• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.189-230
• /
• 2020

The metabolic syndrome, by definition, is not a disease but is a clustering of individual metabolic risk factors including abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These risk factors could dramatically increase the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The reported prevalence of the metabolic syndrome varies, greatly depending on the definition used, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and the ethnic background of study cohorts. Clinical and epidemiological studies have clearly demonstrated that the metabolic syndrome starts with central obesity. Because the prevalence of obesity has doubly increased worldwide over the past 30 years, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome has markedly boosted in parallel. Therefore, obesity has been recognized as the leading cause for the metabolic syndrome since it is strongly associated with all metabolic risk factors. High prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is not unique to the USA and Europe and it is also increasing in most Asian countries. Insulin resistance has elucidated most, if not all, of the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome because it contributes to hyperglycemia. Furthermore, a major contributor to the development of insulin resistance is an overabundance of circulating fatty acids. Plasma fatty acids are derived mainly from the triglycerides stored in adipose tissues, which are released through the action of the cyclic AMP-dependent enzyme, hormone sensitive lipase. This review summarizes the latest concepts in the definition, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome, as well as its preventive measures and therapeutic strategies in children and adolescents.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.452-456
• /
• 2015

Obesity is the fifth leading risk for death globally, and a significant challenge to global health. It is a common, complex, non-malignant disease and develops due to interactions between the genes and the environment. DNA methylation can act as a downstream effector of environmental signals; analysis of this process therefore holds substantial promise for identifying mechanisms through which genetic and environmental factors jointly contribute to disease risk. To assess the effects of excessive weight and obesity on gene-specific methylation levels of promoter regions, we determined the methylation status of four genes involved in inflammation and oxidative stress [interleukin 6 (IL6), tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and glucose transport 4 (GLUT4)] in blood cell-derived DNA from healthy women volunteers with a range of body mass indices (BMIs) by methylation-specific PCR. Interestingly, the samples from obese individuals ($BMI{\geq}30kg/m^2$) showed significantly increased hypermethylation for IL6 gene compared to normal weight ($BMI<23kg/m^2$) and overweight sample ($23kg/m^2{\leq}BMI<30kg/m^2$) (P = 0.034 and P = 0.026). However there was no statistically significant difference in promoter methylation of the other 3 genes between each group. These findings suggest that aberrant DNA methylation of IL6 gene promoter may play an important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of obesity and IL6 methylation could be used as molecular biomarker for obesity risk assessment. Further studies are required to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying this relationship.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.292-300
• /
• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate weight control behavior and obesity stress of college women. The data were collected from September 7 to September 13 of 2013 and the subjects were 213 college women in C city of Gyoung-nam Province. The data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 program using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's test. The score of obesity stress was moderate($18.26{\pm}5.66$). The level of obesity stress was affected by various general characteristics and weight control behavior characteristics including economic status(F=3.99, p=0.020), figure recognition(F=14.41, p<.001), satisfaction of body figure(F=15.88, p<.001), interest of weight control(F=4.82, p=.001), control of food amount(F=2.41, p=.050), body figure compulsion(F=24.06, p<.001), experience of dieting (F=6.04, p<.001), sleeping hours(t=2.10, p=.036), desired losing weight (F=10.47, p<.001). Therefore, it is necessary to be considered these variables during development of body weight control programs for college women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.501-510
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the dietary attitudes, nutrition knowledge, nutrient intake, eating-related characteristics of dancing major and non-major female university students. The survey was conducted from October 1 to November 10, 2003 by questionnaires and data analyzed by SPSS program. The results are summarized as follows: 25.5% of the underweight group, 53.6% of the normal weight group, 12.5% of the overweight group and 66.7% of the obese group had correct perception about their body image. Eighty-one point three percent of the dancing majors and 77.2% of the non-majors were concerned about weight control, and 71.3% of the dancing majors and 64.5% of the non-majors had weight control experiences. There were no significant differences in nutrition knowledge scores and dietary attitude scores between dancing majors and non-majors. There were no significant differences in ‘predisposition to obesity scores’ between dancing majors and non-majors, and the scores were low. ‘Predisposition to anorexia’ scores and ‘uncontrollable urges to eat’ scores were significantly higher in the dancing majors compared to the non-majors. Intakes of the nutrients were lower than those of the Korean recommended dietary allowances (RDAs), except vitamin C in the dancing majors. Intakes of calories, calcium and iron were lower than those of the RDAs in the non-majors. Dietary attitude was positively correlated with nutrition knowledge but was negatively correlated with ‘uncont-rollable urges to eat’. In the dancing majors, ‘predisposition to obesity’ showed significantly positive correlation with obesity rate and ‘uncontrollable urges to eat’ and was negatively correlated with nutrition knowledge and dietary attitude. In the non-majors, obesity rate showed positive correlation with ‘predisposition to obesity’ and ‘uncontrollable urges to eat’. Therefore proper nutritional education program and recommended dietary allowances are required for dancing majors to improve their nutritional status.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.123-139
• /
• 2019

