The study aimed to analyze the lifestyles, weight control behavior, dietary habits, and depression of female university students. The subjects were 532 students from 8 universities located in 4 provinces in Korea. According to percent ideal body weight, 33 (6.4%), 181 (34.0%), 283 (53.2%), 22 (4.1%) and 13 (2.5%) were severely underweight, underweight, normal, overweight and obese, respectively, based on self-reported height and weight. As much as 64.1% and only 2.4%, respectively, overestimated and underestimated their body weight status. Six overweight subjects were excluded from overestimation group for the purpose of this study, resulting in overestimation group consisting of only underweight and normal weight subjects. Compared to those from the normal perception group, significantly more subjects from the overestimation group were currently smoking (P = 0.017) and drank more often than once a week (P = 0.015), without any significant differences in dietary habits. Despite similar BMIs, subjects who overestimated their own weight statuses had significantly higher weight dissatisfaction (P = 0.000), obesity stress (P = 0.000), obsession to lose weight (P = 0.007) and depression (P = 0.018). Also, more of them wanted to lose weight (P = 0.000), checked their body weights more often than once a week (P = 0.025) and had dieting experiences using 'reducing meal size' (P = 0.012), 'reducing snacks' (P = 0.042) and 'taking prescribed pills' (P = 0.032), and presented 'for a wider range of clothes selection' as the reason for weight loss (P = 0.039), although none was actually overweight or obese. Unlike the case with overestimating one's own weight, being overweight was associated with less drinking (P = 0.035) and exercising more often (P = 0.001) and for longer (P = 0.001) and healthier reasons for weight control (P = 0.002), despite no differences in frequency of weighing and depression. The results showed that weight overestimation, independent of weight status, is associated with risky lifestyles, weight control behaviors, and mental conditions. Preventive interventions should focus not only on obesity, but also on body weight overestimation.
Body Weight ; Depression ; Diet ; Drinking ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Ideal Body Weight ; Korea ; Life Style ; Meals ; Obesity ; Obsessive Behavior ; Overweight ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thinness ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases are common causes of diseases and death for workers. With the increasing prevalence of obesity, the social costs for obesity related diseases are a growing burden in Korea. We aimed to investigate the impact of weight change on metabolic syndrome and its components in Korean male workers. METHODS: We analyzed the data from 2,785 male workers obtained during health checkups in 2000 and in 2008. The subjects were classified into 5 groups as Loss (< or = -3.0 kg), Stable (-2.9 to 2.9 kg), Mild gain (3.0 to 5.9 kg), Moderate gain (6.0 to 8.9 kg), and Severe gain (> or = 9.0 kg) group according to the amount of weight change between the 2 health checkups. The mean values of metabolic syndrome components were compared across the 5 weight change groups by ANCOVA. After classifying subjects into 2 groups according to the normality of their body weight at baseline, the odds ratios for metabolic syndrome and its components each weight-change group were computed by multiple logistic regression analyses, using the Stable group as the reference. RESULTS: There was a strong linear relationship between weight gain and a worsening of the components of metabolic syndrome in 2008 (p<0.001). In normal body weight group, the odds ratios for metabolic syndrome significantly increased in the Mild, Moderate, and Severe gain groups (OR 1.83, 2.82, and 7.56, respectively), and increased with weight gain (p<0.001). In subjects who were obese, the odds ratios for metabolic syndrome significantly increased if their amount of weight gain placed them in the Mild or Moderate gain groups(OR 1.75 and 3.97), increased with the increase of weight gain (p<0.001), and decreased in the Loss group(OR 0.51, 95%CI 0.30 to 0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Weight gain in male workers was positively associated with metabolic syndrome through worsening of metabolic syndrome components. On the other hand, weight loss in obese male workers had a protective effect against metabolic syndrome through the improvement of the components of metabolic syndrome.
Body Weight ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Hand ; Humans ; Ideal Body Weight ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Menstrual irregularity is an indicator of endocrine disorders and reproductive health status. It is associated with various diseases and medical conditions, including obesity and underweight. We aimed to assess the association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity in Korean women. METHODS: A total of 4,621 women 19 to 54 years of age who participated in the 2010 to 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this study. Self-reported questionnaires were used to collect medical information assessing menstrual health status and body weight changes. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to evaluate the association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity. RESULTS: Significantly higher ORs (95% CI) were observed in the association between menstrual irregularity and both weight loss (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.22 to 2.48) and weight gain (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.13 to 1.86) after adjusting for age, body mass index, current smoking, heavy alcohol drinking, regular exercise, calorie intake, education, income, metabolic syndrome, age of menarche, parity, and stress perception. Of note, significant associations were only observed in subjects with obesity and abdominal obesity, but not in non-obese or non-abdominally obese subjects. U-shaped patterns were demonstrated in both obese and abdominally obese subjects, indicating that greater changes in body weight are associated with higher odds of menstrual irregularity. CONCLUSION: We found a U-shaped pattern of association between body weight changes and menstrual irregularity among obese women in the general Korean population. This result indicates that not only proper weight management but also changes in body weight may influence the regulation of the menstrual cycle.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight Changes* ; Body Weight* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Menarche ; Menstrual Cycle ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Odds Ratio ; Parity ; Reproductive Health ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thinness ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Recently, childhood obesity has increased and became a major health concern in Korea. The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of childhood obesity in rural city and to explore the risk factors of obesity including obesity of parents. METHODS: We made 13 convenience samples of elementary school and attached kindergarten located in Asan-city, ChungNam, in 2001. We surveyed children's height, weight, and risk factors of childhood obesity with a self-recorded questionnaire answered by parents. Children's obesity was evaluated by ideal body weight which is defined as the 50th percentile of weight for Korean children of the same height and sex in 1998. The criteria of parents' obesity was over 25 of BMI. RESULTS: The subjects were 1,558 children among 1870 respondents. The prevalence of childhood obesity was 9.4% and that of male children was 11.0% and that of female children was 7.9%. The older in both male and female, the higher the obesity prevalence was. Mother's age were significantly higher in obese children. Birth weight and family income were also significantly higher in obese children. There was a higher family history of obesity in obese children. Risk factors associated with childhood obesity were gender, age of child, mother's age, birth weight, number of siblings, family income, and family history of obesity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of childhood obesity in Asan-city was 9.4%. Children whose father, mother, or parents were obese tended to be obese.
Birth Weight ; Child ; Chungcheongnam-do* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Fathers ; Female ; Humans ; Ideal Body Weight ; Korea ; Male ; Mothers ; Obesity* ; Parents ; Pediatric Obesity* ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors* ; Siblings

