• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.431-442
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• 2008

Purpose: The Purpose of this study was to examine the degree of obesity stress and analyze factors having an effect on obesity stress among college women. Method: The subjects were 347 female students from a university in J City. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire for general characteristics, health-related characteristics, and current and preferred somatotype. Obesity stress was measured using 10 items developed by Cho (1996) based on Body Attitudes questionnaire (BAQ) of Ben-Tovim and Walker (1991). The survey was conducted from September 4 to September 7, 2007. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Spearman's rank correlation test, and stepwise multiple regression using SPSS 14.0. Results: The average score of obesity stress was $2.78{\pm}0.90$ out of 5.00. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the major factors that affect obesity stress of female college students were perceived body shape, disagreement between current and preferred somatotype, history of weight control, body mass index (BMI), and perceived health status, and these factors explained 38.4% of obesity stress. Conclusion: Subjective judgment in the perception of or preference for body shape was the most important factor affecting obesity stress in female college students. Therefore, a plan is necessary to mitigate obesity stress and evaluate individually subjects who perceive themselves to be fat or want to be thinner than the current somatotype. And consultation and constant management are needed to help the high risk group (experience of weight control, BMI ${\geq}23kg/m^2$, not good health status).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.924-932
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• 2003

In middle-aged men, abdominal obesity has been an important risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as a predictor of hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Particularly, risks from abdominal obesity increase when adipose tissue accumulates in visceral compartment. Many studies showed that weight reduction by caloric restriction improves abdominal obesity and reduces lots of cardiovascular risk factors. Testosterone treatment also results in a significant decrease in visceral fat area and normalizes endocrine metabolism. However there is no study that compare the effect of caloric restriction with that of testosterone treatment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of caloric restriction and that of testosterone treatment on body fat distribution, serum lipids and glucose metabolism in male patients with CAD. Forty five middle-aged overweight-obese men with CAD participated in 12 weeks' program. They were matched with age, body weight, body mass index (BMI) and divided into three groups : control group (n = 15) , caloric restriction group (-300 kcal/day, n = 15) and testosterone treatment group (testosterone undecanoate tablets, n = 15) . After 12 weeks, control group did not have any changes in anthropometries, lipid profile, body fat distribution, glucose metabolism and hormonal status. Expectedly, caloric restriction group showed decreases in body weight, BMI, waist to hip ratio, ％ body fat. Ten percentage of total cholesterol and 23% of triglyceride in serum were also decreased. In body fat distribution, total fat areas at both L1 and L4 levels were significantly reduced in this group without reduction in muscle of thigh and calf. However, testosterone treatment group did not have any significant changes in body weight, ％ body fat, serum lipid profile and abdominal fat distribution. In conclusion, weight reduction by caloric restriction is more beneficial in body fat distribution and serum lipid level than testosterone treatment in overweight male patients with CAD. This result suggests that modest weight reduction is possible to help decrease risk factors of CAD.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between BMI, perceived weight and health status of the nursing students by finding the discrepancy between obesity by measuring BMI and students' perception of their weight. Method: The data were obtained by a questionnaire from 211 female nursing students of G college, Inchon, Korea, and by measuring their heights and weights. Result: The BMI of the 1st grade students($20.74kg/m^2$) was higher significantly than that of the 3rd grade students($19.65kg/m^2$). The difference between the obesity by BMI and perceived weight was significant. The concordance rates between obesity by BMI and perceived weight were 22,9%, 59.5%, 90.9% and 50% in underweight, normal, overweight, and obese students respectively. The students perceiving themselves overweight showed higher physical health status significantly than the students perceiving themselves underweight. There was a statistically significant correlation between BMI and physical health of the students. Conclusion: BMI of the nursing students has a significant influence on their physical health. Also there were significant discrepancies between the obesity by BMI and perceived weight.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.683-694
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to determine the body weight control, food habits and nutrient intakes according to the obese index in male middle school students. This study was carried out through questionnaires and measurement by body fat analyzer (Inbody 4.0). The subjects were 275 male middle school students in Iksan. Chonbuk province. The average age, height, weight, and BMI of the subjects were 14.4 years old, 167.8 cm, 60.2 kg and $21.3kg/m^2$, respectively. Seventeen point one percent of the subjects were the underweight group, 47.6% were the normalweight group, and 35.3% were the overweight group by the classification of the Korean Pediatrics Society standard. Body fat of underweight, normalweight, and overweight were 16.1%, 19.0%, and 26.6%, respectively. Thirty one point nine percent of underweight, 39.7% of normalweight. and 31.9% of overweight had misperceptions of their weight (p<0.001). Sixty two point two percent of the males were dissatisfied with their body weight, and 55.3% of the whole tried to reduce their body weights. Even though they were normalweight, half of them dissatisfied with their weight. The source of weight control method was friends and family, TV radio, Internet, and school nutrition education, in order. The subjects exercised 3.4 days per week, 70.2 minutes per day, but it was not different significantly by the obese index. Forty percent of the subjects had meals fast, 58.5% of them have biased food habits even if they didn't differ by the obese index. Activity rate was different by the obese index significantly (p < 0.05), the number of severe activity was most in underweight. In conclusion, nutrition education programs should contain the necessity of normalweight, and regularity of lift habits and activities for energy expenditure in overweight students. It made them to recognize their weight correctly, establish healthy body images, and raise the ability to promote health and improve nutritional status.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2011

