• 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 Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.421-428
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• 2000

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.117-127
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• 2024

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of pre-obesity (overweight) and above in adult women and to identify associated factors. Methods: Data were obtained from the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VIII-2), conducted in 2020. The sample comprised 2,288 women aged 19-64 years who participated in the KNHANES VIII-2. Data were analyzed using complex sample design analysis with SPSS version 20.1. Results: The prevalence of pre-obesity and above among adult women was 46.5%, with 18.6% classified as having pre-obesity and 27.9% as having obesity. A higher prevalence of pre-obesity and above was observed in women aged 50-59 years (odds ratio [OR]=1.67, p=.019) or 60-64 years (OR=1.80, p=.029); women whose highest educational attainment was high school (OR=1.28, p=.018) or middle school or less (OR=1.60, p=.017); those in middle-income households (OR=1.55, p=.005); those engaging in muscle-strengthening activities less than 2 days per week (OR=1.37, p=.019); and those sleeping less than 6 hours per night during the week (OR=1.37, p=.025). Conclusion: As nearly half of all adult women have either pre-obesity or obesity, prevention and management strategies must target both groups. Interventions should be prioritized for women in their 50s and older, as well as those with low education or income levels. Additionally, receiving adequate sleep of 7 hours or more and engaging in muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days per week are important components of obesity management.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.564-568
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• 2008

The prevalence of obesity in Korean children is estimated to be around 10%, and has increased significantly over the past 20 years. Metabolic syndrome, which includes central obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, is a well documented risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but there is no general consensus concerning its definition for children. In this study, ablut 30-40% of overweight or obese children had metabolic syndrome compared to less than 10% in the general population. Dyslipidemia was the most common component and hyperglycemia was the least common component of metabolic syndrome. If the prevalence of childhood obesity continues to increase, it is highly likely that the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome will also increase. These findings emphasize the importance of preventing obesity in addition to the diagnosis and management of metabolic syndrome in Korean adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2017

Purpose: The aims of this study were to identify prevalence and identify factors related to sarcopenic obesity among community-dwelling elderly women. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the prospective cohort study. Our analysis included 338 elderly women (${\geq}65$ years old) in South Korea as a part of the Community-dwelling Older Adult Health Cohort (COHC) Study (2014-2015). Sarcopenic obesity was defined as the Asian Working Group of Sarcopenia recommendations and upper two quintiles for percentage body fat. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors related to sarcopenic obesity including chronic diseases, medications, stress, fatigue, depression, exercise, level of proteins on body compositions, smoking, and alcohol use. Results: The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity was 6.2%. A lower protein on body compositions (OR 0.017, 95% CI 0.003-0.081, p< .001), a larger number of medications (OR 2.104, 95% CI 1.404-3.152, p< .001), and a higher level of fatigue (OR 1.255, 95% CI 1.023-1.541, p= .030) were related factors of sarcopenic obesity. Conclusion: The findings suggest that nutritional interventions focusing on protein intakes should be needed to prevent sarcopenic obesity among the elderly women. Polypharmacy issue for preventing adverse outcomes and level of fatigue as indicator for early identification are also considered to develop community prevention programs.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

Obesity is correlated with diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular, renal, neurologic, psychological and many other disease. Owing to the elevated income and behavioral changes, the prevalence of obesity has remarkably increased in Korea also. Considering the trend of the epidemic, we can easily expect the excessive spendings for the treatment of the obesity-related diseases in near future. In order to check the prevalence of obesity and serum lipid levels of Korean employees, we analyzed the medical check-up sample data of 10,332 adults who took physical check-ups at an institute in 2006. Through the logistic regression analysis we found the prevalence rate of total risk group showing ${\geq}23.0Kg/m^2$ was 57.4% and uric acid was found to be a definitive factor in the prevalence of obesity. Among the adults who eat more meat, drink more and smoke more smoking, the values of BMI, uric acid, cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol and TG were significantly higher than rest of the examinees. And the average BMIs were significantly higher among those who have risk factors of liver disease, hypertension, cardiovascular and heart disease, and diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.509-515
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• 2022

