• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.423-430
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• 2001

Objects: The purpose of this case-control study was done to examine the relationship between stroke prevalence and the anthropometric indices(body mass index(BMI), modified Broca's method(Broca's index), waist circumference(WC), waist-hip ratio(WHR)), dyslipidemia, past medical history(heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus(DM)), life-style factors(smoking, drinking) in Korean adults. Methods : The study group consisted of neurologically confirmed 116 stroke patients as the case group and 116 non-stroke patients as control group. Obesity were defined as $BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2,\;Broca's\;index{\geq}30%$, WC >94cm in male and WC >80cm in female, $WHR{\geq}0.9$ in male and $WHR{\geq}0.8$ in female. Oyslipidemia were defined as total $cholesterol{\geq}200mg/dl,\;triglyceride{\geq}200mg/dl,\;HDL-cholesterol {\leq}35mg/dl,\;LDL-cholesterol{\geq}160mg/dl$. Information on life-style factors and past medical history was obtained from personal interview. The analysis of the data was done by means of chi-square test(Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test) and student t-test. Results: The results were as follow. In the study group: Hypertension had a 4:05 odds ratio, Broca's $index{\geq}30%$ had a 1.98 odds ratio, WC >94cm in male had a 2.17 odds ratio, WC >80cm in female had a 2.80 odds ratio, $WHR{\geq}0.9$ in male had a 4.66 odds ratio, $WHR{\geq}0.8$ in female had a 5.35 odds ratio, but heart disease, DM, life-style factors, serum lipid and 8MI had no direct relationship with odds ratio(nonsignificant). By student t-test, risk factors for stroke were found to be total cholesterol(p=0,025), LDL-cholesterol(p=0.013), WC(p=0.000) and WHR(p=0.000). Conclusions: This study suggests that people should be advised to control hyperlitension, hyperlipidemia and obesity since these carry a risk of stroke.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.240-250
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• 2018

By the end of 2017, in a world of 7.6 billion people, there were inequalities in healthcare indices both within and between nations, and this gap continues to increase. Therefore, this study aims to understand the current status of regional inequalities in healthcare indices and to find an action plan to tackle regional health inequality through a geo-economic review in Korea. Since 2008, there was great inequality in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy by region in not only metropolitan cities but also districts in Korea. While the community health statistics from 2008-2017 show a continuous increase of inequality during the last 10 years in most healthcare indices related to noncommunicable diseases (except for some, like smoking), the inequality has doubled in 254 districts. Furthermore, health inequality intensified as the gap between urban (metropolitan cities) and rural regions (counties) for rates of obesity (self-reported), sufficient walking practices, and healthy lifestyle practices increased from twofold to fivefold. However, regionalism and uneven development are natural consequences of the spatial perspective caused by state-lead developmentalism as Korea has fixed the accumulation strategy as its model for growth with the background of export-led industrialization in the 1960s and heavy and chemical industrialization in the 1970s, although the Constitution of the Republic of Korea recognizes the legal value of balanced development within the regions by specifying "the balanced development of the state" or "ensuring the balanced development of all regions." In addition, the danger of a 30% decline or extinction of local government nationwide is expected by 2040 as we face not only a decline in general and ageing populations but also the era of the demographic cliff. Thus, the government should continuously operate the "Special Committee on Regional Balanced Development" with a government-wide effort until 2030 to prevent disparities in the health conditions of local residents, which is the responsibility of the nation in terms of strengthening governance. To address the regional inequalities of rural and urban regions, it is necessary to re-adjust the basic subsidy and cost-sharing rates with local governments of current national subsidies based mainly on population scale, financial independence of local government, or distribution of healthcare resources and healthcare indices (showing high inequalities) overall.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.526-533
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• 2013

