• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.780-788
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between famine exposure in early life and the risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood during the 1959-1961 Chinese Famine. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 3,418 individuals aged 35-74 years free of diabetes from two studies in 2006 and 2009 were followed up prospectively in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Famine exposure was classified as unexposed (individuals born in 1962-1978), fetal exposed (individuals born in 1959-1961), child exposed (individuals born in 1949-1958), and adolescent/adult exposed (born in 1931-1948). A logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between famine exposure and diabetes after adjustment for potential covariates. RESULTS: During a three-year follow-up, the age-adjusted incidence rates of type 2 diabetes were 5.7%, 14.5%, 12.7%, and 17.8% in unexposed, fetal-exposed, child-exposed, and adolescent/adult-exposed groups, respectively (P < 0.01). Relative to the unexposed group, the relative risks (95% confidence interval) for diabetes were 2.15 (1.29-3.60), 1.53 (0.93-2.51), and 1.65 (0.75-3.63) in the fetal-exposed, child-exposed, and adolescent/adult-exposed groups, after controlling for potential covariates. The interactions between famine exposure and obesity, education level, and family history of diabetes were not observed, except for the urbanization type. Individuals living in rural areas with fetal and childhood famine exposure were at a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, with relative risks of 8.79 (1.82-42.54) and 2.33 (1.17-4.65), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that famine exposure in early life is an independent predictor of type 2 diabetes, particularly in women. Early identification and intervention may help prevent diabetes in later life.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.205-210
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of 37 bp insertion/deletion (I/O) poly-morphism of the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-associated protein 1 (LRPAP1) gene on anthropometrical or biochemical parameters in korean general population. To determine the frequency of the genotype, we analyzed 244 samples of Korean origin. The frequency of the I allele was 0.55 in men and 0.56 in women, which were significantly higher than the frequency (0.26) that was reported in Czech population of Caucasian origin. In addition, the I allele of this polymorphism was significantly associated with higher value of body mass index (BMI) in our subjects by ANOVA test (P<0.05), and this association was maintained after controlling for age and gender by ANCOVA test (P<0.05). Thus, our results suggest that the I/O polymorphism of the LRPAP1 gene may be useful as a genetic marker for obesity in Korean general population.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2015

Purpose: Previous studies focused on the negative effects of Internet use such as obesity, depression, and addiction. However, few studies investigated whether the Internet use for an appropriate time has positive effects on adolescents' health. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine the dose-response relationship between Internet use for non-academic purposes (NAP) and happiness/stress in adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the 2013 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey. A total of 72,435 adolescents were included. Rao-Scott ${\chi}^2$ and multiple logistic regression were conducted. To test the dose-response relationship, this study examined how happiness/stress changed with increase in the time of Internet use for NAP. Results: After controlling for general characteristics, the odds ratios for being unhappy and stressful were lowest in adolescents using the Internet for NAP for more than 0 hour and less than an hour a day. Interestingly, students who did not use the Internet for NAP had a significantly higher risk of being unhappy/stressful than those using for more than 0 hour and less than an hour a day. Conclusion: Internet use for NAP for more than 0 hour and less than an hour a day has positive effects on happiness/stress in adolescents.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.133-145
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• 2018

Breastfeeding is highly recommended due to its benefits for both the infant and mother; however, most mothers predominantly use formula feed. Breastfeeding affords protection against a wide variety of medical conditions that may emerge at different time points over the lifespan, including hospital admissions for respiratory infections and neonatal fever, offspring childhood obesity, and cancer as well as cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Moreover, breastfeeding is expected to decrease the risk of adolescent depression and other psychopathologies. It is also important for the development of the gut, gut-brain axis, and immune system, and night-time breast milk is likely to have higher antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune regulatory effects due to the impact of breast milk melatonin on the infant's developing microbiome and gut permeability. Melatonin can be added to a night-time-specific formula feed; however, it is not included in the Korean Food Additive Codex.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2014

Purpose: Overweight can be defined by the body mass index (BMI) and is likely associated with an increased cardiovascular disease risk. However, waist circumference (WC), a central adiposity index, may be a better indicator of cardiovascular disease risk. Studies comparing the effects of BMI and WC on cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure (BP), are rare in adolescents. Methods: We analyzed the correlations of BMI and WC with BP in 3,363 Korean adolescents (aged 10-19 years), using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2009-2011). Results: Systolic BP (SBP) in both sexes and diastolic BP (DBP) in boys were higher in the high BMI (>85th percentile) and high WC (>90th percentile) groups. High BMI and high WC were positively correlated with high SBP (>90th percentile) in both sexes, and high DBP (>90th percentile), in boys. BMI maintained its positive associations with SBP, DBP, high SBP, and high DBP in the normal weight ($BMI{\leq}85th$ percentile) and overweight (BMI>85th percentile) groups in both boys and girls, as well as in all subjects of both sexes, even after adjustment for WC. However, WC did not correlate with SBP, DBP, high SBP, or high DBP after adjustment for BMI in any group in either sex. Conclusion: In Korean adolescents, BMI correlated better with BP and high BP levels than WC. Further, BMI was positively associated with BP and high BP in the normal weight group as well as in the overweight group.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.2169-2172
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• 2015

