• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.1311-1320
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• 2009

Childhood obesity has rapidly increased in Korea during the past 20-30 years. Approximately 1 of 10 children and adolescents is obese. Appropriate prevention and intervention measures urgently need. Obesity prevention starts early in life, i.e., obesity prevention and education begins during the period of fetal development in utero. Behavioral changes are the most positively reflected during pregnancy. Infants should be fed breast milk, and inculcated with healthy eating and behavioral habits during infancy to ultimately establish a healthy lifestyle in children. For achieving a lifestyle and behavior that successfully allow children to overcome obesity, although individual motivation is important, active support of parents and family members is also imperative. Health care providers should also make an effort to actively prevent obesity and take necessary intervention actions. Although the efforts of individuals, family, and healthy care providers are important to prevent the rapid increase in obesity, primary prevention should be encouraged at a higher level. Schools should specifically aim at improving nutrition and physical activity by allocating times for healthy eating, playing, and physical education. Moreover, local communities should provide support by funding for safe recreational environments, such as playgrounds and walking tracks. Public health strategies in community and national policies, such as city planning, food marketing, and advertisements, are required for primary prevention of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.113-125
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• 2003

Background： Recently, adolescent obesity was increased and tended to become obese adults, facing increased risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease. Even before reaching adulthood, adolescent obesity already was experiencing hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to find prevalence of obesity of high school students in Jeju island and association between obesity and cardiovascular risk factors and association between childhood obesity and adolescent obesity. Method： The study subjects were 6,064 students of twenty-two high school in Jeju island and health survey data was gathered from high school health examination data and hospital health examination data from Aug. 1999 to Dec. 1999. Adolescent obesity was evaluated by ideal body weight method in 1998 and body mass index. Cardiovascular risk factors were checked total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar. In 1,534 students, obesity at primary school is checked by primary and middle school health record. Results： Prevalence of obesity in Jeju island high school students is 12.6% in male students, 13.3% in female students by ideal body weight method and 8.7% in male students, 8.5% in female students by body mass index. Prevalence of obesity of male students in city area and district area of Jeju island were each 12.9%, 10.3% and that of male students in city area was significantly higher. Prevalence of obesity of female students in city area and district area of Jeju island were each 12.9%, 14.2% and not significantly different. Prevalence of obesity of male students in general and commercial school group were each 13.9%, 10.1% and that of general school group was significantly higher. In female students, Prevalence of obesity general and commercial school group was not significantly different. Total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly associated with degree of obesity in male and female students(p＜0.05) and fasting blood sugar was only significantly associated with degree of obesity in male students(p＜0.05). In 1,514 students checked by health record, Odds ratio of obesity at primary and middle school that at high school were 12.96∼22.77 and was significantly associated. Conclusion： Prevalence of obesity of high school students in Jeju island is very high and adolescent obesity was significantly associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Mostly childhood obesity tended to become adolescent obesity and program of control of obesity at childhood and adolescence is required.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.551-561
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• 2006

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of mothers' attitudes on preparing baby foods for their children's food habits and development. The subjects were allocated to 419 preschool children, aged 3 - 5 years. This study surveyed by questionnaire, which was answered by the children's mothers. Subjects were classified by two groups, active and passive, based on their mothers' weaning attitudes. In the active group, mothers tried to make a variety of foods for preparing the baby foods, whereas mothers in the passive group didn't try to make it too much. Family income was higher in the active group and the subject' mothers had more jobs than those in the passive group, whereas their parent's education levels showed no differences. According to Rohrer index, 2.6% of subjects were obese in the active group, whereas 7.7% in the passive group. These data were shown significantly different between the groups. There were no differences in mother's food habits and breast-feeding versus formula feeding between the two groups. However, children's food habits were shown statistically different between the two groups. Higher regularity of meals, higher frequencies of snacks at home, higher frequencies of fruit, com, sweet potato as a snacks and less instant foods were revealed in the active group more than in the passive group. The major problem of children's food habits was an unbalanced diet (52.7%) and the major reasons for unbalanced diet were the taste (58.7%) and the texture (23.2%). The active uoup used more fruits and vegetables than the passive group. Also there were significant differences to solve problems of children's unbalanced diets. In the positive group, 14.4% of mothers tried to develop new cooking methods for solving the problem of an unbalanced diet, but 8.2% did in the passive group. furthermore, 2.3% of mothers in the positive group removed unpleasant items of the food, whereas 6.9% did in the passive. The average nutritional knowledge scores on a 10 scale were 7.2 and 6.9 in active and passive groups, respectively, and they were statistically different. Mothers among the active group explained the knowledge for food and nutrition to their children more than those in the passive group. These results suggest that mothers' attitudes for baby food are an important factor for forming their children's food habits. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a nutritional education program, materials and new recipes for a variety of baby foods to mothers.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.57-68
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• 1986

