• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.385-393
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• 2004

This study examined the relations of educational level and life-style behaviors to the obesity. A total of 507 male adults aged 30 - 50 years completed the self-reported questionnaires. Educational level was used for measuring socioeconomic status. Activity at work, leisure-time activity and TV watching were measured for life-style behaviors related to physical activity, and some demographic and family history of disease as well. Subjects were categorized as obese when BMI was equal to or over 25kg/$m^2$, in which 19.7％ resulted obesity. Using multivariate logistic regression, the association between the measured factors and obesity was assessed. The odds ratios (OR) for risk of obesity did not differ with either age or monthly income. Subjects who completed high school (OR = 0.36; 95％ CI = 0.20 - 0.66) or university (OR = 0.34; 95％ CI = 0.16 - 0.71) had lower risk of obesity than those with education below middle school. Those with moderate activity level at work (OR = 0.41; 95％ CI = 0.24 - 0.72) showed lower risk of obesity than in inactive ones. The subjects watching TV more than 3.5 hr/day presented higher risk of obesity (OR = 2.46; 95％ CI = 1.28 - 4.74), compared with those watching TV less than 1.5 hr/day. The higher risk of obesity observed in high level of leisure time activity than in low one was considered due to that physical activity at work and leisure-time might counteract each other. Educational level and activity at work or leisure-time activity or TV watching were jointed and categorized, and then OR for obesity was estimated. The extent of obesity risk at a given level of each work activity or leisure-time activity or TV watching was different depending the educational level, which was significantly high when educational level was below middle school. Educational difference had no effect on activity level at work. However, higher educational attainment increased the leisure activity and reduced TV watching (p＜0.05), indicating that low education tended to contribute to more sedentary life-style. The findings of this study is concluded that low education was related to obesity in adult males, and its relation can partly be explained through acquiring inactive life-style behaviors. Individuals with low education might be more susceptible to the risk factors of obesity.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.2 s.61
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• pp.199-214
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• 1998

This study was undertaken to explain weight control behavior and intention of obese children and adolescents as measured by the elements of the health belief model. A total of 732 obese students from 28 schools in Seoul metropolitan area and their mothers were assessed with a self-administered questionnaire. The analyzed results are as follows; 1. Among obese students, 45.3% of male students and 57.2% of female students, a significantly higher portion than male students, reported that they had tried to lose weight within the recent year. Exercise was the most frequently used method to lose weight followed by diet control, drug use, and specialized clinic visits, in descending order. 2. Male students were more likely to try to lose weight if they perceived a low threat level and their mother had a job, and female students were more likely to try to lose weight if they were younger in age, perceived a low threat level and had strong external motivating factors. 3. Female students showed a significantly higher level of intention to obesity control than male students, and the intention level of their mothers also showed the same trend. 4. In male students, the degree of weight dissatisfaction, weight control experience, the level of obesity related beliefs of students, the educational level of the mother and economic status of the family were significant predictors of intention to obesity control, and in females, age, the level of obesity related beliefs of students and intention of their mothers were significant. In the mothers of male students, obesity index of students, age of the mother and the level of obesity related beliefs of the mother were significant predictors of intention of the mother, and in the mothers of female students, obesity index of students, occupational status of the mother and obesity related beliefs of the mother were significant. 5. According to the path model of intention to obesity control, the degree of weight dissatisfaction had the most powerful effect in male students, and perceived net benefit level was the most important variable in female students. Since the weight control behavior and intention of obese students were more predictable by the degree of weight dissatisfaction than the obesity index, we can conclude that only the students dissatisfied with their weight are well motivated for obesity control. There can be a discrepancy between the mother and her child's beliefs and intention status(especially in male students), so the therapists should also assess the student's opinion as well as the mother's. In female students, the perceived net benefit level wag the most important predictor of intention to obesity control, therefore the intervention program should pay particular attention to the positive benefits of weight control rather than negative aspects(threats) of obesity.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.199-218
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• 2002

