• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.157-165
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• 1991

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in body fat distribution between normal and obese subjects and the relationship between risk factors(fasting blood sugar, blood pressure. fasting serum lipids) and obesity. Measurements of height. weight, skinfold thickness. body circumference. percent body fat. blood pressure, fasting blood sugar and serum lipids were made and a dietary survey was performed on 120(Males 61. Females 59) adult subjects. 1) Among the female subjects, the obese group appeared to have significantly higher centrality of body fat than the normal group. Obese groups of both sexes appeared with higher blood pressure than normal groups. No differences in daily average nutrient intake, fasting blood sugar and fasting serum lipids concentrations were observed between obese and normal groups. 2) In males. the serum triglyceride concentration was observed to have a significantly positive correlation to body weight, body mass index and body circumference, additionally concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were observed to have significantly positive correlations to the skinfold thickness. but the ratio of HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol was observed to be significantly negatively correlated to the skinfold thickness. 3) In females. the obese group consumed about 47% of total energy intake at lunch. whereas the normal group consumed about 29% . The food habit score of males appeared to be negatively related to body weight, percent ideal body weight. But the food habit score of females appeared to be negatively related to percent body fat(r=-0.32, p<0.05) .

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.658-666
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate among adolescents (total=729) the relationship between their self-esteem, body-cathexis, their attitudes toward the importance of their bodies, their anthropometric characteristics, their perceptions of their body shapes and their experiences with weight control. The results are summarized as follows: The mean values for self-esteem and body-cathexis were generally low, but these values were significantly higher among boys than girls (p<0.01-0.001). However the mean values for their attitudes toward the importance of their bodies were relatively high and were significantly higher among girls than boys (p<0.01). The mean values for Percent Ideal Body Weight (PIBW) and Body Mass Index (BMI) were normal and no significant differences between the genders were observed. The distribution of the PIBW and the BMI values showed a higher rate for normal weights among the girls and a higher rate for underweightedness and obesity among the boys (p<0.01). With regard to their perception of their body image, among the boys, their current figures were almost identical with their idea of an ideal figure, but among the girls, their idea of an ideal figure was thinner than their current figure. The girls were more dissatisfied with their own body image than the boys (p<0.001). Fifty-four percent of the subjects had previous weight control experience, and the girls had significantly more experience than the boys (p<0.001). Their main reason for practising weight control was to lose weight (65.3%) Those who had more weight control experience had lower satisfaction with their body shapes, higher PIBW, higher BMIs or currently had fatter figures. Their standard image of their figures was influenced by TV (40.3%) and friends (36.9%). There was a weakly positive correlation between their self-esteem and their satisfaction with their body shapes, and a weakly negative correlation between their satisfaction with their body shapes and their attitudes toward the importance of their bodies. These results suggest the necessity for an educational program for adolescents as to foster a positive body image. Such a program should consider psychological factors such as self-esteem, satisfaction with body shape and attitudes toward the importance of the body.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.525-538
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to provide information on obesity assessment for Koreans. Among total of 1012 research papers enlisted in the Korean J Community Nutrition form 1996 to 2011, 248 articles were examined in which subjects were divided into more than 2 groups by obesity rate. About the method of anthropometric data collection, more than half of the research papers examined 52.5% and 28.7% of studies utilized the directly measured data and self-described data, respectively. About the utilization of obesity assessment methods, indirect methods of weight-height index (BMI, BMI percentile, and R$\ddot{o}$hrer index) and PIBW (WLR, Broca index, and KDA) were 62.4% and 23.2%, respectably, and the direct method of percent body fat assessment was only 9.3%. The most frequently utilized methods were WLR in under primary and primary school children, and BMI in the middle and high school students and in adults. For primary school students, WLR was the most frequently utilized method up to 2007, but it changed to BMI percentile afterward. Broca Index was no longer utilized since 2008. There were no articles utilizing BMI percentile and R$\ddot{o}$hrer index for obesity assessment in adults. Criteria for obesity assessment were not consistent among research papers: for example, % body fat, 19~40%; BMI, 20~30; BMI percentile, 85th or 95th. In the case of PIBW, 120% of ideal weight was the most frequently utilized criterion for obesity. Based on these findings, we suggest that proper methods and criteria of obesity assessment for each age group should be determined and proclaimed.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 1999