The present survey was designed to investigate correlations among blood pressure, nutritional intakes, and various environmental factors in Korean adult males, and to observe the difference in dietary intakes between hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects. Two hundred forty-three adult men from Seoul and rural areas were interviewed about their food intakes, dietary patterns, food habits, and general environmental factors from December 20, 1982 to February 15, 1983. Their dietary intakes were surveyed by means of 24-hour recall diet method. Dietary score card was used in order to evaluate the quality of routine diet of the subject. Variables of environmental factors and factors related to hypertension were expressed as percentage, and the differences in nutrient intake and food score of each sub-group were examined by means of t-test. Correlation of all the variables were analyzed by Pearsons Correlation Coefficient. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. 38% of the subjects were between the ages of 40~49, and about one-half of the subjects were middle or high school graduates. 28% of the subjects earned 210, 000~350, 000 Won per month, and income distribution was almost identical to that of the urban population of Korea. 2. There was more overweight or obese found in the hypertensive patients than in the normotensive subjects. About 40% of the hypertensive patients reported a family history of hypertension, and their knowledge about hypertension was rather poor, but slightly better than the normotensive subjects. The patient group had less adherence to smoking and alcohol compared with the normotensive subjects, but no difference was observed in coffee drinking. The mean value of the blood pressure for the normotensive subjects was 127/86mmHg and 175/109mmHg for the hypertensive group. 3. Nutrient intake for the hypertensive group was lower for most of nutrients than in the healthy group. Hypertensive patients on diet therapy consumed less calories and carbohydrates compared with those who do not follow diet therapy. 4. There was no difference intake of these food groups between patients and the healthy group. Food score was strongly related to consumption of animal protein, saturated fats, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, Riboflavin, and Vitamin C, which are prone to be deficient in the typical Korean diet. 5. Blood pressure had a strong positive correlation with age, body weight, and socioeconomic level. In addition, monthly income was positively related with age and education level. 6. Three was a positive relationship between blood pressure and consumption of vegetable protein, and a negative relationship with consumption of Calories, Carbohydrates, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Niacin, and Vitamin C. Animal protein intake increased as income and education levels increased, but this tendency was opposite for carbohydrates. In summary, nutritional intakes are strongly correlated with various environmental factors and the level of blood pressure. There was no difference between normotensive and hypertensive subjects with respect to the quality of food consumed except restricting energy and carbohydrate in the patient group.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.651-661
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• 2008