This study was conducted to examine obese children's self-efficiency feeling and health promotion behavior in order to provide basic information on prevention of children obesity. Data were collected in June, 2001 from 349 normal weight children and 351 obese children, who were fifth or sixth graders at 14 primary schools located in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Ansan, chungju, and Gumi. The data were analyzed through using Chronbach's $\alpha$, frequency analysis, $X^2-test$, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. The results of this study can be summarized as follow. 1. The factor of children obesity was significantly different in the variables of sex, parents obesity, brother or sister obesity, father's occupation, level of living, health condition, and satisfaction level with their bodies. On the other hand, it was not significantly different in the variables of father's education level, mother's education level, mother's occupation, level of father's concern about health, and level of the children's concern about health. 2. In the case of normal weight children, dietary efficiency feeling was significantly different in the variables of level of father's concern about health and level of children's concern about health. In th case of obese children, the dietary efficiency feeling was significantly different in the variables of mother obesity, parents' education level, father's occupation, and the children's satisfaction level with their bodies. In the case of normal weight children, exercise efficiency feeling was significantly different in the variables of sex, level of parents's concern about health, and level of the children's concern about health. In the case of obese children, the exercise efficiency feeling was significantly different in the variables of grade, brother and sister obesity, parents' education level, father's occupation, and the children's satisfaction level with their bodies. In the case of normal weight children, social efficiency feeling was significantly different in the variables of brother and sister obesity, parents' education level, level of parents' concern about health, and level of the children's concern about health. In the case of obese children, the social efficiency feeling was significantly different in the variables of parents' education level, father's occupation, level of living, the children's health condition, and the children's satisfaction level with their bodies. 3. In the case of normal weight children, personal hygiene was significantly different in the variables of sex, level of parents's concern about health, and level of the children's concern about health. In the case of obese children, the personal hygiene was significantly different in the variables of parents' education level, father's occupation, mother's occupation, level of living, and level of parents' concern about health. In the case of normal weight children, dietary habit was significantly different in the variables of sex, level of parents's concern about health, and level of the children's concern about health. In the case of obese children, the dietary habit was significantly different in the variables of father's education level, mother's education level, level of living, and the children's satisfaction level with their bodies. In the case of normal weight children, exercise habit was significantly different in the variables of grade, sex, father's education level, mother's education level, and level of children's concern about health. In the case of obese children, the exercise habit was significantly different in the variables of grade, mother obesity, parents' education level, father's occupation, level of parent' concern about health, the children's health condition, and the children's satisfaction level with their bodies. In the case of normal weight children, prevention of infectious diseases was significantly different in the variables of sex, father's occupation, level of parents' concern about health, and level of the children's concern about health. In the case of obese children, the prevention of infectious diseases was significantly different in the variables of mother's education level and father's occupation. In the case of normal weight children, prevention of accident was significantly different in the variables of mother's education level, level of parents' concern about health, and level of the children's concern about health. In the case of obese children, the prevention of accident was significantly different in the variables of brother and sister obesity and mother's occupation. In the case of normal weight children, mental health was significantly different in the variables of father obesity, brother and sister obesity, parents' education level, and level of the children's concern about health. In the case of obese children, the mental health was significantly different in the variables of parents' educational level, father's occupation, mother's occupation, level of living, and the children's health condition. 4. According to the correlation between self-efficiency feeling and health promotion behavior, the higher the self-efficiency feeling was, the higher the level of health promotion behavior was. 5. The children obesity was influenced by the factors of level of living, level of parents' concern about health, the children's health condition, level of the children's concern about health, the children's satisfaction level with their bodies, dietary efficiency feeling, exercise efficiency feeling, social efficiency feeling, personal hygiene, dietary habit, exercise habit, prevention of infectious diseases, prevention of accident, and mental health. From the results of this study, it is clear that obese children's self-efficiency feeling is closely related with health promotion behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen children's self-efficiency feeling in order to make children control efficiently obesity for themselves.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.769-776
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• 2003