This study aims to explore the diverse characteristics of obese groups of Korean males in their 20's to 40's. A total of 201 males who each had a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 23 or over were recruited through a convenient sampling. Samples were categorized into groups of overweight, slightly obese, and severely obese, and submitted for data analysis. Results are summarized as follows. First, in terms of demographic characteristics, slightly and severely obese males were older than overweight males. There were also group differences in marital status and household income. Second, slightly and severely obese groups demonstrated a higher perception of obesity and a lower perception of health than did the overweight group. Third, there were no group differences in body satisfaction, socio-cultural attitudes toward appearance, and self-esteem. Based on these results, we concluded that overweight, slightly obese, and severely obese groups were distinguishable from each other in terms of their demographic characteristics, whereas the slightly obese group and the severely obese group were not different in terms of perception of obesity, perception of health, weight control behaviors, body satisfaction, body image, socio-cultural attitudes toward appearance, and self-esteem. These findings may reflect that people may not become increasingly sensitive to socio-psychological stimulations as they gain more weight if they have exceeded a certain level of obesity. This observation provides meaningful implications for the differences among obesity groups given the lack of prior research focusing on this issue.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.161-175
• /
• 2007

It is important for young adults to establish good dietary behavior for healthy life. The prevalence of obesity in college students has increased gradually. The obesity is one of the most prevalent health problems in S. Korea. Moreover, obesity is closely related with the disease such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate health practice, serum components and nutrient intake of the college students according to Body Mass Index (BMI) level. 400 male and female freshmen students in 4 year university located near to Seoul metropolitan area were surveyed respectively through the health check-up procedure for college entrance in February. Survey was carried out for them by questionnaires, including a 24-hour dietary recall and anthropometric measurements. Blood samples were obtained while fasting. Nutrient intake was expressed by DDS(Dietary Diversity Score by 5 food groups) and DVS(Dietary Variety Score). Nutrition level was analyzed by Can-Pro (Korea Nutrition Association). And for the quantity intake, percentage ratio against daily requirement(by KDRIs) and MAR(Mean Adequacy Ratio) were calculated. Underweight group($BMI<18.5kg/m^2$), normal weight group($18.5) and overweight group($BMI<23.0 kg/m^2$) were 18.5%, 61.2% and 19.3% respectively. Nutrient intake levels and food intake status were not significantly different among three groups. The mean nutrient adequacy ratio (MAR) was not significantly different by BMI status. Nutrient intakes of calcium, iron, and riboflavin were especially low for all the students. Overweight group showed high blood pressure(120.9/79.3 mmHg) compared with the underweight group (116.4/ 75.8mmHg) but the difference was not significant. The serum triglyceride level in overweight group (94,0mg%) was higher than that in normal (70.9mg%) or underweight group(70.8mg%)(p<0.05). HDL-cholesterol level in overweight (43.8 mg%) group was not significantly different from that in underweight group (45.9mg%). BMI was positively correlated with blood pressure, hemoglobin, and the intake of total fat and cholesterol. But it was negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol level. With these results overweight group is closely related with the cardiovascular disease risks, such as high blood pressure and high triglycerides and cholesterol. Thus, a health intervention program including weight control is required for young adults.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.717-726
• /
• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate health status and nutrient intakes among 5th grade elementary students at Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2010. This study was cross-sectional study on 1,384 children (687 boys, 697 girls) from nine elementary schools located in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. The average height, weight and BMI were 145 cm, 40.6 kg $19.2\;kg/m^2$ for boys and 145.4 cm, 38.2 kg, $18.0\;kg/m^2$ for girls. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 11.3%, 5.2%, respectively. Serum AST, ALT, glucose, HDL-Cholesterol and RBC levels were significantly higher, while TG levels was significantly lower for boys than for girls. The average energy intake was 1772.4 kcal, which was 98.7% of Estimated Energy Requirement (EER). The boys consumed more energy intake (1800.4 kcal) than the girls (1744.7 kcal). Also, they took insufficient calcium and folate (69.1% and 83.3% of Recommended Intake (RI)) and excess sodium (297.6% of Adequate Intake (AI)) and 85.1% of the subjects had breakfast everyday. In general, the proportion of the children who consumed fruits and vegetables at least once or more a day was low. There was a higher proportion of children in boys who had ramyun and milk with sufficient physical activity than those in girls. As a result of this study, we can find risk factors on obesity and metabolic disorders, and the results can be used for an evidence of nutrition education program and the intervention program.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.20 no.8
• /
• pp.494-502
• /
• 2019

