• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.86-93
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• 2015

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age. It consists of a heterogeneous collection of signs and symptoms that together form a disorder spectrum. The diagnosis of PCOS is principally based on clinical and physical findings. The extent of metabolic abnormalities in women with PCOS varies with phenotype, body weight, age, and ethnicity. For general population, the prevalence of hyperandrogenism and oligomenorrhea decreases with age, while complications such as insulin resistance and other metabolic disturbances increase with age. Obese women with PCOS have a higher risk of developing oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance, and lower luteinizing hormone (LH) to follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) ratios than non-obese women with PCOS. The LH to FSH ratio is a valuable diagnostic tool in evaluating Taiwanese women with PCOS, especially in the diagnosis of oligomenorrhea. Overweight/obesity is the major determinant of cardiovascular and metabolic disturbances in women of reproductive age.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.521-527
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• 1997

This study was aimed to investigate the nutriational status of Korean female college students who are attending school at a longdistance. Physique calssification by anthropomethic indexes, Body mass index(BMI) & Brocas' index and the body fat distrubition were investigated. The energy balance was also examined comparing caloric intake with caloric expenditure. The result of this study are followings; (1) Average height and weight were 158±17.8 cm, 51.7±7.8 kg. This results were not quite different from '84 Korean Adult Standard of 159.5cm, 52.5kg. (2) By Broca's index, 25.89% of subjects was underweight 67.0% was normal weight and 7.06 was overweight. By BMI, 40% of subjects was underweight, 58.8% was normal weight and 1.2% was overweight. (3) According to % fat measured. By BIA, 7% in subjects was underweight, 64.2% was normal weight, 22% was overweight and 6.1% was obesity. This result differed from BMI's result. It may be measurement error due to the difficulty of removing metal sticking to underwear and tooth correction. (4) The intakes of the nutrients except protein, P, vitamin B₁ complexes, were lower than the intakes indicated by Korean Recommended Allowances. 95) Average caloric intake a day was 1545±394.4 kcal, which was much lower than the RDA. The caloric expenditure was much more than caloric intake, which showed negative energy balance in the subjects of this study.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.119-135
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• 2007

Objectives: The efficacy, feasibility, and safety of bench-step aerobics (BSA) program in overweight or obese Korean adult women have been implied. However, there has been almost no evidence for its psychological benefits. As such, the purpose of this study was to investigate the psychological benefits of BSA program in overweight or obese (body mass index ${\geq}\;23\;kg/m^2$) Korean adult women. Method: Anger, exercise self-efficacy, exercise-related affect, and body image of overweight or obese women who participated in a 12-week BSA program (n=15) were compared with those of their counterparts in the control group (n=13). Subjects were selected among public health center visitors and those recruited by putting an advertisement in local newspapers and the public health center homepage. Data from the exercise and control groups were collected before and after the 12-week BSA program (from August to November in 2006) at the public health centers. The exercise program consisted of 45 to 60 min moderate-intensity (40/50 to 50/60% of their hear rate reserve) BSA performed for 3 days a week. Results: After the BSA program, body image of the subjects in the exercise group was significantly improved and there was a significant difference between the exercise and control groups. Anger, exercise self-efficacy, and exercise-related affect were improved after the BSA program but the changes did not reach the level of statistical significance and there were no significant differences between the exercise and control groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, BSA appears to significantly enhance body image in overweight or obese Korean adult women but its effects on anger, exercise self-efficacy, and exercise-related affect do not appear to be statistically significant. Further studies involving different subjects, particularly whose levels of anger are high or whose levels of exercise-related affect are low to exclude the influence of the ceiling or floor effect, are warranted in a randomized controlled design.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relevance of gender, age, and BMI (Body Mass Index) to changes in the urinary creatinine concentration in Korean adults. We recruited and surveyed 2,156 persons $\geq$20 years of age from 98 districts across the country, and collected urine samples for analyzing the creatinine concentration. Participants were 41.6% men and 58.4% women. In terms of age, the percentage of the population in their 20's and $\geq$60 years of age was relatively similar, with 13.6% and 17.8%, respectively, while the percentages in their 30's, 40's and 50's were also relatively similar, with 22.0%, 24.0%, and 22.6%, respectively. The proportion of participants in their 20's and 30's who were underweight (according to the BMI) was 25% and 19.2%, respectively, but only 6.2~6.4% of those $\geq$40 years of age were underweight. This showed that the underweight proportion in elder generations was less than that in younger generations. Meanwhile, the proportion who were overweight was 13.7%, 18.8%, 28.6%, 27.9%, 32.0% when the participants were in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and $\geq$60 years of age, respectively (p<0.000). This showed that the overweight proportion increased along with increasing age. The overall urinary creatinine concentration was 10 mg/dl (arithmetic mean: AM), and 92.2 mg/dl (geometric mean: GM). The urinary creatinine concentration in men (132.6 mg/dl, AM) was significantly higher than that in women (93.3 mg/dl, AM (p<0.000)). Showing a similar trend in men and women, urinary creatinine concentrations were highest when the participants were in their 20's (135.6 mg/dl, AM), and tended to decrease with increasing age. Urinary creatinine concentrations in overweight and obese subjects (AM of 117.9 mg/dl and 118.0 mg/dl, respectively) were significantly higher than in other groups, and this trend was similar in men and women. In conclusion, we found that urinary concentrations were significantly affected by gender, age, and BMI, and that care should therefore be exercised when correcting urinary metabolites according to the urinary creatinine concentration.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 2011

