• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2003

Objectives : We intented to know the relations between Waist-to-Hip Ratio(WHR) and the abdominal temperature. Methods : Among the patients who visited the oriental gynecological department in Conmaul oriental medical hospital from 2002. 10. 10 to 2002. 11. 9. 130 women were selected for this study. We measured the abdominal temperature by D.I.T.I and Waist-to-Hip Ratio(WHR) by Inbody. Results and Conclusions 1. As WHR was higher, the abdominal temperature became lower. But there was no significant difference between WHR and the abdominal temperature of the abdominal obesity group and the non-abdominal obesity group in the each state. 2. There was significant difference in the abdominal temperature related with the abdominal obesity The abdominal temperature of the non-abdominal obesity group was higer than that of abdominal obesity group. 3. There was significant difference in the WHR according to the age, but no significant difference in the abdominal temperature according to the age. 4. This study showed that the abdominal temperature became lower among the 30-39 year-old women, as WHR was higher.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2002

Objective: The purposes of this study are to know the relations of abdominal obesity and ischemic stroke and to know what index could represent the abdominal obesity appropriately. Methods. We have done case-control study and recruited 97 ischemic stroke patients and 117 controls. Case is matched by control by individual matching. All participants had questionnaire, interview and then were examined waist-hip ratio, waist circumference and body mass index. Results : WC, WHR and Hypertension history had differences in two groups, case and control groups. But BMI and other factors weren't significant. According to Quartile of Waist Circumference, the two groups had the differences in hypertension history, diabetes history, smoking status, WHR, BMI, and weight and in the Quartile of Waist-Hip Ratio Quartile, past history of hypertension and diabetes, WC, BMI and weight had the significances. Sex, Age Adjusted and Multivariate Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval) of WC Quartile are 2.083, 1.628, 4.491 and 4.418, 4.964, 12.306, and in WHR, the Ors are 2.252, 5.743, 15.776 and 2.632, 8.918, 23.596. Conclusions: We knew from these results that abdominal obesity is very important risk factor of ischemic stroke and WHR more than WC is a good indicator of abdominal obesity, so we should reduce the WHR to prevent of ischemic stroke.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.395-399
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• 1999

Backgroud: Excess abdominal fat, expressed as an increased ratio of waist to hip circumferences (WHR), is independently associated with higher levels of blood pressure. Although a WHR greater than 1.0 in men has been shown to predict complications from obesity, the WHR has not been evaluated in all ethnic groups. Methods: In order to ascertain the association between WHR and classification of blood pressure and to investigate the critical value of WHR as a predictive factor of hypertension in Korean middle-aged men, we compared the mean of WHRs according to the classification of blood pressure in Seoul Cohort participants. Results: Through a surrey of direct measurement of waist and hip girth, 452 subjects were recruited from the cohort. The mean of WHR was 0.88 and its standard deviation was 0.04. The mean of WHRs was higher in the systolic blood pressure group (above 140 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure group (above 90 mmHg), and hypertension group than in the systolic blood pressure group (below 140 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure group (below 90 mmHg), and normotensive group, respectively. And WHR of above 0.89 was associated with hypertension (z-value =6.66). Conclusion: It is necessary for Korean males with WHR greater than 0.89 to recommend the primary prevention and early defection of hypertension.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.164-173
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• 1993

