• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2021

Objectives: This study examined the association between the dietary behavior and weight status of preschool children and their mothers in Daejeon, Korea. Methods: A total of 301 mother-preschool children (aged 3~6 years) dyads were included in this study. The dietary behavior of children and their mothers was assessed using the Nutrition Quotient (NQ) questionnaire for preschoolers and adults, respectively. The NQ questionnaires were completed by the mothers. The overweight/obesity status of children and their mothers was determined using data on height and body weight reported by the mothers. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the relationship between the dietary behavior and weight status of children and their mothers. Results: The mean NQ score was 58.9 ± 9.7 in children and 55.6 ± 9.2 in mothers. The NQ score was higher in boys than girls but did not vary by age. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 27.5% in children and 46.5% in mothers. The physical activity level of mothers and their NQ scores were positively associated with the NQ scores of the children. After adjustment for covariates, the mothers in the highest tertile of NQ scores showed a lower odds ratio (OR) for the unhealthy dietary behavior of children (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.11~0.53, P < 0.001) compared to those in the lowest tertile. The obese mothers showed a higher OR for children's overweight/obesity (OR = 3.38, 95% CI = 1.68~6.80, P = 0.001) compared to normal weight mothers. Conclusions: The dietary behavior and weight status of young children and their mothers were closely linked. Nutrition education programs targeting mothers are necessary for improving maternal and child nutrition. Specifically, these programs need to be tailored to the socioeconomic characteristics or weight status of mothers.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.175-186
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the body weight control, attitudes, lifestyles and dietary habits according to the obesity index of elementary school students. This study utilized questionnaires and body composition measurements collected with a bio- electrical impedance analyzer(Inbody 4.0). Specifically, differences between the underweight group, normal group, and overweight group were tested by a $x^2$-test or ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test. The subjects consisted of 571 elementary school students residing in Chonbuk Province. The average age, height, weight, and BMI of the male subjects was 11.5 years, 150.0 cm, 45.2 kg and $20.0\;kg/m^2$, respectively. The average age, height, weight, and BMI of the female subjects was 11.5 years, 152.2 cm, 46.1 kg and $19.8\;kg/m^2$, respectively. Twenty percent of the subjects were in the underweight group, 52.2% were in the normal weight group, and 27.8% were in the overweight group according to the Korean Pediatrics Society standards. A total of 50.2% of the subjects were dissatisfied with their body weight, while 36.8% of underweight, 42.3% of normal weight, and 81.1% of overweight subjects were dissatisfied with their weight. Fifty two percent of the subjects had attempted to reduce their body weight, including 50% of the normal weight group. The main reason for wanting to reduce body weight was to maintain health. The percentage of subjects who had received body weight control education was 41.3%, but 77.6% of the subjects thought it was necessary. Poor time management, lack of physical activity, portion size of meals, unbalanced diet, frequent consumption of convenience foods, and frequent snacking all affected the obesity index. Overall, the results of this study indicate that it is necessary to develop weight control programs for all elementary school students who are underweight, normal weight, and overweight.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.6543-6550
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• 2015

This study aimed to analyze the effect of flexi-bar exercise on in body composition and trunk muscle strength of female college students who are either overweight or obesity. The subjects were female college students divided into experimental group(N=15) and control group(N=15). The experimental group performed a flexi-bar exercise for of 30 minute sessions three days per week for five weeks, and the differences in body composition and trunk muscle strength before and after the experiment and between experimental group and control group were analyzed. The study results showed that the experimental group had a statistically significant improvement in the body fat mass and body fat percentage, body muscle mass, both arm muscle mass, trunk muscle mass, basal metabolic rate(p<.05). Changes in trunk muscle strength showed that the experimental group had statistically significant increased in changes in trunk muscle strength(p<.01). The study verified that flexi-bar exercise can be effective for improving the body composition and trunk muscle strength of overweight and obesity female college students.