This study has analyzed the association of physical activity and television watching time with obesity in 30-50 aged women from middle income town in Busan city area. Data were obtained using a questionnaire, including information about physical activity, TV watching time and health habit; social data regarding educational level and monthly income; family history of chronic condition. Height and weight were measured. Outcome variable was obesity, defined as a body mass index 25 kg/m$^2$ or greater. Odds ratios (OR) for obesity were estimated by multivariate logistic regression, and interpreted as a relative risk of obesity. The prevalence of obesity was 11.8%. The mean BMI of obese women was 26.9 kg/m$^2$. The OR of obesity was higher in subject of 40s than 30s. Subjects who had higher educational level presented lower OR than those of elementary or middle school education. Family income was not associated with obesity. Women having a family history of chronic condition had higher risk of obesity than those who did not have it. The OR was lower in active people at work (OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.26 - 0.98) than in inactive ones, and the ORs associated with regular exercise or activity at leisure time were not statistically different. However, subjects watching TV $\geq$ 3.5 hr/day showed higher OR (OR = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.16 - 4.74), compared with those watching TV $\geq$ 1.5 hr/day. Association of the joint classification of physical activity variables with obesity was estimated. The highest relative risk of 5.99 was in women in physically inactive at work and high category of TV watching ($\geq$ 3.5 hr/day). Even in women in active at work, the watching TV $\geq$ 3.5 hr/day made them have the high OR (OR = 2.44; 95% CI = 1.03 - 5.77). And at each time level of TV watching, the increasing activity level at work was associated with lower OR for obesity. These findings suggest that both TV watching time and physical activity at work were related to obesity in adult female, each with independent effects on obesity. TV watching time seems to be a significant factor that could partly evaluate the energy expenditure.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2015

This paper presents an investigation into factors influencing the level of prostate specific antigens (PSAs) in men with a focus on abdominal obesity. Data were collected from the exam results and medical records of male clients that visited a university hospital in Suwon for a general check-up. The data of total 1,039 were put to frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, independent-sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, chi-squared test, and multiple regression analysis. The subjects were men in their twenties to in their seventies. The study analyzed whether there would be differences in mean PSAs according to the characteristics of the subjects and found significant differences according to age, BMI, and waist. The findings indicate that abdominal obesity influences the level of PSAs in men and that men with abdominal obesity should not neglect the level of PSAs even in the normal range.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1199-1210
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• 2012

This study investigated the influence of obesity on depression and stress by analyzing the results of the national survey on health and nutrition. Relationships between normal, obese, and severely obese groups were investigated. The results of the study are as follows. First, obesity caused by demographic variables showed a relationship to both gender and average monthly income. In the case of the seriously obese group, females had higher rates of depression than males, and the high obesity group had lower average monthly income than the normal and obese groups. Second, obesity caused by health-related variables found that high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes that was not angina-related displayed higher rates of depression in the serious obesity group than in the other groups. As for subjective evaluations of one's own health condition, the serious obesity group showed a high tendency to evaluate their own health conditions negatively. Third, the difference between depression and stress related to obesity level showed no difference between the normal weight group and the obesity group; however, the seriously obese group demonstrated relatively higher occurrences of depression and higher stress scores. Fourth, the result for depression and stress level caused by demographic variables, health-related variables, and obesity demonstrated a direct relationship to gender, subjective level of satisfaction with one's personal finances, average monthly income, subjective perception of one's own health and severely obesity status. More specifically, it was found that the ratio of depression and stress score was higher when the subject was female, among those whose subjective evaluation of their own finances and health condition was negative, and those who suffered from severe obesity.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.103-117
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• 1997