This study was aimed to investigate whether abdominal obesity is associated with non-insulin dependednt diabetes. The distribution of body fat patterns was observed in 181 female patients with diabetes, aged 33 to 83 years, living in the Taegu area, Korea. The following anthropometric measuremetns were made on all participants from October 1 to November 25, 1991 : weight, height ; waist and hip circumferences in standing position. The waist hip circumference ratio was used as an index of abdominal obesity. The results were as follows; 1) The mean fasting blood glucose of diabetic subjects was 145$\pm$50.3mg/dl and the mean duration of diabetes was 4.7$\pm$7.5 years. 2) Obese subjects above the ideal body weight body weight of 120% in the investigation are presently 52%, but 63% of subjects were reported to be obese in the past. The mean BMI of the subjects is 24.57$\pm$3.15 and the past mean BMI was 27.13$\pm$3.26. One year after reaching their highest body weight, 47% of the subjects developed diabetes. Two years after reaching their peak body weight, 74% of diabetic subjects developed diabetes. 3) Using the waist-hip circumference ratio, subjects beloing to the upper body obesity(WHR>0.84) were 65.5%. 4) The average daily energy intake did not differ between the obese and non-obese diabetic subjects, whether they were assessed with BMI or with RBW. 5) The average daily energy intake was higher in the upper body obesity subjects than in the lower body obesity subjects. 6) Diabetics withing the regular exercise group had lower fasting blood glucose levels than the non-regular exercise group. Exercise did not effect the RBW, BMI, and WHR. 7) The waist-to-hip circumference ratio correlated significantly in positive with waist-circumference, but did not correlated with hip-circumference. Therefore, WHR may depended on the increased accumulation of abdominal fat in female diabetics. In conclusion, these findings suggest that caloric intake is more associated with abdominal fat accumulation in diabetic women. Blood glucose concentration is independently effected by exercise, and exercise does not affect the WHR. Therefore, control of caloric intake and development of specific exercises to change the WHR seems important for controling diabetes in female subjects.

• 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.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.218-225
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• 2011

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between the blood mercury concentration and cardiovascular risk factors in elderly Korean individuals living in coastal areas. Methods: The sample consisted of 477 adults (164 males, 313 females) aged 40 to 65 years who visited a Busan health promotion center from June to September in 2009. The relationship between blood mercury concentration and cardiovascular risk factors including metabolic syndrome, cholesterol profiles, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), was investigated. Variables related to blood mercury concentration were further evaluated using multiple regression analysis. Results: The blood mercury concentration of the study population was 7.99 (range, 7.60 to 8.40) ${\mu}g$/L. In males, the blood mercury concentration was 9.74 (8.92 to 10.63) ${\mu}g$/L, which was significantly higher than that in females (7.21, [6.80 to 7.64] ${\mu}g$/L). The blood mercury concentration of the study population was related to several cardiovascular risk factors including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (p=0.044), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (p=0.034), BMI (p = 0.006), waist circumference (p = 0.031), and WHR (p < 0.001). In males, the blood mercury concentration was significantly correlated with WHR in the multiple regression analysis. Conclusions: In males, the blood mercury concentration was related to waist-to-hip ratio, which is a central obesity index and cardiovascular risk factor. Our finding suggests that cardiovascular disease risk in males was increased by mercury exposure via an obesity-related mechanism.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.749-772
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• 2022

This study aimed at investigating the validity of WHR (or waist-to-hip ratio) and Golden ratio as standards of physical attractiveness. Each of 60 male and 60 female college students were divided into two groups of 30. Using the 3D game program, each person in one group drew a physically attractive figure of the opposite sex while the other group drew a physically attractive figure of the same sex. Then, WHR and Golden ratio of the figures were measured and compared with the ideal WHR (.7 for women and .9 for men) and Golden ratio 1.618. It was found that WHR and Golden ratio for the physically attractive figures were lower than the ideal standards regardless of the participant's gender. That is, the participants preferred to men and women having curvaceous body shapes with a narrow waist and a wide pelvis. In most cases, Golden ratios measured in many ways were not correspondent to the ideal ratio, 1.618. In regards to BR (or Body Ratio), the legs and waist of the physically attractive figures were shorter relative to the Golden ratio and this was more salient for physically attractive man figures. Regarding the facial ratio measured by FR(or facial ratio) and FR_VP(or facial ratio_vertical point), the faces of figures made by participants, regardless of their sex, were shorter and wider compared to the Golden ratio. Further, the participants preferred baby-faced woman and masculine man figures. Finally, implications of the findings, limitations the of the present study, and the suggestions for future research were discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.365-374
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• 2005