Body mass index(BMI) is recognized as one of the most useful indexes for adiposity in children and adults. This study was conducted to provide information on BMI distribution by age and sex in Korean children, and to identify sociodemographic factors that affected BMI among children. The study was conducted on 2376 children(boys 1184, girls 1192) living in a middle-size city in Korea. Subjects were selected from the primary schoolchildren in grades 1-6 using the two-stage sampling method. Their mean age was 9.4 years. The percentile of BMI tended to increase as age increased in both sexes. The 85th percentile for boys, aged 6-12 years, was 19.8kg/㎡, and the 95th percentile was 22.5kg/㎡. The 85th percentile for girls, aged 6-12 years, was 18.9kg/㎡, and the 95th percentile was 21.5kg/㎡. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to predict BMI from percent ideal body weight (PIBW), age and sex. After adjusting PIBW and age, BMI for boys was 0.062kg/㎡ lower than that for girls. One year of age increased BIM by 0.55kg/㎡. The prevalence rate of overweight and obesity based on PIBW was 15.8% and 15.0% for boys, and 14.0% and 11.0% for girls, respectively. Demographic factors such as sex, age, and parents' obesity influenced children's BMI. After adjusting for sex, age and parents' BMI, the presence of another children in family, and mother's employment status showed a strong effect on children's BMI. The results suggest an age-sex specific BMI distribution of Korean children. The present study also provides direct evidence of a correlation between early life environmental factors, such as presence of siblings or mother's employment, and BMI level in Korean children.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.231-243
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• 2000

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between body image and BMI with satisfaction of own body image, snack intake practices, food intake practices and weight control practices of 226 female college students in Jeonbuk province using questionnaire. The results were summarized as follows : 1. The average height, weight and BMI was 162.08cm, 52.02kg and 19.78, respectively. The average ideal body weight of the subjects was 48.92kg. Ninety percent of the subjects was dissatisfied with their body image. The degree of dissatisfaction was higher in the group who recognized themselves as fat. Most of subjects wanted to lose weight, but as the group having a recognition of thin body image significantly wanted to gain weight (p<0.001). 2. The subjects preferred fruits and juices for snack. The more subjects recognized themselves as fat, the more they restricted snack intake (p<0.05). 3. The rate of skipping meal tends to increase. The subjects did not intake balanced meals and skipped breakfast most (20.7%). The number of food groups taken at breakfast, lunch and dinner was 1.84, 2.25 and 2.55, respectively and the most variable food groups were taken at dinner(p<0.001). Dairy food group intake was low. The duration of meal time was longer in the underweight group by BMI regardless of body image recognition (p<0.05). 4. The weight controlling method was concentrated mostly on decreasing food intake. The more subjects recognized themselves as fat, the more they tried to control weight (p<0.001). Even though 59.5% of the subjects with no weight control experience had no future weight control plans, 50% of the group who recognized themselves as normal or fat did not want to control weight in the future (p<0.01). These results suggest that nutrition education programs and correction programs of food behaviors and weight control should start from focusing on the accurate recognition of body image for college female students.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.59-73
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the percent of body fat. fatness indices. and relationship between the percent body fat and dietary factors among the female middle school athletes. Hights, weights, an percent body fats of 17 soccer player. 10swimmer, and 5 rhythmic gymnast were measured. Dietary data were collected by questionnaires. The results of this study are summarized as follows. 1. Average body fat measured by infrared interactance method was 23.8$\pm$4.9% and BMI body fat was 20.3$\pm$2.6% Fatness indices such as BMI was 18.8$\pm$2.1 Rohrer index 119.4$\pm$11.8 percentage of ideal weight 90.4$\pm$9.2 and RBW 29.7$\pm$4.1. 2. Soccer player, swimmer, and rhythmic gymnast showed significant differences in percent body fat and fatness indices. ryhthmic gymnasts were smaller and lighter. 3. Most athletes were interested in diet and nutrition. and wanted to learn more about nutrition. Middle school female athletes ranked parents first or second for nutrition information. followed by managers$.$coaches$.$trainers. 4. Nutrition knowledge test score was 4.7 point out of possible 10, which is rather low, and showed significant difference in 3 kinds of players. 5. The quantities of food eaten in breakfast. lunch dinner and snack were significantly different among soccer player. swimmer. and rhythmic gymnast. In preference score of food groups, only beverage score was significantly different and of cooking methods. roasting and steaming were significantly different among the soccer player. swimmer. and rhythmic gymnast. 6. When subjects were divided into 3 groups on the basis of % infrared body fat, subjects with the highest body fat showed the tendency to eat more than others(non-sig). In the preference score of food groups. only fish showed significant difference among the groups. There were no significant differences between body fat and preference of various cooking method.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.499-506
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• 2010