• 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.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.807-813
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• 2011

For obesity management requires accurate measurement of abdominal fat. The purpose of this study was to find out the correlation between abdominal fat and lipid measured with BIA and CT. Secondly, This study investigate for usefulness of abdominal fat measured by BIA and CT as an obesity index. As a result, TG showed higher value in the overweight obese group than normal group but HDL showed lower value in the overweight obese group than normal group. TG and HDL appeared significantly relationship with by BIA and CT in the normal group. However, in the overweight obese group TG showed significantly relationship with the BIA. According to multiple regression analysis on BMF and TAF was affected by HDL in the normal group. And BMF, %BF was affected by TG in overweight obese group. In conclusion, abdominal fat showed significant correlation with lipid. Abdominal fat measured by BIA and CT to assess obesity index is considered as a useful way to evaluate.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.110-122
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• 2009

Along with the increasing interests of modem-day society toward topics of health and beauty, various studies are being actively conducted on the effects of diet for obesity prevention, and separate from aspects of disease prevention and health promotion. This study aimed to examine individual perceptions of obesity by age, and to prepare basic data for implementing an age-based weight control system, by comparing attitudes toward weight control. The research and analysis were conducted using questionnaires, provided to high school students(teenagers, 189 students), college students(20 or older, 116 students), and adults(30 or over, 88 adults) living in Daegu City. In terms of the respondents' perceptions of obesity, among those who described themselves as overweight, only about 10% were actually proven to be overweight. Also, significantly more female students than male students perceived themselves as overweight, despite the fact that they were in a normal weight range(p<0.007). There was no significant difference in the cause of obesity by gender, but it was found to be attributed to a lack of exercise for teenagers, and poor eating habits for those in their twenties and thirties. Concerning the intention to participate in a weight management class, the female teenagers showed significantly more interest than the male teenagers(p<0.017). Also, with regard to the respondents' attitudes toward weight control, the teenage females showed significantly higher interest in weight control than the teenage males p<0.003 and those in their twenties p<0.001. Moreover, regarding the period in which the respondents became most interested in weight, the teenage male students were most interested in weight during their middle school years and teenage females became most interested during their high school years. Therefore, the information from this study leads us to propose there is a need to correct the suggested reckless dieting that is occurring within an appearance-based society, as well as a need to establish a systematic weight control system, along with gathering subsequent basic data.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2001