This study was designed to compare the incidence and severity of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) between normal (N = 85) and overweight or obese (N = 28) college female students and investigated correlation between PMS, nutrient intake, hematological index and psychological index (depression, anxiety, stress). Each subject was asked a Menstrual Discomfort Questionnaire (MDQ) for PMS by 5 Likert scale. The PMS scores of women in the normal weight subjects ranked in order of severity were water retention (2.71), followed by behavioral change (2.58), negative affect (2.46), pain (2.31), autonomic reaction (2.27), decreased concentration (2.16). The symptoms of 'pain' and 'behavioral change' of overweight or obese subject were significantly higher than those of normal subject (p < 0.05). And total cholesterol concentration of overweight or obese subjects was significantly higher than in normal subject (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) between the symptoms of 'negative effect' and BMI. And the triglyceride concentration was positively related with 'water retention (p < 0.01)'. The symptoms of 'decreased concentration' were negatively correlated with calcium (p < 0.01) and vitamin B6 intake (p < 0.05). The depression score were positively related with symptoms of 'behavioral change (p < 0.05)', 'negative affect' (p < 0.01), and the anxiety score was positively correlated with 'behavioral change (p < 0.05)' and 'decreased concentration (p < 0.05)'. The stress score was positively correlated with 'decreased concentration (p < 0.01)', 'behavioral change (p < 0.05)' and 'negative affect (p < 0.05)'. This suggests that PMS represents the clinical manifestation of a calcium, vitamin $B_6$ deficiency and psychological disorder. Therefore we concluded that nutrient supplementation, depression and stress management may help to relieve PMS symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2009

Diet is an important focus in solidifying the fundamentals of health; thus, it is necessary to offer and manage accurate and correct information. This study examined the effects of body part satisfaction and attitude on diet, in female college students, who are known to be very interested in their appearances and tend to have a strong propensity to consume. The data were gathered using questionnaires answered by 101 female college students living in Daegu City, after classifying the women into normal weight and overweight groups, respectively. According to the analyzed results, there were no significant differences in satisfaction by body part between the normal weight and overweight groups, however, both groups were found to be dissatisfied with the following body parts, in the order of: thighs > legs > and hips. The motivation factors for weight control were found to be in order: not having a boyfriend > lacking of confidence > seeing slender entertainment stars, and there were no significant differences between the two groups. Finally, the main reasons for weight control were in order: appearance > health > getting a job. It is anticipated that these results will contribute to preparing systematic solutions to promote healthy diets and body satisfaction in society, and will help bring a desirable change in perceptions about diet.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2014