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the relationships between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations and their effects on newborn birth weights, maternal body mass indices and fetal sex in term normotensive (NT) and preeclampsia (PE) women. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained at delivery from 20 NT group and another 20 from PE group of at least 36 weeks of gestation. And the umbilical cord samples were also taken from their newborns at birth. Plasma leptin levels were determined in both groups using a human recombinant leptin 125-I radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Mean maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations were 16.16+/-2.05 ng/ml and 7.11+/-1.01 ng/ml in NT group, 17.09+/-1.67 ng/ml and 8.55+/-6.63 ng/ml in PE group, and there was no statistical significances among them. The differences of leptin concentrations in maternal plasma and umbilical cord according to baby sex were not significant in both NT and PE groups. Plasma leptin concentrations were related with maternal weight gain and BMI in NT group and with body weight in PE group. The BMI and birth weights of the neonates have significant effects on the umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, no correlation was found between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. But maternal plasma leptin concentrations had positive correlations with maternal body weight, BMI, and body weight changes during pregnancy in both NT and PE groups. There were also positive correlations among umbilical cord leptin concentrations, BMI and birth weights of the neonates of NT and PE groups term. Therefore umbilical cord leptin is considered to be the index of fetal birth weight.
Birth Weight ; Body Weight ; Body Weight Changes ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Weight* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Leptin* ; Parturition ; Plasma* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Radioimmunoassay ; Umbilical Cord ; Weight Gain

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the relationships between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations and their effects on newborn birth weights, maternal body mass indices and fetal sex in term normotensive (NT) and preeclampsia (PE) women. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained at delivery from 20 NT group and another 20 from PE group of at least 36 weeks of gestation. And the umbilical cord samples were also taken from their newborns at birth. Plasma leptin levels were determined in both groups using a human recombinant leptin 125-I radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Mean maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations were 16.16+/-2.05 ng/ml and 7.11+/-1.01 ng/ml in NT group, 17.09+/-1.67 ng/ml and 8.55+/-6.63 ng/ml in PE group, and there was no statistical significances among them. The differences of leptin concentrations in maternal plasma and umbilical cord according to baby sex were not significant in both NT and PE groups. Plasma leptin concentrations were related with maternal weight gain and BMI in NT group and with body weight in PE group. The BMI and birth weights of the neonates have significant effects on the umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. CONCLUSION: In this study, no correlation was found between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. But maternal plasma leptin concentrations had positive correlations with maternal body weight, BMI, and body weight changes during pregnancy in both NT and PE groups. There were also positive correlations among umbilical cord leptin concentrations, BMI and birth weights of the neonates of NT and PE groups term. Therefore umbilical cord leptin is considered to be the index of fetal birth weight.
Birth Weight ; Body Weight ; Body Weight Changes ; Female ; Fetal Blood* ; Fetal Weight* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Leptin* ; Parturition ; Plasma* ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Radioimmunoassay ; Umbilical Cord ; Weight Gain