Objective : To develop a boner understanding of the relationship between weight status and the prevalence of obesity related diseases in the Korean population. Methods : The 1998 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey was used and 10,880 persons who had previously taken health examinations were selected for study. The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity's classification of weight status was used. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, osteoarthritis, chronic heart disease, stroke were included as obesity related disease. A logistic regression model was developed to estimate the prevalence odds ratio by obesity class adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic factors and we converted the odds ratio to a prevalence ratio using the base line prevalence of disease to aid in the interpretation of the ratios. Results : The prevalence of obesity was 26.3% based on the KSSO classification $(BMI\geq25)$. A graded increase in the prevalence ratio was observed with increasing severity of overweight and obesity for all health outcomes with the exception of chronic heart disease in men and stroke in both men and women. With normal weight individuals as the reference, for men who were younger than 50 years, the prevalence ratios were highest for hypertension BMI<23-25: 1.70(95% CI=1.41-2.05), 25$BMI\geq30$: 4.83(95% CI=3.70-5.84). The prevalence ratios for dyslipidemia were as high as hypertension, but were lower than hypertension for diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis. Prevalence ratios generally were greater in younger adults. The prevalence of having 2 or more obesity related diseases increased with weight status category, except in people who were older than 50 years. Conclusions : Based on results, obesity is an increasingly important health problem in Korea and the disease burden increases according to weight status. For Korean adults, the strongest relationship was seen between weight status and hypertension and dyslipidemia. In older people the impact of excess weight and obesity is stronger than that seen in younger people. Increased efforts in the study of obesity and prevention and treatment of obesity and obesity related disease are required.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The anti-obesity effect of quercetin-rich onion peel extract (OPE) was suggested in rats, but information from human studies is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of OPE on the body composition of overweight and obese subjects. MATERIALS/METHODS: In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, parallel clinical trials were performed in overweight and obese Korean subjects. Randomly assigned subjects were instructed to take daily either the placebo (male, 6 and female, 30) or OPE capsules containing 100 mg of quercetin (male, 5 and female, 31). Body composition was measured by using bioimpedance and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Resting energy expenditure (REE) and respiratory quotient (RQ) were evaluated by using indirect calorie measurement methods. Fasting blood levels of glucose, insulin, lipids, and leptin were determined. RESULTS: Quercetin-rich OPE supplementation significantly reduced the weight and percentage of body fat as measured by DXA (P = 0.02). These effects were not shown in the control group. Levels of blood glucose (P = 0.04) and leptin (P = 0.001 for placebo, P = 0.002 for OPE) decreased in both groups. Significant increases in REE and RQ were observed in both groups (P = 0.003 for placebo, P = 0.006 for OPE) and in the OPE group alone (P = 0.02), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin-rich OPE supplementation changed the body composition of the overweight and obese subjects. This result suggests a beneficial role of the anti-obesity effect of OPE human subjects.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to assess the weight control behavior, body shape satisfaction, and obesity stress depending on the degree of obesity in college students who applied for a weight control program. The average BMI of the participants was $21.4\;kg/m^2$ which was in the normal range, and 76.3% of the participants were of normal body weight. Ideal BMI in this participant was $18.1\;kg/m^2$, which is in the underweight range. In terms of body perception, participants generally overestimated their body weight. The overweight and normal weight groups were less satisfied with their body shape than was the underweight group. The overweight group also expressed fears of showing their bodies to others. Additionally, the overweight and normal groups exhibited higher obesity stress than the underweight group. 97.0% of participants were interested in weight control as a way to improve their appearance. They usually obtained their weight control information from the internet and mass media. More than 80% of participants had weight control experience, having undergone weight control attempts for duration of less than a month. However, after the discontinuation of weight control efforts, these participants regained the weight. As a consequence, they were generally unsatisfied with the outcomes of weight control programs. This study demonstrated that the college women who had applied for the weight control program were unsatisfied with their body shape owing to distorted notions of the ideal body shape, and these women had generally undertaken frequent efforts to control their body weights. These results underline the importance of educating college-aged women on proper body perception and the maintenance of healthy body weight and shape.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.679-690
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Concerns about regional disparities in heathy eating and nutritional status among South Korean adults are increasing. This study aims to identify the magnitude of regional disparities in diet and nutritional status among Korean adults who completed the 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The participants were a nationally representative sample of Korean adults aged 19 years and older from the 2017 KNHANES (n = 6,126). We employed the svy commands in STATA to accommodate the complex survey design. The relative concentration index (RCI), absolute concentration index (ACI) and index of disparity were used to measure regional nutritional inequalities. RESULTS: Overweight and obese adults were more prevalent among the poor than among the rich in urban areas (RCI = -0.041; P < 0.05), while overweight and obese adults were more prevalent among the rich than among the poor in rural areas of South Korea (RCI = 0.084; P < 0.05). Economic inequality in fruit and vegetable intake ≥ 500 g per day was greater in rural areas than in urban areas in both relative size (RCI = 0.228 vs. 0.091, difference in equality = 0.137; P < 0.05) and absolute size (ACI = 0.055 vs. 0.023, difference in equality = 0.032; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides useful information identifying opposite directions in the relative concentration curves between urban and rural areas. Adult overweight/obesity was more prevalent among the poor in urban areas, while adult overweight/obesity was more prevalent among the rich in rural areas. Public health nutrition systems should be implemented to identify nutritional inequalities that should be targeted across regions in South Korea.