Objectives : Obesity has been linked to various psychological problems as well as medical complications, especially among adolescents. Previous studies have suggested an association between body weight and depression or self-esteem ; however, there has been little evidence on self-perception of weight and mental health. The aim of this study was to examine the association of perceptional weight status with mental health in Korean adolescents. Methods : This study was based on data obtained from the third Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2005). The study sample consisted of 583 adolescents (268 boys, 315 girls) aged 12-18 years, who had completed the health survey, the health examination, and the nutritional survey. Participants were divided into two groups based on the actual or perceptional weight status: non-obese and obese. Questionnaires for stress, depressive mood, and suicidal thoughts were utilized as mental health indicators. Results : The agreement between actual and perceptional weight status was moderate (k value, 0.585 ; p<0.01). The influencing factors for the discrepancy between actual and perceptional weight status were body mass index of subjects and their parents' education. The obese group was likely to have higher stress levels and more experience of depressive mood or suicidal ideation in regard to both actual and perceptional weight status. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that girls who had perceived themselves as obese were more likely to have an experience of depressive mood than other girls (unadjusted OR, 4.98 ; adjusted OR, 5.15). Conclusion : An experience of depressive mood was significantly associated with the perception of weight status and not actual weight status in Korean female adolescents.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.465-475
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• 2019

Objectives: This study investigated dietary and lifestyle factors associated with the weight status among Korean adolescents in multicultural families. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 1,751 multicultural families' adolescents who participated in the 2017-2018 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Information on dietary and lifestyle factors was self-reported using a web-based questionnaire and this information included breakfast and foods consumption, perceived health status, alcohol drinking, smoking, physical activity, and weight control efforts. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on the self-reported height and body weight (kg/㎡). Weight status was assessed according to the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart: underweight (weight-for-age <5^th percentiles), overweight (85^th≤ BMI-for-age <95^th percentiles), and obese (BMI-for-age ≥95^th percentiles). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the dietary and lifestyle factors associated with weight status after adjustment for covariates. Results: Among Korean adolescents from multicultural families, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 20.9%, whereas about 7% of adolescents were underweight. The weight status did not show differences according to gender, school level, area of residence, and household income. Compared to adolescents who did not have breakfast during the previous week, those who had breakfast 3-4 days/week and ≥5 days/week had a 42% (p=0.021) and a 37% (p=0.009) lower prevalence of overweight/obesity, respectively. The adolescents who frequently consumed carbonated soft drinks (≥5 times/week) showed an odds ratio (OR) of 1.69 (95% CI=1.01-2.83) for overweight/obesity relative to those adolescents who did not consume carbonated soft drinks. The OR of being underweight for adolescents who ate fast food ≥3 times/week was 1.97 (95% CI=1.04-3.71) compared to those adolescents who had not eaten fast food during the previous week. Conclusions: Dietary and lifestyle factors were associated with overweight/obesity as well as underweight among Korean adolescents in multicultural families. Our findings could be used to design and provide nutrition interventions for this specific population.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.133-146
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• 1997

