• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 1994

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and obesity in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCO). Twenty-two women with PCO, of whom thirteen were non-obese with body mass index(BMI, kg/$m^2$) of <25 and nine were obese with BMI${\geq}$25 were studied. Eight non-obese control women and seven obese control women were studied. Serum concentrations of testosterone, lutenizing hormone(LH)/follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) ratio, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were found to be significantly higher(P<0.05) in PCO women compared with control women, which clearly is not related to obesity. Serum glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels were measured during a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT). Non-obese and obese women with PCO both(P<0.05) compared with control women demonstrated significant hyperinsulinemia after OGTT. The degree of hyperinsulinemia was found to be significantly higher in the obese women with PCO compared with the non-obese women with PCO. We concluded that obesity may contribute to hyperinsulinemia, however may not playa central role in the pathogenesis of PCO.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.327-338
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to obtain information from married women regarding obesity-related factors and psychological eating behaviors, and to compare those variables among three groups, namely underweight, normal, and obese. The participants completed questionnaires regarding general obesity-related factors, major food servings/day, physical activity, dieting behaviors, perceptions of body image, and psychological eating behaviors. The results were as follows: The obese women reported a higher percentage of family history of obesity (74.8%) than the normal (43.5%) or underweight (28.2%) women. Most of the obese women (90.0%) accurately perceived their body image compared to 72.5% of the underweight and 56.6% of the normal weight women(p<0.001). No significant differences were found among the three groups for daily hours of exercise or computer use. In the case of hours of television watched daily, significant differences were found among the groups (obese 104 min/day, normal 87 min/day, underweight 76/min, p<0.05). Only 17.9% of the obese women reported eating 2 servings of milk products/day and only 23.2% of them reported eating 3 servings of protein foods/day as compared to the normal (25.4%, 18.0%) and underweight (29.4%, 41.7%) (p<0.01) women. About 98% of the obese and 78.5% of the normal weight women wanted to loose weight compared to only 10% of the underweight women (p<0.001). Psychological eating behavior was significantly correlated with subject BMI ($r^2$=0.32, p<0.01). Also, more obese women were unsatisfied with their body and had emotional eating behaviors as compared to the normal and underweight women, and this was statistically significant (p<0.001). In conclusion, the obese women had high perception rates of their body image, but had negative-psychological eating behaviors. Special behavior therapy is needed for obese women who show body dissatisfaction, emotional eating behaviors, long hours of daily TV viewing, and low intakes of protein and milk products.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of nutrition education and aerobic exercise program on weight control program of middle aged abdominal obese women. Data for the study were collected from February 14 to April 22, 2005. The study objects were 10 pre-obese women and 10 obese women. The results were as follows; Body weight, body mass index, waist-hip ratio and waist circumference of pre-obese group and obese group were significantly decreased. Nutrition education and aerobic exercise program on body weight and waist circumference were more effective in obese group than in pre-obese group. Total Cholestreol and Creatinine of pre-obese group and Total Cholestreol, Creatinine, U/A and Glucose of obese group were significantly decreased. TG(Triglyceride), BUN(Blood Urea Nitrogen), U/A(Uric Acid), Glucose, SGOT(Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase) and SGPT(Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase) of prer-obese group and TG, BUN, SGOT and SGPT of obese group were no differences. Obesity management program on Total Cholestreol were more effective in obese group than in pre-obese group. Therefore, it is concluded that the nutrition education and aerobic exercise program on weight control program of middle aged abdominal obese women were more effective in obese group than in pre-obese group.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.93-103
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore unmet healthcare needs among low-income overweight and obese women and to identify the factors affecting unmet healthcare needs. Methods: The study was a secondary analysis of data from the 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A final sample of 388 out of 8,127 participants was analyzed using complex descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, the independent t-test, and logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the participants was 66.51±1.05 years. Unmet healthcare needs were experienced by 19.4% of low-income overweight and obese women. Women with depression, stress, and poor self-reported health status were significantly more likely than their counterparts to experience unmet healthcare needs. Poor self-reported health status was confirmed to be related to unmet health needs in low-income overweight and obese women (odds ratio, 2.65; p=.011). Conclusion: The study provides the novel insight that the unmet healthcare needs of low-income overweight and obese women were influenced by self-reported health status. Healthcare providers should make efforts to develop strategies to reduce unmet healthcare needs among low-income overweight and obese women, who constitute a vulnerable population.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.641-650
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to examine the difference in cancer screening with mammography and Papanicolaou smear according to Body Mass Index (BMI). Methods: The participants in this study were 5,912 women ages 40 to 69 yr, selected from the Korean Genomic Regional Cohort in Kangwon province. Mammography and Papanicolaou smear were assessed by questionnaire and body weight (kg) and height (m) measured to calculate BMI. Results: The distribution of BMI was as follows: low weight (1.5%), normal weight (31.1%), over weight (24.6%), mildly obese (36.4%) and severely obese (6.3%). After adjusting for age, education and monthly income, compared with normal weight women, overweight women (odds ratio [OR]=1.283, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.089-1.513) and mildly obese women (OR=1.214, 95% CI=1.048-1.406) were less likely to have had mammography. In contrast to mammography, cancer screening with Papanicolaou smear was not significantly different by BMI. Conclusion: Obese women in rural areas are less likely to screen for breast cancer by using mammography than non obese women. To ensure regular screening for breast cancer, health care providers need to give scrupulous care to obese women and remove barriers originated from obesity. Also, educational and clinical implications are considered to increase the Papanicolaou smear rate.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2008