The mother's obesity-related stress and it's association with obesity, food intake, and physical activity in both mothers and their children were determined. Based on self-reports from 470 mothers, obesity stress of mothers were scored by using a five-point Likert scale; only low and high stress scores were used in this study. The perceptions of mothers' weights and their children's weights, mothers' Body Mass Indices (BMI), and preschoolers' Weight-Length Indices (WLI)(%) were also determined. The obesity stress of mothers was significantly associated with the mothers' BMI (high stress: $23.5{\pm}2.4$ vs. low stress: $19.6{\pm}1.7$, p<0.05), but not with their children's obesity. Mothers with a high obesity stress reported a higher percentage of family history of obesity (62.1% vs. 38.3%, p<0.001) than mothers with low obesity stress. Compared to mothers with low obesity stress, mothers with high stress had lower correct-perceptions about their weights (p<0.05) but higher correct-perceptions for their children's weights. Almost 54.5% of mothers with high stress reported watching television 2 or more extra hours per day, compared with 32.2% of mothers with low stress (p<0.05). More children of mothers with high stress had long hours of daily TV viewing than children of mothers with low stress (36.0% vs. 15.3%, $X^2=10.491$, p<0.05). Mothers with high stress reported lower intake of protein-rich foods (p=0.01) and vegetables (p=0.039), but a higher intake of snacks (p=0.009), compared to mothers with low stress. More children of mothers with high stress reported eating high fat snacks or high sugar snacks everyday, but this was not statistically significant. In conclusion, high obesity stress in mothers were greatly associated with their BMI and their inactive life style, including long TV viewing hours per day and unbalanced food intakes, which can lead their children becoming inactive and obese. Special attention is recommended for overstressed mothers and their children, especially those who enjoy long hours of TV viewing.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.289-303
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• 2007

This report includes basic data on nutrition education for Chinese adolescents living in Korea. A total of 183 Chinese adolescents living in Incheon participated in the survey. Body composition was analyzed by the Inbody 4.0., and questionnaires on personal dietary behavior were administrated. When compared with the body measure indices of Korean adolescents, we found that height was similar, but weight greater ($5{\sim}12 kg$) among the participants. Regarding obesity, 30.0% of all students were obese (BMI>25), especially the high school boys (42.0%). But in the case of middle school boys, the rates of obesity and under weight (BMI<18.5) were the same (both of them at 22.9%). The average WHR (Waist Hip Ratio) of the female high school group (0.9) was over the normal range. The average percent body fat for each group was also over the normal range. The percentage of students having breakfast everyday was 52.2%, and the rate of skipping breakfast was 25.0%. In the obesity group, the rate of skipping breakfast was remarkably high (P<0.05). Because lunch service was not available at the schools, a lunch box from home was the most popular pattern (43.1 %), but eating out was also popular at 36.6%. For the male high school students, the eating out rate was 62.8%. Since many have-lived in Korea for a few generations, the students' eating practices were much closer to the Korean pattern. For their ordinary meal pattern, 96.0% of the students included Korean foods. however, for New Years Day, the rate of having Gyo-Ja was 75.2%, and having Wol-Byung at Choo-seok was 78.6%, showing that the Chinese tradition still remains. In the case of food preferences, the percentage having Kimchi everyday was 62.1 %, but those drinking green tea was 13.1 %. For cold drinks, the rate for drinking them more than twice per week was 71.6%. The most preferred cooking method was frying with oil (50.6%). Among the students who had visited China (or Taiwan), the rate for 'bad food familiarity' was 37.0%, and the rate for 'did not know Chinese traditional course menus' was 71.3%. As a result of combining eating practices from both China and Korea, and the absence of lunch service in Chinese schools, students are showing bad dietary behaviors. therefore, it is necessary to provide proper nutrition education and a system for lunch service in Chinese schools.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.170-178
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• 1990

The aim of the study was to investigate prevalence of obesity among housewives residing in apartments in Taegu city and any relationship of obesity with various factors. Hundred three housewives aged 30-49 years living in apartments (over 30 pyung) were interviewed for socio-economic status, food habit, food intake by a convenient questionnaire, and daily activity by the 24-hour recall. Their weight, height and triceps skinfold thickness were measured. The results were summarized as follows: 1) The percentages of subjects and their spouses with college and higher education were as much as 53.6% and 83.5%, respectively. The commonest family size was four members with two children. 2) The percentages of subjects classified as underweight, normal, overweight, and obesity according to relative body weight(RBW) were 4.9, 44.7, 24.3 and 26.2, respectively. Twenty four percent belonged to obese group according to body mass index(BMI$\geq$25). 3) Food habit score was 12.4 points in average and judged 'good'. The average of daily energy intake was 2247㎉ which corresponded to 112% of RDA and intakes of nutrients except iron exceeded RDA. The means of food habit score and energy intake were not significantly different among 4 groups. 4) Multiple regression analysis was tested to explain a relationship between fatness and various factors. The equation, BMI=25.216+(0.836$\times$family size)-(0.309$\times$education, years)-(0.00503$\times$household work time, minutes), indicates that fatness of housewives was related with family size(+), educational level(-) and household work time(-). These relationships were statistically significant(p<0.001) and R2 (coefficient of determination) was 0.237.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.297-305
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• 2019

