• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.19-29
• /
• 2010

Objectives：Authors hypothesized that bipolar tendency of non-psychiatric person would be associated with stress vulnerability. To test the hypothesis, we compared perceived stress level, Type A Behavioral Pattern (TABP) and unhealthy lifestyle between person with and without bipolar tendency. Methods：The study cohort consisted of 1987 subjects without past and current psychiatric history. In this study, bipolar tendency was determined by MDQ response which requires endorsement of at least 7 of the 13 "yes or no" questions. We compared the scores of Perceived Stress Scale, A/B lifestyle questionnaire, and unhealthy lifestyle(alcohol, smoking, lack of exercise, irregular meal) between MDQ positive and negative respondents. Results：We identified the bipolar tendency group determined by the MDQ positive response were 329 subjects(16.6%). The overall score of the bipolar tendency group was significantly high on the A/B lifestyle questionnaire compared to the non-bipolar tendency group(125.4 vs. 115.9, p<0.001), and the rate of the subjects defined as TABP was also significantly high(41.3% vs. 30.1%, p<0.001). In comparison of subjectively perceived stress level, the bipolar tendency group was observed to be significantly higher than the non-bipolar tendency group (18.5% vs. 16.5%, p<0.001). The bipolar tendency group was significantly higher than the non-bipolar tendency group on the rate of answering：'irregular eating habit' (20.1% vs. 14.3%, p=0.002), '4-or-more-times alcohol intake per week' (29.8% vs. 16.5%, p<0.001), 'currently smoking' (41.9% vs. 23.0%, p<0.001), '2-or-less-times physical exercises per week' (63.2% vs. 55.1%, p=0.007). Conclusion：By clinical diagnosis, even a person who does not meet the criteria of bipolar disorder has a high risk of stress-related behavioral pattern, and perceived stress when possessing bipolar tendencies such as the (hypo) maniac tendency or affective instability. Such individual has significantly higher risk of having unhealthy life-style such as smoking, drinking, irregular eating habit and lack of exercise compared to non-bipolar tendency group. Since these risk factors lead to increase the risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, the individual with the bipolar tendency requires a more effort to manage stress and to maintain healthy lifestyle.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.65-76
• /
• 2008

This study was performed to identify association between nutritional status and health risks of the elderly. This was a cross-sectional study involving low income elderly women in Gwangju, Korea (${\geq}$65y, n = 92). Socio-demographics, life style characteristics, health conditions, dietary intakes based on 24h-recall method, anthropometric measures, and clinical biochemistry parameters were examined. Anthropometric and clinical parameters included wt, ht, waist, hip, body protein, body fat, abdominal fat, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose, ferritin, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, CRP, TAS, TBARS, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. The subjects were divided into three groups based on age (65-74y, 75-84y, 85y${\leq}$) and were divided into two groups according to the sum of the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist score (adequate nutritional status, NSI score ${\leq}$3; at risk of malnutrition, NSI score >3). Mean and frequency of variables were estimated. Analysis of Variance, Tukey test, Chi-square test, and Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Mean BMI and body fat were 25.1 $kg/m^2$ and 40.0%, respectively. However, for over 80% of subjects, the intakes of energy, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, Ca, K, and Zn were less than the Korean DRI (EAR or AI). The subjects who had lower NSI score tended to have better health status, eat meals frequently, have less depression, and exercise regularly. The subjects who had higher NSI score tended to have tooth problems, to eat alone most of time, and to be physically unable to cook or feed. Serum IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly related with nutritional status which suggested higher tendency of inflammatory response. Serum IL-2, TAS, and glucose were significantly correlated with body fat (%) or abdominal fat (%). These results suggest that improving the nutritional status, increasing regular exercise, maintaining normal weight are beneficial to health care of low income elderly women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.523-535
• /
• 2009