Objectives To investigate the relationship between Heart Rate Variability and menopause among obese middle-aged women in Korea. Subjects and Methods Forty middle-aged women (age 49.05 $\pm$ 2.64 years) with BMI > $23kg/m^2$ were recruited by local advertisement. Blood profiles of estrogen, FSH, LH, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride were measured. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) was estimated by short-term spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were accessed using Computerized Tomography (CT), Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA), and anthropometry. To scrutinize the influence of ANS on obesity-related factors, we divided the subjects into pre- and post-menopausal women. Results The total cholesterol, FSH and LH were significantly higher in post-menopausal obese women group. The estradiol and standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals (SDNN), high-frequency components (HF) of the HRV were significantly lower in postmenopausal obese women group (P<0.05). Adipose tissue distribution and blood profiles were not significantly different between two groups. Conclusion Menopause induced a decrease in SDNN and HF values and increase in total cholesterol level in obese women although the VAT itself was not related with ANS in obese women.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2011

Objective: To investigate adverse pregnancy outcomes in non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared with obese-PCOS and control groups. Methods: Women with PCOS who underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART) from August, 2003 to December, 2007, were considered. A total of 336 women with PCOS were included in the study group and 1,003 infertile women who had tubal factor as an indication for ART were collected as controls. They were divided into four groups: a non-obese PCOS group, obese-PCOS group, non-obese tubal factor group, and obese tubal factor group, with obesity defined by a body mass index over 25 kg/$m^2$, and reviewed focusing on the basal characteristics, ART outcomes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results: There was no difference among the groups' the clinical pregnancy rate or live birth rate. Regarding adverse pregnancy outcomes, the miscarriage rate, multiple pregnancy rate, and prevalence of preterm delivery and pregnancy induced hypertension were not different among the four groups. The incidence of small for gestational age infant was higher in the PCOS groups than the tubal factor groups ($p$ <0.02). On the other hand, the morbidity of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was not high in the non-obese PCOS group but was in the obese groups. And in the obese PCOS group, the newborns were heavier than in the other groups ($p$ <0.02). Conclusion: Non-obese PCOS presents many differences compared with obese PCOS, not only in the IVF-parameters but also in the morbidity of adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially in GDM and fetal macrosomia.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.1359-1366
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• 2006

Purpose. This study was done to determine the effects of weight management program using self-efficacy in middle-aged obese women. The study also attempted to measure the effects of the program on the weight efficacy lifestyle, body composition, and depression. Method. The research design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The experimental group consisted of 21 middle-aged obese women and another 21 middle-aged obese women in the control group. The women in the experimental group participated in the weight management program for 12 weeks using self-efficacy. The weight management program using self-efficacy included education on effects of exercise for weight control, aerobic exercise program, muscle training and counseling through the telephone. Results. After 12 weeks of participation in the program, BMI (p <.0001), body fat % (p <.0001), abdominal fat (p <.0001), in the experimental group were significantly decreased compared to the control group. Weight self-efficacy lifestyle (p <.0001) and depression (p =.006) in the experimental group were significantly improved after the program compared to the control group. According to these findings, weight management program self-efficacy for middle-aged obese women could increase weight efficacy lifestyle, and decrease depression, BMI, body fat, and abdominal fat. Conclusion. The result also suggested that the increasing weight efficacy and lifestyle help the obese women to perform and continue exercise. This program could be used in the community such as public health center for weight care and mental health promotion of middle-aged obese women.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.348-357
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to explore and understand the health promoting behaviors of low-income overweight and obese women in Korea. Methods: Data were collected from 10 low-income overweight and obese women working at a community self-sufficiency center through semi-structured in-depth interviews. Individual interviews were conducted and transcribed. Deductive content analysis was done, using the MAXQDA program. Results: The health promoting behaviors practiced by low-income overweight and obese women were affected by intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational/ community factors. Six categories were identified and two category clusters were derived that could best describe their health promoting experiences. As main category clusters, despite "feeling that the body and mind are not healthy" participants noted "difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle." Overall, the participants had poor nutritional status, lacked physical activity, experienced much stress in intrapersonal level, and faced intrapersonal-level barriers to health promoting behaviors. Moreover, participants had a lack of personal will, and lack of specific information to practice health promoting behaviors, a lack of time, and too many overall burdens to earn a living for their family while trying to maintain health promotion behaviors. Conclusion: Lifestyle interventions for nutrition management, encouragement of physical activity, and stress management are needed for overweight and obese low-income women. In addition, social support and policies are needed to improve their living environment.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2002

Objective : To analyze the clinical characteristics of obese infertile women. Material and Method: Height, weight, body mass index, menstrual pattern, glucose, insulin, glucose/insulin ratio, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), testosterone, free testosterone and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) of 15 obese infertile women were tested. Results: Of 15 obese infertile women, the number of diabetes mellitus, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance was 2 (13%), 2 (13%), 2 (13%), respectively. The incidence of increased DHEA-S, testosterone, and free testosterone was 7 (47%), 1 (7%), 6 (40%), respectively. Notably, all patients showed increased PAI-1. Conclusions: Obesity is associated with infertility as well as many kinds of health problems. Obesity is closely related to insulin resistance and it also causes hyperandrogenism. Increased PAI-1 is one of the important causes of thrombophilia. Consequently, in the workup of obese infertile patient, many aspects of health problems should be considered.