• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.441-450
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• 2009

The prevalence of obesity in children has steadily risen during recent years in developed countries. Child obesity has become a major concern to health providers since it has grown to epidemic proportions over the past few decades. This study was conducted to investigate the biochemical status, dietary habits and life styles according to the obesity degree among obese children residing in the Gyungbuk area. The subjects were 148 elementary school students (boy 103, girl 45) and classified as mildly obese (n = 56), moderately obese (n = 61) and severely obese (n = 31) by the obesity index. The average body weight and height increased significantly according to the obesity degree (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). Serum cholesterol concentration came under the normal level in all groups. Serum AST activity increased according to the obesity degree but it was not significant. Serum ALT activity increased according to the obesity degree (p < 0.05). Dietary habit score was lower significantly according to the obesity degree (p < 0.01). Life style of the subjects was significantly different for the level of 'healthy state (p < 0.05)', 'body perception (p < 0.01)', 'watching TV and video (p < 0.05)', 'normal sleeping hour (p < 0.05)' and 'degree of stress (p < 0.05)' according to the obesity degree. A positive relationship between obesity index and blood pressure, ALT has been shown in the subjects. Obesity index and dietary habit scores were negatively associated. Therefore, these results suggest that a practical nutrition-exercise education program for the prevention of child obesity should be provided to elementary school children. (Korean J Community Nutrition 14(4) : 441${\sim}$450, 2009)

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.44 no.10
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• pp.67-77
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• 2006

This study was performed investigate eating behaviors and their association with obesity in Korean elderly people. A total of 9,408 (male 4,487, female 4,921) Korean adults aged 40 to 69 years were interviewed and examined from May 2001 to Feb 2002. The subjects were classified into 4 weight status groups based on body mass index (BMI, $kg/m^2$): under weight, BMI<18.5; normal, $18.5{\leq}BMI\leq24.9$; overweight, $25.0{\leq}BMI\leq29.9$; obesity, $BMI\geq30.0$. Anthropocentric parameters, eating behavior, and preference of cooking method and taste were examined. In male, distribution of weight status by BMI was under weight 2.4%, normal 58.1%, over weight 36.7%, obesity 2.8%. As the BMI increased, the rate of skipping meal, snacks, and eating out were increased and the rate of eat alone was decreased. When compared according to the weight status by BMI, the frequency of the steamed, roasted, fried, seasoned, and soup intake rates were increases in the cooking methods and preference of greasy taste was increased by degree of obesity. In female, distribution of weight status by BMI was under weight 1.4%, normal 52.8%, over weight 38.6%, obesity 7.2%. There were differences in the rate of eating out, snacks, the frequency of fried food intake rates, and preferences of salty, hot, greasy taste according to the weight groups by BMI. In this results, we suggests that keep regular meal and keep away from the high-fat, salty, stimulative foods for prevent and administer the obesity in Korean adults meal and female.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.17-27
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was designed to confirm the ethnic and socioeconomic differences in the obesity of Uzbekistan. Methods: From 139 patients, visited Korean-Uzbekistan friendship hospital of Korean Medicine, gathered the information of the sex, height, weight, ethnic group, economic status, education level, self-desired weight, self-perception of weight status and experiences of weight reduction. Also patients completed the 10 questions about the association between obesity and disease. Results: Koreans in Uzbekistan showed a significant lower value of body mass index (BMI) and a significant higher understanding between obesity and disease than other ethics. Socioeconomic differences in the obesity were not confirmed. People of Uzbekistan showed a little experience of weight reduction. Conclusions: Koreans in Uzbekistan have a different prevalence and perception of the obesity with other ethnics. Researches about the relationship between obesity and metabolic factors, and prevention programs for obesity and metabolic syndrome are needed for the public health of Uzbekistan.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.161-164
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• 2014

Obesity is a significant problem affecting United States (US) firefighters. While body mass index (BMI) is widely used to diagnose obesity, its use for this occupational group has raised concerns about validity. We examined rates and types of misclassification of BMI-based obesity status compared to body fat percentage (BF%) and waist circumference (WC). Male career firefighters (N = 994) from 20 US departments completed all three body composition assessments. Mean BMI, BF%, and WC were $29kg/m^2$, 23%, and 97 cm, respectively. Approximately 33% and 15% of BF%- and WC-defined obese participants were misclassified as non-obese (false negatives) using BMI, while 8% and 9% of non-obese participants defined by BF% and WC standards were identified as obese (false positives) using BMI. When stratified by race/ethnicity, Pacific Islanders showed high rates of false positive misclassification. Precision in obesity classification would be improved by using WC along with BMI to determine firefighters' weight status.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.316-322
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• 2012