The aim of this study was to examine and compare the eating habits and dietary intake patterns of people with or without allergy by the survey during August-September, 2008. The 131 subjects aged 10'-50' (AG = allergy group, n = 62; NG = non-allergy group, n = 69) participated in this study. The questionnaire included general characteristics, dietary habits, and food frequency. Income level tended to be higher in AG than in NG, and AG had more pets and flower pots than NG (p < 0.01). In AG, most affected area of allergy was the skin and the subjects in AG experienced the mixed symptoms and more than 2 types of allergy. Family history of allergy was highly related with allergy of the subjects (AG: 66.1%, NG: 33.9%). Both groups did not exercise regularly, but frequency of alcohol drinking in AG was significantly higher than in NG (p < 0.01). AG skipped meals and had snacking more often than NG (p < 0.05). Most favorite snacks in AG were instant foods, fast foods, cookies, and ice cream (p < 0.05). Therefore, AG tended to consume more allergy-related foods than NG. Highly-consumed allergy-related foods were egg, pork, walnut, onion, tuna, shellfish, and kiwi (p < 0.05). Therefore, nutrition education and guidance is needed to establish good eating habits, food intakes, and life style in people having allergy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.978-985
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of alcohol drinking on dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes among the university male students. The subjects were divided three group; no-alcohol group(n=83), alcohol group(n=78), and high-alcohol group(n=78).And they were observed general characteristics, life style, eating pattern, food frequency and nutrient intake using questionnaires. The mean age, height, weight and BMI of the subjects were 25.8$\pm$6.1 years old 171.5$\pm$5.4 cm, 63.4$\pm$9.7 kg and 2.3$\pm$2.8/kg/$m^2$, respectively. The types of residence and person who prepares meals were significantly different among the groups: the frequency of self-boarding and preparing meals oneself in high-alcohol group were higher than in other two groups. The frequency of physical exercise and cigarette smoking in high-alcohol group were higher than in other two groups. There were no significant differences in skipping meals among three groups. However, the most common reson why high-alcohol group skipped meals was due to a eating habit, while a lack of time in other two groups. The results show that the high-alcohol group tended to eat more often instant ramien, soybean sprout, anchovy, and coffee compared to the other two groups. The energy intakes in alcohol and high-alcohol groups were lower than those in no-alcohol group. In conclusion, high-alcohol students have unhealthy dietary behaviors in the light of high frequency of cigarette smoking, eating habit of skipping meals and instant foods, and therefore showing a strong need of proper education in alcohol withdrawal and meal management for them.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.15-29
• /
• 2003

Objectives: This study was done to find out fatigue and self-reported physical symptoms of Vinylhouse farmers. The results of this study could be used as a basic data to develop health promotion program for Vinylhouse farmers who are suffering from fatigue and physical symptoms. Methods: The 166 respondents, who were working in Vinylhouse and were living in a remoted area where the primary health post located, were participated in this study. Thirty: 30 items of self-reported fatigue scale was used to evaluate the farmers fatigue level which made by Japanese industrial and hygenic association(1988). Twenty four: 24 items of index used by researcher for self-reported physical symptoms was from Lee In Bae's(1999) modified Index which was originated from Cornell Medical Index(1949). Another questionnaires used in this study were developed by researcher through related documents. Results: The results of this study were as follows; Fatigue scores were high in accordance with women(t=-2.212, p<0.05), worse recognized health state(F=20.610, p<.001), lack of sleeping hours(F=3.937, p<0.05), eat irregularly(t=-3.883, p<0.001), don't take a bath after application of chemical(t=-2.950, p<0.01), working time per a day(F=5.633, p<0.01) & working time per a day in Vinylhouse(F=5.247, p<0.01) were long. Subjective physical symptoms were high in accordance with women(t=-3.176, p<0.01), worse recognized health state(F=35.335, p<0.001), and low education(F=3.467, p<0.05). eat irregularly(t=-3.384, p<0.01), alcohol drinking(t=-2.389, p<0.05). When farmers don't take a bath after application of chemical show high(t=-3.188, p<0.01). As a result, the factors affecting to Vinylhouse worker's health were irregular diet habit, scarce exercise, lack of proper rest, symptoms oriented from Vinylhouse work in contaminated environment with high temperature and humidity. Conclusions: Based on this study, health promotion program is necessary for Vinylhouse workers. Also, the development of continuously practical strategy of healthy life style including exercise and comprehensive health promotion program considered the country's social and cultural background are needed.