidence of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJAC) in Western countries has increased in recent decades, in addition to a rise in the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and low Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection rate have been nominated as risk factors for such cancers. Among these risk factors, the increased prevalence of GERD and obesity and the decreased prevalence of HP infection are of special interest owing to the currently increasing prevalence of GEJAC in Western countries. Although similar trends in the prevalence of GERD, obesity, and HP infection are observed in Asian countries after a time lag from Western countries, it is still uncertain if the prevalence of GEJAC in Asian countries is increasing, especially in Korea. The incidence of GERD in Korea is currently increasing; it was below 3% in the 1990s. The incidence of obesity in the Korean population is increasing owing to the adoption of westernized lifestyles, including food preferences, and the HP infection rate in Korea is known to be decreasing. Therefore, based on logical extrapolation of observations of Western countries, the incidence of GEJAC will increase in Korea. However, the proportion of GEJAC among other upper gastrointestinal malignancies in Korea appears to be currently unchanged compared with that in the 1990s. Presently, there is a lack of epidemiologic studies on this issue in this region; therefore, more studies are needed to clarify the characteristics of these tumors and to improve clinical outcomes for patients with these tumors.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.1321-1326
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• 2009

Prevalence of obesity in Korean children and adolescents has dramatically increased since the last 10-20 years. It is important to initiate prevention efforts early in childhood because prevalence of obesity in adolescence is the strongest predictor of its prevalence in adulthood. Intrauterine life, infancy, and preschool years may comprise the critical periods that are essential for the long-term regulation of energy balance therefore, obesity-prevention strategies should be initiated in utero and continued throughout childhood and adolescence. Families with high-risk children should be provided early education about maintaining normal weight. Encouraging physical activity and, especially, avoiding inactivity, are key challenges in the prevention of future obesity. Schools should be primarily involved in educating parents to discourage their children from excessively watching TV or playing computer games and eating unhealthy snacks and food. The involvement of medical practitioners is also important, especially, in the case of obese parents, obesity prevention strategies should be promoted from the first visit of pregnant women to the physicians. Health professionals can also be involved in obesity prevention because they are ideally equipped to identify young children at risk of obesity. Community and nation-wide efforts to increase awareness and promote environments that encourage physical activity and healthy nutrition are required.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2000

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the validity of the BMI as an indicator of obesity for Koreans. The usefulness of the BMI to represent overweight and obesity was evaluated by measuring the relative validity of sensitivity and specificity, and was compared with the validity of triceps skinfold thickness(mm). To measure the relative validity of the BMI and triceps skinfold thickness, body fat(%) was used as a reference measure of obesity. The study population included 844 participants aged 20-69 years who resided in Kuri City in Kyunggi province. Participants were measured regarding weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness and body fat. The prevalence of obesity for male subjects was 32.0%, 66.2%, and 0.9%, and for female subjects, 17.6%, 56.1%, 12.4% based on the BMI, triceps skinfold thickness, and body fat(%) respectively. The prevalence of obesity was higher based on the BMI or triceps skinfold thickness than body fat measurement. The sensitivity and specificity of the BMI were 33.3% and 67.9% in male subjects and 77.7% and 90.8% in female subjects. Sensitivity of the BMI was lower, and specificity was higher than those of triceps skinfold thickness. In summary, BMI as an indicator of obesity for Korean showed a tendency of overestimation of obesity prevalence. Therefore, there is a need to develop a more reliable obesity index other than the BMI for Koreans.