Objectives: Abdominal obesity increases mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease and there is a possibility that smoking effects obesity. However, previous studies concerning the effects of smoking on obesity are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine whether smoking is positively related to abdominal obesity in men with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Subjects consisted of 2197 type 2 diabetic patients who visited Huh's Diabetes Center from 2003 to 2009. Indices of abdominal obesity were defined as visceral fat thickness (VFT) measured by ultrasonography and waist circumference (WC). Overall obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI). Results: Statistically significant differences in WC and VFT by smoking status were identified. However, there was no statistical difference in BMI according to smoking status. Means of WC and VFT were not significantly higher in heavy smokers and lower in mild smokers. Compared to nonsmokers, the BMI confounder adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for VFT in ex-smokers and current-smokers were 1.70 (1.21 to 2.39) and 1.86 (1.27 to 2.73), respectively. Conclusions: Smoking status was positively associated with abdominal obesity in type 2 diabetic patients.

• 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 Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.289-297
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• 2018

Objectives: Obesity is a considerable and growing public health concern worldwide. The present study aimed to quantify socioeconomic inequalities in adult obesity in western Iran. Methods: A total of 10 086 participants, aged 35-65 years, from the Ravansar Non-communicable Disease Cohort Study (2014-2016) were included in the study to examine socioeconomic inequalities in obesity. We defined obesity as a body mass index ${\geq}30kg/m^2$. The concentration index and concentration curve were used to illustrate and measure wealth-related inequality in obesity. Additionally, we decomposed the concentration index to identify factors that explained wealth-related inequality in obesity. Results: Overall, the prevalence of obesity in the total sample was 26.7%. The concentration index of obesity was 0.04; indicating that obesity was more concentrated among the rich (p<0.001). Decomposition analysis indicated that wealth, place of residence, and marital status were the main contributors to the observed inequality in obesity. Conclusions: Socioeconomic-related inequalities in obesity among adults warrant more attention. Policies should be designed to reduce both the prevalence of obesity and inequalities in obesity by focusing on those with higher socioeconomic status, urban residents, and married individuals.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.627-634
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the obesity status on serum uric acid in health check-up examinees. The study subjects were 1,118 adults, 20 years and over (636 males, 482 females), the health package check-up at the general hospital in Gwang-Ju from January to December, 2011. This study assessed the serum uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels, as well as the anthropometric variables (SBP, DBP, and BMI). In a model I, after adjusting for the variables, such as age, SBP, DBP, TC, TG, HDL-C, and FBG, the mean uric acid level ($M{\pm}SE$) increased with increasing obesity status in males (p<0.001) or females (p=0.036). In model II, after adjusting for BUN and creatinine, the mean uric acid ($M{\pm}SE$) in males increased with increasing obesity status (Normal weight [BMI <$23.0kg/m^2$], $4.89{\pm}0.07mg/dl$; overweight [BMI $23.0-24.9kg/m^2$], $5.01{\pm}0.09mg/dl$; obesity [BMI ${\geq}25.0kg/m^2$], $5.35{\pm}0.08mg/dl$) (p<0.001). In the females, however, the mean uric acid ($M{\pm}SE$) did not increase with increasing obesity status (Normal weight, $5.03{\pm}0.08mg/dl$; overweight, $5.19{\pm}0.11mg/dl$; obesity, $5.27{\pm}0.09mg/dl$) (p=0.191). In conclusion, these results suggest that an increase in obesity status is associated with an increase in the serum uric acid levels in males, but not in females.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.467-476
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• 2014

This study aims to determine the effects of mental health on obesity among Korean adolescents. The data in this study were obtained from the 2013 Korean Youth Health Risk Behavior Web-based Survey conducted in 70,354 adolescents aged twelve to eighteen (35,575 males and 34,779 females) from June 1 to 30, 2013. The variables included age, the economic status of household, academic achievement, health status, perceived happiness, perceived stress, satisfaction of sleeping, perceived depression, and suicidal ideation and the data were processed using t-test, chi square test, and logistic regression analysis. The general characteristics affecting obesity for both Korean male and female adolescents included age (p<0.001), the economic status of households (p<0.001), academic achievement (p<0.001), and health status (p<0.001); the variable of mental health affecting obesity was suicidal ideation among females (p<0.05). It is expected that female adolescents' experience of suicidal ideation can be used as information to predict the likelihood of obesity in managing an obesity program for adolescents and it is necessary to provide obesity education suitable for age and to include obesity guidance in consideration of gender and the economic status.