To comparison of the differences in affecting factors of prevalence of obesity and hypertension according to the employment type of single-person households, aged 20 to 59 years old people were classified by permanent and temporary workers(n=566). A questionnaire survey was conducted by purposive quota sampling to ask disease, income and health habits. In the results of logistic regression on hypertension and obesity, the prevalence of hypertension was significantly affected as age and obesity increased regardless of employment type. In particular, temporary workers with lower income were more likely to have hypertension(p<0.001). The prevalence of obesity was significantly lower for female than for male regardless of employment type. In particular, temporary workers had a higher prevalence of obesity as their dinner fidelity decreased(p<0.001). As a result, chronic disease management for single-person households with lower income and dinner fidelity should be intervened in more useful ways.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.37-47
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• 2021

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to discover the changes in obesity prevalence and dietary habits in Korean adults residing in various residential areas during the last 10 years. Methods: Data on Korean adults aged 19 years and above was obtained from the 4th (2007-2009) and the 7th (2016-2018) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were classified into metropolitan (4th: n=5,977, 7th: n=6,651), urban (4th: n=4,511, 7th: n=5,512) and rural (4th: n=3,566, 7th: n=2,570) based on their residence. The general characteristics, nutrient intake, intake amount, food groups, and healthy dietary factors were analyzed. The association between residential areas and obesity prevalence were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. Results: In urban and rural areas, the obesity rate increased in the 7th survey compared to the 4th survey, excluding the metropolitan area. The carbohydrate intake decreased, and lipid intake increased in the 7th survey compared to the 4th survey. Over the same period, the intake of cereals and vegetables decreased, and the intake of meat and processed foods increased. Rural residents had a higher intake of cereals and vegetables, and a lower intake of milk and processed foods than those in metropolitan areas and urban residents. The proportion of subjects who practiced a healthy diet increased in the 7th survey compared to the 4th survey. In the 4th survey, there was no relationship seen between the prevalence of obesity and the subject's residential area, but in the 7th survey, the odds ratio of obesity was higher in rural areas than in the metropolitan areas, confirming the regional gap (OR: 1.16, 95% CI=1.00-1.36, P=0.044). Conclusions: This study showed that the obesity prevalence increased in rural residents compared to metropolitan residents, indicating a gap between the regions. The nutrient intake and intake of food groups changed in the 10 years under consideration, and there were differences seen between regions. Therefore, it is necessary to formulate a policy that will reduce obesity prevalence and health inequalities between regions.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.64-70
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• 2023

Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease that is associated with various complications, including cardiovascular diseases. The prevalence of obesity among young adult males has increased, and this has increased the prevalence of several comorbidities. This trend was closely linked to lifestyle factors, including heavy drinking, smoking cigarettes, and an imbalanced diet. This emphasized the necessity of lifestyle improvements for effective obesity management. In this case, the comprehensive lifestyle changes and adjuvant medication resulted in weight loss and improvement in several comorbid conditions in a young adult male. The case highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to managing obesity. Furthermore, it emphasized the importance of a healthy lifestyle in addressing obesity and its complications.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.150-157
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• 2024

The prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity has increased and exacerbated during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, both in Korea and globally. Childhood and adolescent obesity poses significant risks for premature morbidity and mortality. The development of serious comorbidities depends not only on the duration of obesity but also on the age of onset. Obesity in children and adolescents affects almost all organ systems, including the endocrine, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, reproductive, nervous, and immune systems. Obesity in children and adolescents affects growth, cognitive function, and psychosocial interactions during development, in addition to aggravating known adult comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and cancer. Childhood and adolescent obesity are highly associated with increased cardiometabolic risk factors and prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in later life can be considerably decreased by even a small weight loss before the onset of puberty. Childhood and adolescent obesity is a disease that requires treatment and is associated with many comorbidities and disease burdens. Therefore, early detection and therapeutic intervention are crucial.