This study was conducted to compare the factors affecting quality of life according to the perception of subjective body image in adult women as a secondary study of the 7th 1st year Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. The subjects were 3,392 adult women and their general characteristics, physical factors and psychological factors were analyzed. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS 25.0 program after generating weighted composite sample plans and the significance level was set at 0.05. Factors influencing the quality of life of subjects who perceived their subjective body image as thin were education level, birth experience, depression, and subjective health and their explanatory power was 43.1%. Factors influencing the quality of life for those who perceived their bodies as moderate were education level, depression, and subjective health, and their explanatory power was 26.5%. Factors that affected quality of life for those who perceive their bodies as obese were age, weight change for one year, weight control for one year, presence of high blood pressure, BMI, and subjective health, and their explanatory power was 40.9%. The results of this study indicate it is necessary consider the factors influencing each subjective perception to improve individual quality of life.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.580-586
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• 2019

This study selected 2,134 fertile women aged 20 to 44 years as the final study subjects using the 6th source data of the National Health and Nutrition Survey. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between female characteristics, chronic diseases and oral health behavior, and the effects of each factor on periodontal diseases. There were statistically significant differences in age(p<0.001), education level(p<0.001), income(p<0.05), marital status(p<0.001), smokes(p<0.05) and pregnancy(p<0.001). Chronic disease factors showed statistically significant differences in hypertension(p<0.001), obesity(p<0.001), diabetes(p<0.001), hypercholesterolemia(p<0.05), hypocholesterolemia(p<0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia(p<0.001). Oral health behaviors were statistically significant in terms of toothache(p<0.05), orthodontic treatment(p<0.05) and chew discomfort(p<0.05). As a result of examining the risk factors affecting periodontal disease, the risk of chronic disease was 1.576 times higher in the obese group, and 2.569 times higher in the diabetic group than in the normal group. The subjective oral health status was 1.372 times higher for normal women and 1.614 times higher for bad women than for good ones. As a result, diabetes has shown the greatest risk among chronic diseases in women, and diabetes and obesity are highly relevant and therefore are considered important variables for the risk factors of dementia. In this regard, it is necessary to examine the risks of chronic and periodical diseases, expand oral health education programs for women's dental disease, and prepare oral health policies.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.277-285
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• 2019

An inverse correlation between obesity and arterial stiffness has been reported, but there are no consistent results in elderly subjects. This study examined the relationship between the arterial stiffness measured by the CAVI (cardio-ankle vascular index) and BMI (body mass index) in healthy elderly people. This study included 629 healthy elderly people aged 65 and over who underwent health examinations at a general hospital in Gyeonggi from July 2018 to June 2019. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using the criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III of the US National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). Among the criteria of NCEP-ATP III, the waist circumference and obesity criteria were based on the WHO criteria. All subjects underwent a biochemical blood test and an assessment of the CAVI. In both men and women, the CAVI was lower in the obese group than in the normal weight group. Gender (P=0.047), age (P<0.001), BMI (P<0.001), and waist circumference (P=0.008) were factors affecting the CAVI. Gender, high blood pressure, and hyperglycemia were independent positive predictors of the CAVI levels, while obesity was a negative predictor. Therefore, the CAVI and BMI showed an inverse correlation. In conclusion, there was an inverse correlation between the CAVI and BMI in the elderly, and obesity was a negative predictor of the CAVI.