• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.14-26
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• 2024

Ultra-processed foods, falling under group 4 of the Nova classification system, are manufactured from processed food ingredients such as oils, fats, sugars, starch, and protein isolates, containing minimal to no whole food. They commonly incorporate flavorings, colorings, emulsifiers, and various cosmetic additives to enhance their palatability. Ultra-processed foods have become increasingly prevalent in contemporary society owing to their convenience, affordability, extended shelf life, and enhanced taste and aroma through additives. This surge in the consumption of ultra-processed foods has sparked discussions regarding its adverse health effects. Numerous studies have highlighted that an increased intake of ultra-processed foods elevates the risk of metabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes, along with an increased risk of various cancers. Moreover, its association with an increased mortality risk underscores the importance of recognizing that opting for these foods based solely on taste and convenience is risky. Thus, by recognizing dietary habits as modifiable factors that can prevent health issues, maintaining a balanced diet with diverse nutrient intakes is crucial for overall health. Therefore, raising awareness and understanding of ultra-processed food consumption can significantly contribute to promoting healthy lifestyles.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2024

The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents is increasing worldwide. Obesity in children and adolescents not only increases the risk of transitioning to obesity in adulthood but also increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as high blood glucose, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, and hyperinsulinemia during childhood. The goal of treating obesity in children and adolescents is not to focus on weight loss but to help children reach a healthy weight while maintaining normal growth appropriate for their age and sex. To achieve this goal, regular physical activity and exercise, dietary modification, improvement of obesity-prone environmental factors, and behavioral changes are required for a healthy lifestyle. If appropriate weight control is not achieved through lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy may be considered for adolescents with severe obesity aged 12 and above. Recent clinical trials have reported the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in severely obese adolescents. Currently, two medications can be prescribed in Korea for patients with obesity aged 12 and above: Orlistat and Liraglutide. However, despite effective weight control through drug treatment, body weight may increase again after treatment discontinuation. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate adherence to health behaviors during visits and continue to educate on lifestyle modifications, even during pharmacotherapy, to minimize weight regain.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.258-268
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) consumption with nutrition and health status. Examination of health status for this project included obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low-HDL-cholesterolemia, diabetes, anemia, and metabolic syndrome. Methods: Two groups, RTEC consumers and those who did not consume RTEC, were identified using 24-hour dietary recall data from the 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Nutritional intakes and risk factors of the two groups were compared using covariates-adjusted statistical procedures. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS survey procedures, and strata, cluster, and weight were considered. Subjects of analysis of nutritional intake were between the ages of 1 and 75, and those considered in the risk factor analysis were between the ages of 19 and 75. Results: Results showed that 3.8% of the Korean population was RTEC consumers. Compared to the subjects who did not intake RTEC, RTEC consumers exhibited significantly higher intakes of calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin C. It was also discovered that the percentage of people whose intakes were less than EAR decreased with RTEC consumption. RTEC consumption showed significant association with decreased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum triglyceride, and serum total cholesterol. Consequently, prevalence of hypertension among RTEC consumers was significantly lower than that among non-consumers, and the odds ratio for hypertension was 0.19 after adjusting the models for covariates. Conclusion: Results of this study clearly suggest an association of RTEC consumption with improved nutritional status and cardiometabolic risk profile in Korean adults. Conduct of additional studies will be necessary in order to determine the nature of these relationships.