• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible causal factors of obesity in women with child-bearing experiences in effects to provide optimal information for the prevention and/or treatment of obesity. Sventy one women with child-bearing experiences were divided into five groups based on the degree of obesity by BROCA method ; normal weight, overweight, and obesity which was further divided into three groups of light, moderate, and sever obesity. Various anthropomnetric measurements, overall eating habits, and dietery intakes were asessed for each groups. Out of eighteen anthropometric factors asociated with obesity, thirteen measurements were represented to be valid for the diagnosis of obesity. Body fat % which was analyzed by Bioelectrical Impedance fatnee Analyzer were 24.765, 28.05%, and 29.85 for normal, overweight, and obesity group respectively. WHR(waister to hip ratio) or BMI(body mass index) widely used index was also resulted to be valid as a predictor of obesity. Waist circumference which represents abdominal fat mass showed a good correlatin with body fat%. The analysis of dietary intakes suggested that the overintakes of total calorie may not be the only causal factor of obesity, rather the amount of daily protein, fat and carbohydrate intakes or the physical activity level would be more closely related with the prevalence of obesity. Further investigation considering more variety of food composition of diet and the activity level involving larger number of subjects would be needed.