This study investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between adenovirus 36 (Ad36) and obesity in 79 Korean adolescent boys over 1 year. We analyzed the changes in body composition and metabolic risk factors according to the presence of Ad36 antibodies. Ad36 antibodies in serum were detected using the constant virus-decreasing serum method. We found that the fat percentage and fasting insulin in the Ad36-seropositive group were greater than the Ad36-seronegative group. These results suggest that Ad36 infection is associated with an increase of adiposity, and the experience of Ad36 infection may affect the future fat gain of adolescents.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolically obese, normal-weight (MONW) phenotype and the association between lifestyle factors and the risk of MONW in Korean adolescents. Methods: Normal-weight (BMI, 5th to 85th percentile) subjects with ${\geq}1$ metabolic abnormalities were categorized as MONW phenotype. Data from adolescents aged 12 to 18 years who have participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 1998 (n=751) and 2008 (n=455) were analyzed. Physical activity and dietary intakes were assessed. Results: The prevalence of hypertension and hyperglycemia in 2008 decreased compared with that in 1998 (P<0.001) but the prevalence of abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL did not changed. The overall prevalence of MONW in Korean adolescents declined over 10 years (P<0.001). Adolescent boys and girls engaging regular exercise significantly increased over 10 years (P<0.01). Physically active adolescents had a lower risk of being MONW in 1998. Dietary intake patterns were not associated with a risk of MONW. Conclusions: The prevalence of MONW among Korean adolescents declined over 10 years which may be due to the decreased prevalence of hypertension and hyperglycemia. The risk of MONW would be lower in individuals who are physically active.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to the academic burden on weight loss efforts among adolescents aged 12-18 in Korea. Methods: This study analyzed 29,069 obese adolescents (10.8%) using raw data of the 9th~12th the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey collected from 2013 to 2016. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Weight control efforts were significantly higher among girls, middle school students, those who are participating in nutrition education, and individuals with perceived fatness or perceived stress. Additionally, a long sitting time and high academic performance were found to be variables affecting the weight control efforts of adolescents. Conclusion: Obese adolescents in Korea spent a lot of time in their studies due to their academic burdens and this caused a lack of time to adjust their weight. Therefore, it is needed to establish a policy by considering these social and cultural factors for obese adolescents in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2014

Purpose: Height-specific blood pressure (BP) is the standard parameter used to diagnose childhood hypertension. However, there has been some argument that weight may be a better variable than height in the reference BP standards. Therefore, before assessing the BP status using the reference BP standards, a basic understanding of the fundamental association of weight and height with BP is required. Methods: In the present study, we analyzed the correlation of BP with height and weight in Korean adolescents (age, 10-19 years), using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2009-2011). Results: Systolic BP (SBP) was more closely correlated with weight than with height in the normal weight (body mass index [BMI], ${\leq}85th$ percentile) and overweight (BMI, >85th percentile) groups and in the normal waist circumference (WC, ${\leq}90th$ percentile) and high WC (>90th percentile) groups in both sexes. Diastolic BP (DBP) had a higher correlation with height than with weight in the normal weight and normal WC groups, whereas weight was more closely associated with DBP than height in the overweight and high WC groups in both boys and girls. Conclusion: In Korean adolescents, weight had a greater effect on SBP than height in both the normal weight and overweight groups. DBP was mainly affected by height in the normal weight group, whereas weight was the major determinant of DBP in the overweight group. Therefore, it may be necessary to consider weight in the establishment of reference BP standards.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the statistical indicators of OECD and Korea for student health among Korea's approval statistics. Methods: Searching for health indicators by using Health at a Glance 2009, Society at a Glance 2009, and Education at a Glance 2009 through the formal OECD web site in 2010, and investigating the approval statistics through the Korean formal organizational web sites and published data in 2012. Results: Among OECD indicators, indicators for adolescent health were smoking and alcohol consumption, nutrition, physical activity, overweight and obesity, bullying, risk behaviors, and poverty children. However, most of Korea student health indicators were missing except poverty children and life satisfaction, because OECD has taken chiefly data from Health Behavior in School-aged Children survey (HBSC), international study, which has not been carried out in Korea. The Ministry Of Education, Science And Technology (MEST) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and National Youth Policy Institute in Korea have produced the major statistics for student health which was only 11 (1.3%) among 858 approval statistics. Conclusion: Identifying a current Korea school health is essential through participating actively to OECD whose statistic indicators are internationally comparable with Students Physical Development Survey, MEST's approval statistics, using Korea Student Health Examination. It was also suggested that quantitative and qualitative expansions for Korea student health statistics by the activation of approval statistics including processed statistics, and by researchers' easy expanded access to a raw data.