This study was designed to investigate the effects of behavior medication and aerobic exercise on the degree of obesity, eating behavior, depression and self esteem among adolescent girls who were overweight and obese. Forty seven subjects were selected from one girl's middle school located in Seoul. Seventeen girls received the behavior modification program by joining 60-90 minute group session weekly. Behavior modification, in this study, consisted of self-monitoring, changing patterns of life style and attitudes, teaching nutrition and physical activities, and asking personal help. The aerobic exercise program was given to 16 girls 3 times per week with 60 minutes each time. Forteen girls received both behavior modification and aerobic exercise. These interventions continued for 8 weeks. Changes after intervention were examined twice after 4 weeks and 8 weeks for degree of obesity and once after 8 weeks only for eating behavior, depression and self esteem. The results were as follows ; 1. Degree of obesity was significantly decreased after 4 weeks and 8 weeks in 3 groups. Degree of obesity after 4 weeks and 8 weeks were not significantly different among 3 groups. 2. The mean score of eating behavior related to obesity decresed significantly after intervention in the behavior modification group only. There was significant difference in eating behavior among 3 groups after intervention. 3. The behavior modification group showed no significant changes in depression and self esteem after intervention. In the aerobic exercise group and group who participated in both behavior modification and aerobic exercise, the level of depression decreased significantly and the level of self esteem increased significantly. There were no significant differences in the level of depression and self esteem among 3 groups after intervention. These findings indicate that behavior modification might be effective in decreasing degree of obesity and eating behavior related to obesity, aerobic exercise be effective in decreasing degree of obesity and the level of depression, and also in increasing the level of self esteem.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.119-133
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating effects of obesity perception in the relationship between the mother's psychological control and the child's obesity stress. Questionnaires regarding the mother's psychological control, obesity perception and the child's obesity stress were administered to 1200 4th and 6th grade elementary school students in the province of Seoul, South Korea. Finally 1006 questionnaires were collected and statistically analyzed through Cronbach's, t-test, multiple linear regression analysis and stepwise regression. The main results of the study were as follows: 1) There were difference between the effects of the mother's psychological control, obesity perception, and child's obesity stress in terms of the sex, grade and obesity level of the child. 2) The mother's psychological control, obesity perception, and obesity level had an effect on the child's obesity stress. 3) As the result of searching for the mediating effects of obesity perception in the relationship between the mother's psychological control and the child's obesity stress.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1-16
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• 2005

Objectives : This experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of EjinTang-Gamybang(Erchentang-jiaweifang ; ETG) on the change of some values related to obesity and observe the complications coming from obesity in obese rat induced by high fat diet. Methods : Experimental group were as follows ; normal group were fed normal diet and administered DDW $1.0m{\ell}$ to rat during 7 weeks, control group were fed high fat diet and administered DDW $1.0m{\ell}$ during 7 weeks, sample A were fed high fat diet and administered ETG 500 mg/kg $1.0m{\ell}$ during 7 weeks, sample B were fed high fat diet and administered ETG 700 mg/kg $1.0m{\ell}$ during 7 weeks. Results & Conclusions : 1. Sample A and Sample B significantly decreased body weight, serum LDL-cholesterol level, serum free fatty acid level, serum total lipid level, serum phospholipid level and serum leptin level in comparison with control group. 2. Sample B significantly decreased serum total cholesterol level and serum triglyceride level in comparison with control group. 3. Sample B significantly increased serum HDL-cholesterol level in comparison with control group. According to above results, the author suggested that ETG was able to be used for the herbal medication of obesity. 4. ETG significantly increased rCBF, and increased CMF in a dose-dependent. 5. ETG significantly decreased MABP in a dose-dependent. 6. rCBF was significantly and stably increased by ETG(10 mg/kg, i.p.) during the period of cerebral reperfusion, which contrasted with the findings of rapid and marked increase in control group. This results were suggested that ETG significantly increased rCBF by dilating arterial diameter and activating serum leptin level. So that, the present author thought that ETG had an effects of obesity and complication coming from obesity(ischemic cerebral and cardiac disease).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the socioeconomic factors, the psychosocial factors and the heath behavior factors that have an influence on abdominal obesity, as measured by using the waist circumference. Methods: Data was obtained from individuals aged above 20 years who had their waist circumference measured on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001, which was a cross-sectional health survey. Results: Regression analysis of the factors that affect abdominal obesity showed that the education level, income, smoking, duration of smoking, drinking consumption, frequency of exercises and sleeping were the associated factors for abdominal obesity. For men, the duration of smoking, education level, income and drinking consumption were the associated factors for abdominal obesity. For woman, the education level, income, duration of smoking, drinking consumption and frequency of exercise were the associated factors for abdominal obesity. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and it is associated with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Based on the findings, it is essential to modify heath behaviors for preventing abdominal obesity, which is a condition associated with the incidence of chronic disease.