Purpose: Obesity is an important risk factor for hypertension in adolescents. We investigated the relationship of obesity-related indices (body mass index [BMI], waist-to-height ratio [WHR], and body fat percentage [%BF]) with blood pressure and the hemodynamic determinants of blood pressure in Korean adolescents. Methods: In 2008, 565 adolescents, aged 12-16 years, were examined. The %BF of the participants was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Echocardiography and brachial artery pulse tracing were used to estimate the stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), total vascular resistance (TVR), and total arterial compliance (TAC). Results: We noted that BMI, WHR, and %BF were positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The positive correlation between BMI and blood pressure (SBP and DBP) persisted after adjustment for WHR and %BF. However, after adjustment for BMI, the positive associations between blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and WHR as well as %BF, were not noted. With regard to the hemodynamic factors, BMI, but not WHR and %BF, was an independent positive factor correlated with SV and CO. TVR had an independent negative association with BMI; however, it was not associated with WHR or %BF. Moreover, we noted that BMI, WHR, and %BF did not affect TAC. Conclusion: In Korean adolescents, BMI had an independent positive correlation with SBP and DBP, possibly because of its effects on SV, CO, and TVR. WHR and %BF are believed to indirectly affect SBP and DBP through changes in BMI.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.623-632
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• 2005

This study was intended to collect the baseline information on dietary behavior of adults to develop nutrition education program in the context of healthy weights at community level. Nutrient intakes of 128 housewives were assessed by 24 hour recall method. Also food habits, nutrition knowledge and attitude were investigated by self-administered questionnaires. Subjects were divided to under-weight, normal-weight, over-weight groups by body mass index (BMI). Most under-weight groups evaluated as their current body images were normal. $41\%$ of normal-weight groups judged as their current body images were obese. Energy and fat intakes of over-weight group were significantly higher than that of under-weight and normal weight groups (p<0.05). However, carbohydrate and protein intakes showed no significant differences among the three groups. It appeared that active attitude toward change in nutrition attitude of normal weight group was significantly higher than that of under-weight group (p<0.05). There were no significant differences of food habit score, nutrition knowledge, and obesity habit scores among the three groups. The frequency of eating-out showed significant difference among three groups (p<0.05). Food habit scores were positively related to health-concerned attitude (r=0.174), convenience-concerned attitude (r=0.229) and food enjoyed attitude (0.213) and negatively related to obesity habit score (r=-0.206). Also, positive correlation of body fat mass with frequency of eatingout (r=0.213), instant food (r=0.227) and amount of meal (r=0.187) existed (p<0.05). We concluded that nutrition education programs for housewives should include specific strategies to modify unsound food behaviors and inappropriate perception of body image for a healthy weight.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 1993

The purpose of this paper it to investigate the differences in prevalence of obesity and body fat distribution on the variances of age. Height, weight, skinfold thickness and girth circumference on about 422 women residing in Cheju, Korea were surveyed. The results of analysis of the survey are as follows : 1) All the antropometric measurements except height were shown to increase with age. Weight is at its highest level between the age of 50-59. The measurement of skinfold thickness and girth circumference between the ages of 20-39 of the female subjects are significantly higher than the above 40's. However, there is no significant difference among the middle aged women. 2) Physical indices tend to increase according to age. Both BMI and RBW of women in their 50's are at their highest values, however, the index values of the women in their 60's decreased slightly (p<0.05). On the contrary, there is no significant difference in the percentage of body fat and total body fat content among the middle aged women surveyed. 3) According to this survey, 15.6% of the 422 subjects are assessed as being obese ; more specifically 4.4% of women in their 20's, 12.6% in 30's, 25.6% in 40's, 22.5% in 50's and 17.3% in 60's. 4) 39.4% among obese women proved to be upper body type women. Because the frequency of upper body type women became higher as the obese women aged, there is possibility that the pattern of fat distribution can change. 5) Weight is the most highly correlated with BMI(r=0.91), whereas weight as correlated with RBW, percentage of BF and WHR are 0.8, 0.66 and 0.44 respectfully. The conclusion of this survey is that it is better to estimate the value of total body fat and percentage of body fat than the value of BMI in the analysis of prevalence of obesity and its related factors of middle aged women.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1972-1980
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• 2015