The study aimed to analyze the lifestyles, weight control behavior, dietary habits, and depression of female university students. The subjects were 532 students from 8 universities located in 4 provinces in Korea. According to percent ideal body weight, 33 (6.4%), 181 (34.0%), 283 (53.2%), 22 (4.1%) and 13 (2.5%) were severely underweight, underweight, normal, overweight and obese, respectively, based on self-reported height and weight. As much as 64.1 % and only 2.4%, respectively, overestimated and underestimated their body weight status. Six overweight subjects were excluded from overestimation group for the purpose of this study, resulting in overestimation group consisting of only underweight and normal weight subjects. Compared to those from the normal perception group, significantly more subjects from the overestimation group were currently smoking (P=0.017) and drank more often than once a week (P=0.015), without any significant differences in dietary habits. Despite similar BMIs, subjects who overestimated their own weight statuses had significantly higher weight dissatisfaction (P= 0.000), obesity stress (P= 0.000), obsession to lose weight (P = 0.007) and depression (P = 0.018). Also, more of them wanted to lose weight (P = 0.000), checked their body weights more often than once a week (P=0.025) and had dieting experiences using 'reducing meal size' (P=0.012), 'reducing snacks' (P=0.042) and 'taking prescribed pills' (P = 0.032), and presented 'for a wider range of clothes selection' as the reason for weight loss (P = 0.039), although none was actually overweight or obese. Unlike the case with overestimating one's own weight, being overweight was associated with less drinking 0.035) and exercising more often (P=0.001) and for longer (P=0.001) and healthier reasons for weight control (P=0.002), despite no differences in frequency of weighing and depression. The results showed that weight overestimation, independent of weight status, is associated with risky lifestyles, weight control behaviors, and mental conditions. Preventive interventions should focus not only on obesity, but also on body weight overestimation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.483-490
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• 2003