Objectives: We conducted this study to analysis obesity pattern and obesity related blood parameters. Methods: A total of 64 overweight and obese (body mass index [BMI] ${\geq}23cm/kg^2$) women who had no other disease was recruited. Body composition and obesity related blood parameters were measured. Also subjects were given and filled out the Obesity pattern identification questionnaire. We analyzed the differences of body composition and blood parameters and measured correlations of BMI and blood parameters in each obesity pattern. Results: The distribution of obesity pattern was liver depression (35.6%), food accumulation (47.5%) and deficiency (pi and yang deficiency, 22.0%), in order. There were no significant differences age, body composition and obesity related blood parameters between obesity patterns. BMI and obesity related blood parameters, however, showed significant correlations depending on obesity patterns. Conclusions: We concluded that correlations between BMI and obesity related blood parameters were differed depending on obesity patterns.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2010

This study was done to investigate the association of blood clinical parameters and dietary intakes with serum adiponectin level. Athropometric measurement, dietary intakes, serum lipids and adiponectin levels were examined in 160 overweight and obese women. The subjects were divided into 5 groups by quintile according to serum adiponectin level. Weight, BMI, waist circumferences and waist/hip ratio of the highest quintile group were significantly lower than those of the lowest quintile group. Serum lipid analysis showed a significant higher level of TG, LDL-cholesterol, LDL/HDL ratio, AI, and serum hs-CRP in the lowest quintile group. Similarly, correlation data also showed that serum adiponectin level was positively correlated with serum HDL-cholesterol level (p < 0.01) and was negatively correlated with BMI (p < 0.01), waist circumferences (p < 0.01), waist/hip ratio (p<0.01), systolic (p < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), TG (p < 0.01), LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05), LDL/HDL ratio (p < 0.05), AI (p < 0.01), Homa-IR (p < 0.01), hs-CRP (p < 0.05) and leptin (p < 0.05). Dietary intake data showed that protein intake was significantly lower in the highest quintile group compared to the lower quintile groups while intakes of vitamin C was significantly higher in highest quintile group after adjustment by BMI, waist and energy intake, In addition, the highest quintile group had higher fiber intakes than the lower quintile groups. These results might suggest that a diet high in fiber and vitamin C and low in protein for obese patients would better be recommended to improve adiponectin level. However, further research is needed to elucidate the association of dietary intakes or dietary patterns and serum adiponectin level.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.13-26
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to analyze the preference of design and body shape for korean baby-boom generation women. For this study, in-depth interviews were carried out to 11 women who were born in 1955~1963. They are called korean baby-boom generation. The results were as follows; 1) Korean baby-boom generation women care to their body shape, and they make much of the balance of body, not just looking slim. 2) Korean baby-boom generation women become more interested in their clothing, and they want to look with casual image than elegant image before. But overweight women preferred elegant image. 3) Korean baby-boom generation women prefer mix-match style for everyday clothes, but they prefer suit-set for formal wear. 4) When Korean baby-boom generation women choose of jacket or coat color, they consider more of their body-shape than season color. 5) Korean baby-boom generation women prefer plain style and jacquard with metal yarn. 6) Korean baby-boom generation women prefer out-door cloth fabric, at special time, they choose pure wool and pure silk. At ordinary time, they like more comfortable fabric like cotton mixed spandex or wool mixed spandex blends.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.304-312
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: International students face dissimilar food environments, which could lead to changes in dietary behaviors and anthropometric characteristics between before and after migration. We sought to examine the risk factors, including dietary behaviors, acculturation, and demographic characteristics, related to overweight subjects residing in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study, collecting data from 142 Chinese international students (63 males, 79 females) in 2013. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 25.4 years, and almost half of them immigrated to South Korea to earn a master's degree or doctoral degree (n = 70, 49.3%). Chinese international students showed an increase in skipping meals and eating speed, but a decrease in the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption in South Korea compared to when they lived in China. We found a statistically significant increase in weight (69.4 ${\rightarrow}$ 73.9 kg) and BMI (22.4 ${\rightarrow}$ $23.8kg/m^2$) for male subjects (P < 0.001) but no change for female subjects. We also found that overweight subjects were more likely to be highly acculturated and male compared with normal-weight subjects. CONCLUSION: Among Chinese international students living in South Korea, male and more highly acculturated subjects are more vulnerable to weight gain. This study provides useful information to design tailored nutrition intervention programs for Chinese international students.