This study's purpose was to analyze the effect of the SmartCare obesity management pilot project, which was conducted between 09 March 2011 and 03 April 2013 in Korea (South). Of 212 subjects who were enrolled in the study, the final analysis was conducted with 147 subjects who completed their weight self-measurements and SmartCare services until the end of a 6-month service period. The self-measurement group for evaluation was classified into 3 groups (Low, Middle, and High) by evenly dividing the monthly average frequency of measurement for 6 months and the evaluation indices were weight, and BMI (Body Mass Index) transmitted from the SmartCare System. The monthly average weight and BMI were decreased more in the High Group than the Middle Group and Low Group (M5: High>Middle>Low), and they are showing statistically significant differences between groups (p< 0.05). In conclusion, analysis of the weight and BMI improvement effect showed a greater improvement effect when the self-measurement frequency level was higher.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of obesity on the physiological levels of adiponectin, leptin and components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in male workers, aged 30-40 years. Methods: Body mass index (BMI) was measured with Anthropometric equipment. Blood pressure and serum parameters were measured with an automatic digital sphygmomanometer and autochemical analyzer, respectively. Adiponectin and leptin were analysed by ELISA kits and MS was defined based on the NCEP-ATP III. Results: Body fat mass of waist and hip, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher, as expected, in the BMI>25kg/$m^2$ in comparison with the $BMI{\leq}25kg/m^2$. While fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and leptin in the BMI>25kg/$m^2$ were also significantly higher compared with $BMI{\leq}25kg/m^2$, HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin were significantly higher in $BMI{\leq}25kg/m^2$. On multiple logistic regression analysis for the components of MS, exercise, adiponectin and leptin were an only independent factor for MS in non-obese male workers($BMI{\leq}25kg/m^2$) after adjustment for age, cigarette smoking and drinking habits. Conclusion: These results suggested that the obesity in men was associated with physiological levels of adiponectin and leptin contributing to feedback control of MS and that dysfunction and/or declination in feedback control system associated with changes in physiological levels of neurptrophics: adiponectin and leptin might ultimately induce MS.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2017

Objectives: Recently, many studies have demonstrated that the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) is more correlated with metabolic syndrome than the waist-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study was to investigate and compare WHtR as a predictor of metabolic syndrome with other anthropometric indices. Methods: Approximately 3,800 data of subjects were used for the analysis, and data from Korean Medicine Data Centar). Receiver operating characteristic curve was performed and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to find the usefulness of WHtR, WHR, and BMI. Results: WHtR was the most predictive factor with the highest diagnostic value for metabolic syndrome than WHR, BMI. AUC of WHtR was significantly higher in total subjects, men and women. Conclusions: WHtR may be the simple and effective anthropometric index for metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.135-143
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate polysomnographic and cephalometric characteristics of patients with OSA according to obesity level based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Asian-Pacific BMI criteria. Methods: One hundred and thirty-one consecutive patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were evaluated using standard level 1 polysomnography and cephalometric analyses. The subjects were categorized into normal, overweight and obese groups according to the WHO Asian-Pacific BMI criteria. Respiratory indices and cephalometric parameters were compared among groups. Results: The 131 patients consisted of 111 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 44.1±12.4 years. The mean value of BMI was 25.3±3.4 kg/m² for all subjects, 20.6±2.2 kg/m² for normal (n=27), 24.0±0.5 kg/m² for overweight (n=33) and 27.6±2.2 kg/m² for obese (n=71). The obese group had a significantly higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and respiratory arousal index and lower oxygen saturation level than the normal group (p<0.05). Total AHI, mean oxygen saturation level and respiratory arousal index were significantly correlated with BMI (p<0.001). A longer soft palate and anterior position of the hyoid bone were significantly correlated with BMI level (p ≤0.05). Conclusions: Obese patients have a higher risk of compromised craniofacial skeletal features and soft tissue structures, and severe OSA than non-obese patients.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.39-44
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• 2019

[Purpose] Weight loss can reduce obesity-induced arterial stiffening that is attributed to decreased inflammation. Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) is a pro-inflammatory adipokine that is upregulated in obesity and is important in the progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary modification on circulating ANGPTL2 levels and arterial stiffness in overweight and obese men. [Methods] Twenty-two overweight and obese men (with mean age of 56 ± 2 years and body mass index of 28.6 ± 2.6 kg/m²) completed a 12-week dietary modification program. We measured the arterial compliance and β-stiffness index (as the indices of arterial stiffness) and serum ANGPTL2 levels before and after the program. [Results] After the 12-week dietary modification, body mass and daily energy intake were significantly reduced. Arterial compliance was significantly increased and β-stiffness index was significantly decreased after the 12-week dietary modification program. Serum ANGPTL2 levels were significantly decreased. Also, the changes in arterial compliance were negatively correlated with the changes in serum ANGPTL2 levels, whereas the changes in β-stiffness index were positively correlated with the changes in serum ANGPTL2 levels. [Conclusion] These results suggest that the decrease in circulating ANGPTL2 levels can be attributed to the dietary modification-induced reduction of arterial stiffness in overweight and obese men.