This study was conducted to compare the validity of obese index among body mass index(BMI), waist to hip ratio(WHR), and waist circumference(WC) and to determine which is the best in relation to cardiovascular risk factors of middle aged Korean(40-64yr).Data from the 1998 Korean Health and Nutrition Survey were used(N=3380). Anthropometric indices and cardiovascular risk factors were measured. Chi-square test, analysis of variance following duncan's multiple range test, partial correlation analysis, and Receiver Operator characteristic(ROC) curves were used in the analysis. There was a significant increasing trend in WHR, systolic blood pressure(SBP), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL), and fasting blood sugar(FBS) with age categories of male and in BMI, WC, WHR, diastolic blood pressure(DBP), SBP, total cholesterol(TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL), triglycerol(TG), and FBS with those of female. Specially female had the characteristics of upper body fat and systolic blood pressure risk(p<0.05). Proportions of subjects with lifestyle factors related to cardiovascular risk in overweight or upper body fat group were higher than that of normal group. Higher proportions of subjects were practiced exercise in upper body fat group of male than in other groups. Among 7 cardiovascular risk factors in partial correlation analysis, BMI had the highest correlation coefficient in 6 risk factors in male, whereas WC in 4 risk factors in female. Mean of each obese index according to cardiovascular risk groups except smoker was higher than that of normal(p<0.05). These trends were shown in upper body fat group and female. In ROC analysis of 12 risk factors and health conditions, the largest area under curve among obese indices for risk factors were BMI in male and WHR in female. The optimal cutoff values of each index(BMI: WHR: WC) for one or more cardiovascular risk factors were 23.13: 0.89: 85.35 in male and 23.57: 0.84: 78.35 in female. The results showed that cardiovascular risk factors were prevalent in middle aged Koreans within normal limits of obese indices like another Asians. For the identification of cardiovascular risk factors of middle aged Koreans, BMI for men and WHR for women are appropriate indices. But it is recommended that BMI, WHR, and WC, all three indices should be considered, when using these indices.

• Journal of Rhinology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 2018

Background and Objectives: Obesity is one of the most important risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). There is limited evidence regarding the obesity-related anthropometric characteristics of Korean patients. Materials and Method: Medical records of 984 patients referred to 3 tertiary referral hospitals for habitual snoring or sleep apnea were analyzed. We defined OSA as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ${\geq}5$ and analyzed data to determine the anthropometric characteristics of patients with OSA such as neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and waist to hip ratio (WHR). Results: A total of 952 patients (719 men) were included in the analysis. The main findings were: 1) BMI, WC, NC, HC, and WHR were greater among patients with OSA than among controls (AHI <5); 2) for both sexes, the proportion of patients with an OSA diagnosis increased with age; it increased steeply for women aged >50 years; 3) WC and WHR were most strongly correlated with AHI for men and women, respectively. Conclusion: OSA is associated with anthropometric characteristics, although different patterns were observed between men and women. OSA was more strongly associated with NC or WC among men and with WHR among women.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.147-154
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• 2012

Metabolic syndrome and homocysteine are associated with increased independent risk factors of cardiovascular disease. We investigated the difference between the degree of obesity, metabolic syndrome risk factors, plasma homocysteine and anthropometric obesity factors. Totally 398 participated in a medical check-up program were selected for this study. Subjects were categorized into three groups according to the number of metabolic syndrome components present as defined by the NCEP-ATP III criteria; Absent (0 criteria, n=124), Pre-MetS (1-2 criteria, n=220) and MetS (${\geq}3$ criteria, n=54). Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to distinguish between normal weight, overweight and obesity. MetS presented higher homocysteine than Absent (p<.05) and obesity higher than normal weight (p<.01). When Absent+Pre-MetS was used to classify obese or not, obesty presented higher homocysteine than non-obese (p<.05). Further homocysteine levels positively correlated with weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and waist-hip ratio (WHR). Especially WHR is not only MetS (r=0.378, p<.001) but also Absent+Pre-MetS (r=0.305, p=0.029) significantly positively correlated with homocysteine. The results of our study indicate that homocysteine is related closely to obesity. Although obesity has not been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, obesity related with increased homocysteine.