Various international reports have shown strong proof that socioeconomic and sociodemographic variables are correlated with allergic diseases, yet little is known about how these variables affect Korean adolescents. This study was conducted to identify the socioeconomic and sociodemographic risk factors for allergic diseases of Korean adolescents, and to provide information for preventing and managing such conditions. Data from the 2018 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS) of 60,040 adolescents was used for this study. An anonymously administered online survey was conducted to collect information on the dependent variables. The independent variables were asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the correlations between the dependent variables and the independent variables. Low economic status, living with mother, high education level of parents, high school record, obesity, drinking and smoking were the risk factors for asthma. Low economic status, the place of residence, living with mother, high education level of the parents, gender, high school record, obesity, drinking and smoking were the risk factors for allergic rhinitis. Low economic status, living with mother, high education level of parents, genderhigh school record, obesity and drinking were the risk factors for atopic dermatitis. We found that low socioeconomic status and unhealthy behavior were the risk factor for allergic diseases of Korean adolescents. Balanced economic growth in the community and controlling unhealthy behavior can help reduce the prevalence of allergic diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.731-737
• /
• 2007

In this paper, we propose a system for analyzing nutrition status based on hierarchical fuzzy inference approach, where the hierarchical fuzzy approach used to analyze the transition process on the nutritional status from an obesity degree, the previous nutritional status, and the eating pattern with an individual. Moreover we discussed about the selection method of fuzzy membership intervals of the next layer to improve the reliability of inference results in hierarchical fuzzy system, where their intervals are modified by using statistical information of the defuzzified results obtained from the previous layer. To show the effectiveness of this system, we evaluated the nutritional status from the information of anthropometric measurement, biochemical test, and INQ on 113 people over the age of 65, and also analyzed their nutritional status.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.41-52
• /
• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the health status and food habits of male college students in Wonju according to drinking behavior. A total of 204 (drinking group: 133, non-drinking group: 71) male college students were recruited and a questionnaire-based survey was conducted. General characteristics, drinking-related factors, health status, and food habits were investigated. Data were analyzed by SPSS program (ver 21.0). The type of residence (P<0.05) and obesity rate (P<0.05) were significantly different by drinking status. Frequency of drinking was 65.2%, and 39.9% of subjects started drinking upon entering college. The motivation to start drinking was 'from necessity'. Reason for drinking was 'Social relations'. The most frequent drinking opportunity in college was 'membership training'. The favorite kind of drink was beer. Health status factor scores for 'concerns about health (P<0.05)', and 'smoking (P<0.05)' were significantly higher in drinking group than those in non-drinking group. Food habits score (drinking group: 50.9 vs non-drinking group: 52.4, P<0.01) was significantly lower in the drinking group. Scores for 'I have breakfast regularly (P<0.05)', 'Do not eat the junk food often (P<0.05)', and 'Do not eat out often (P<0.05)' were significantly lower in the drinking group. 'Drink milk every day' was significantly higher in the drinking group.