The objective of this study was to clarify whether there are any differences between normal and over-weight adults in their perceived weight, health status, health conception and health promoting behavior. The sample consisted of 238 normal weight and 106 over-weight(11% above on the Body Index Scale) adults, more than 20 years-old, who live in Seoul metropolitan. One participant per household was selected for conveneience. The findings from this study are summarized below. 1) Among 106 overweight adults, 30 were above 20% on the Body Index Scale and 11 were above 30%. Twenty-one(19.8%) of the overweight group and 34(14.4%) of the normal weight group had one disease, and there were 30(28.3%) in the overweight group and 46(19.6%) in the normal weight group where one of the family members had a disease, but these differences were not statistically significant. The average monthly family income for the overweight group was \2,220,000 compared to \2,070,000 for the normal weight group, and this difference was statistically significant. The age range for the whole group was between 20 and 74(mean=35.6 for total, 39.4 for overweight and 34.0 for normal weight group). Again significant difference was found. Occupations were salaryman(57.6%), teacher(7.4%), student(5.4%) and others(27.3%). Fifty-six salaryman(70.0%) from the overweight group and 92(52.0%) from the normal group did not consitute a statistically significant different. For the educational status, 90(87.5%) of the overweight adults and 222(93.7%) of the normal weight group finished high school or more educational courses, and there was significant statistical difference. Ninety-two(86.8%) of the overweights and 156(65.5%) of the normal weight group were married, and again significant statistical difference was found. 2) A test for difference in health characteristics between the two weight groups indicated that two groups did not show statistical differences in their perceived health status, health conception or health promoting behavior. That is, the overweight group also perceive their health status as good as the normal group, and regard 'Health' as a state that enables them to carry out social roles and functions rather than as the traditional concept of health as no disease or no symptoms. Both group showed slightly high level of health promoting behavior. To determine if no statistical difference might be related to the overweight group's failure of perceive themselves as overweight, the perceived and objective overweight status were compared by the Pearson Correlation Analysis, and a strong corelationship was found(r=.76, p=.000). That is, if participants perceived themselves as overweighted, they thought and replied to be got more weight comparing to the other person who are in same age and sex. However, 43(18.1%) of the normal group perceived themselves as being overweight and 28(26.4%) of the overweight group thought they were of normal weight. Even though the overweight group employed in this study perceived themselves as being overweight, they regarded themselves as healthy as those in the normal weight group. It was shown that there was no statistical difference between the two groups in health conception, health status and health promoting behavior. 3) Perceived health conception was shown to be significantly related to health promoting behavior(r=.20, p=.004 for whole group ; r=.27, p=.009 for overweight group ; and r=.21, p=.001 for normal group). It means that in both group the higher perceived health conception level, the more frequent health promoting behavior. And, perceived health status was also shown to be significantly related to health promoting behavior(r=.16, p=.000) as a whole and especially for overweight group(r=.24, p=.018), but no significant relationship for normal group(r=.08, p=.620). 4) By means of multiple regression analysis, health conception, perceived health status, age, sex and marital status provided predicted 15.18% on health promoting behavior.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.162-169
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the prevalence and factors affecting body shape misperception among Korean adult women. Methods: We analyzed raw data from the fourth Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families, for 7,658 women over 20 years of age. For the multiple logistic regression model, the dependent variable was existence of misperception (yes/no). Results: The prevalence of body shape misperception was 42.6% (overestimation 6.5%, underestimation 36.1%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that age, education level, marital status, economic status and BMI were significantly associated with body shape underestimation. Education level and BMI were significantly associated with body shape overestimation. Conclusion: An effective obesity intervention program for women must reflect and monitor body shape perception as well as BMI.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2012

The widespread pursuit of a thin physique may have a detrimental impact on the wellbeing of preadolescents. The influence of body image distortions on the lifestyles, dieting behaviors, and psychological factors was investigated in 631 fifth and sixth grade children in Kyeonggi-do, Korea. Children were classified into three weight groups (underweight, normal, and overweight) and three perception groups (underestimation, normal, and overestimation). Necessary information was obtained by questionnaire, and each subject's weight status was determined by the Rohrer index calculated from the annual measurement records, which were obtained from the school. According to their current weights, 57.4% of children were normal and 32.2% were overweight or obese, 16.6% of the children overestimated their body weight, and 55.2% had an undistorted body image. Overweight children had desirable lifestyles and dietary habits and presented reasonable weight control behaviors. Compared to those without distortion, the overestimated group had greater interest in weight control ($P$ = 0.003) and dissatisfaction with their body weights ($P$ = 0.011), presented unhealthy reasons to lose weight ($P$ = 0.026), and had higher scores for "feeling sad when comparing own body with others" ($P$ = 0.000) and for "easily getting annoyed and tired" ($P$ = 0.037), even though they had similar obesity indices. More subjects from the overestimation group ($P$ = 0.006) chose drama/movies as their favorite TV programs, suggesting a possible role for the media in body image distortion. These findings suggest that body image distortion can lead preadolescents to develop stress about obesity and unhealthy dieting practices, despite similar obesity indices to those without distorted body images. These results emphasize the importance of having an undistorted body image.