Chitosan, hydroxycitrate and L-carnitine have been known to be antiobesity components. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of chitosan, hydroxycitrate and L-carnitine mixture as a potential antiobesity supplement in overweight women. Pre-menopausal healthy females who were overweight (percent ideal body weight > 110) were included in this study. Forty-nine subjects randomly received a placebo (n = 25) or antiobesity-supplement (n = 24), which was a mixture of chitosan, hydroxycitrate, and L-carnitine. Before and after the eight-week experimental period, anthropometric parameters, blood components and computerized tomography were measured. At baseline, the two groups were well matched in terms of age, body mass index and lipid profile. After the eight weeks of potential antiobesity supplementation, the subjects' body fat percent had decreased significantly (p < 0.001) by 5.6% (39.1 $\pm$ 1 vs 36.9 $\pm$ 1%) while lean body mass increased (p < 0.01). Vsceral fat area at the L4 vertebra decreased significantly (p < 0.01) by 8.6% in the supplemented group and the total fat area at the L4 vertebra showed a tendency to decrease (p = 0.051) by 2.4%. Also, in the group given the antiobesity-supplement rather than the placebo, the fasting triglyceride level decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by 10.0%. In addition, serum total cholesterol levels in the antiobesity-supplement group showed a tendency to decrease (p=0.159) by 2.7% (194 $\pm$ 6 vs 189 $\pm$ 6 mg/dl). No side effects were found in either group during the intervention. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that taking a mixture of chitosan, hydroxycitrate, and L-carnitine as a potential antiobesity supplement for eight weeks produced advantageous changes in the weight and visceral fat accumulation of overweight women without any side effects. (Korean J Nutrition 36(5): 483~490, 2003)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.299-312
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• 1993

Anthropometry, computed tomography(CT) at the umbilical level, nutrient intake, blood pressure, serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins and response of glucose, c-peptide, insulin, and free fatty acid(FFA) during oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) were estimated on 11 normal-weight controls and 35 overweight and obese middle-agd men. The areas of total abdominal, subcutaneous and visceral were determined by CT scanning technique. Total abdominal fat area correlated the most significantly with the levels of serum lipids, lipoproteins and insulin among several obese indices. Compared with normal-weight controls, overweight and obese men with abdominal fat lower than 29000$\textrm{mm}^2$ showed an increase in waist-hip ratio, areas of total abdominal(35%), visceral and subcutaneous fat and C-peptide response area during OGTT, though age, percent ideal body weight, body mass index, % body fat, and all biochemical indices except C-peptide response area were not different between two groups. Overweight and obese men with abdominal fat greater than 29000$\textrm{mm}^2$ showed a higher values in total abdominal fat(85%), serum levels of triglyceride, total-and LDL-cholesterol, the ratio of LDL-to HDL-cholesterol, and response areas of FFA, insulin and C-peptide during OGTT than normal-weight controls. Overweight and obese men with great abdominal fat showed an increase in alcohol ingestion and percent calorie intake per total energy expenditure, compared with normal-weight controls. Our results indicate that obesity and a certain level of total abdominal fat accumulation is required to observe abnormal levels of serum lipids, lipoproteins and insulin in Korean middle-aged men. In addition, increased alcohol and calorie intake and decreased physical activity could partly explain total abdominal fat accumulation in men.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.463-473
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate perceptions of body image, body satisfaction, and dietary habits of beauty art major and non-major college students in Gyeonggi province. A total of 312 self-administered questionnaires (beauty art majors=145; non-majors=167) were analyzed. The means for height, weight, and BMI were 161.7 cm, 51.4 kg and 19.7, respectively. There were more majors who were underweight according to BMI classification than non-majors. Sixty-six percent of the subjects had previous weight control experience, and there was no significant difference between the majors and non-majors. The mean score for current body image was 4.61 out of a possible 9 points in the majors, which was significantly lower than 4.95 in the non-majors, and their perception of an ideal body image was thinner than their current body image. Those with more weight control experience had currently heavier perceptions of their body. The mean score for body satisfaction was 2.60 out of a possible 5 points, which was lower than the mean score for their attitudes toward the importance of their bodies. The mean score for dietary habits was 2.80 out of a possible 5 points, and there was no significant difference with dietary habits according to weight control experience or BMI classification. In both the majors and non-majors, there was a significant positive correlation between BMI and perception of current body image (p<0.001, p<0.001), and a negative correlation between BMI and body satisfaction (p<0.01, p<0.001). In the major students, there were significant positive correlations between dietary habits and body satisfaction (p<0.01), and attitudes toward the body importance (p<0.05); therefore, the greater their body satisfaction and body importance, the higher their scores for dietary habits.