The purpose of this study was to identify the concepts of body image, weight control and food behavior in 520 Korean high school seniors from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate body image, concern of weight control, experience of weight control, the first time to try weight control, plan for weight control, reasons of weight control and food behaviors related with weight control. Anthropometric parameters such as weight and height were measured. Finally, data from 497 high school seniors were used for statistical analysis. The results were as follows. Many subjects had misperceptions. Among the subjects who perceived themselves as 'fat', 57.8% were normal weight and 0.5% underweight. Among the subjects who perceived themselves as 'thin', 59.5% were normal weight, 0.9% overweight and 0.9% obese. Girls were more concerned about weight control than boys (4.20 vs. 3.66). Weight loss had been experienced by 61.5% of the subjects and weight gain by 12.8%. First weight control was attempted by 71.3% of the subject at high school and by 28.7% at middle school. The majority of subjects planned for weight control before their freshman year. The boys choose 'health' as the primary reason for weight control, whereas the girls chose 'good appearance'. The total score of food behaviors varied significantly according to BMI. Overweight and obese subjects had more desirable food behaviors than normal weight and underweight subjects (24.00, 24.06 vs. 21.92, 21.52). However, total scores of food behaviors showed no variation according to sex, weight control attempt and body image. In conclusion, the high school seniors had misconceptions about body image and weight control. They were exposed to a high risk of inappropriate weight control and food behaviors. Therefore, proper nutritional education programs need to be developed for high school seniors to prevent nutrition problems related to weight control and to maintain desirable food behaviors.
Body Image ; Humans ; Overweight ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Thinness ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on the onset time of lactation (OL).

METHODSIn this longitudinal study, 751 healthy single pregnant women were selected from three hospitals in Chengdu as subjects of baseline survey during March and September 2013 and were followed before and after delivery, respectively. Finally, data from a total of 473 pregnant women were analyzed. Data on pre-pregnancy weight, delivery mode, birth weight of neonate, information of lactation and maternal demographic characteristics were collected through questionnaire and medical records. Height and weight at the last week before delivery were measured and GWG were calculated. After controlling the potential confounders, a serial of multi-factor ordinal logistic regression models were performed to test the associations between pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG and OL.

RESULTSThe proportions of OL at the < 1, 1-, 24-, 48- and ≥ 72 h groups were 16.3%, 37.0%, 17.5%, 18.6% and 10.6%, respectively. When compared to women with normal weight, the ORs for prolonged OL were 2.85 (1.91-4.27) and 3.42 (1.69-6.90) among pre-pregnant underweight and overweight/obese women, respectively. When compared to women with normal weight and adequate GWG, pre-pregnant underweight women with adequate and excessive GWG showed greater odds of prolonged OL (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.31-4.18; OR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.67-7.00), respectively. Pre-pregnant overweight/obese women with excessive GWG had increased the odds of prolonged OL (OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.15-8.37).

CONCLUSIONPre-pregnant BMI appeared an independently factor, associated with OL while GWG might have an effect on OL, when pre-pregnant BMI was considered.

Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Breast Feeding ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Logistic Models ; Longitudinal Studies ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Pregnancy ; Thinness ; Weight Gain

BACKGROUND: Low body weight was one of the risk factors of osteoporosis. Little is known about the correlation between body weight change and bone mineral density (BMD) in Korean women. Therefore, this study was designed to reveal the impact of body weight change on BMD of the lumbar spine in perimenopausal women. METHODS: 105 healthy perimenopausal women aged between 44 and 50 years old were enrolled from August 2002 to March 2009. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Partial correlation coefficients between body weight change and BMD change were calculated after the adjustments for several variables. BMD changes among groups based on BMI and the percentage change in body weight during 1-year follow-up period were compared. RESULTS: At both baseline and year 1, BMD of lumbar spine tended to be associated more with body weight. There was a significant association between body weight change and BMD change in lumbar spine during 1-year follow-up period. The weight gain group relatively showed an increase in BMD of lumbar spines than weight loss group. There was no BMD change in BMI less than 23 kg/m2 group, but in case of BMI more than 23 kg/m2 group, BMD in weight gain group increased more than the weight maintaining group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that body weight change is associated with change in BMD of lumbar spine in perimenopausal women especially if they are overweight.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Body Weight ; Body Weight Changes ; Bone Density ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Osteoporosis ; Overweight ; Perimenopause ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss

Objective: To investigate the association between maternal pre-pregnant body mass index and gestational weight gain, as well as their interaction on neonatal birthweight. Methods: We built a cohort in Anqing Municipal Hospital from January 2014 to March 2015, enrolling pregnant women who decided to give birth in this hospital. All women were asked to fill a questionnaire for basic information collection. Medical information of both pregnant women and their newborns were obtained through electronic medical record. Chi-square analysis, multinomial logistic regression, multiplicative and additive interaction methods were used to analyze the association between pre-pregnant body mass index and gestational weight gain as well as their interactions on birth weight of the neonates. Results: A total of 2 881 pregnant women were included in this study. Of the 2 881 newborns, 359 (12.46%) were small for gestational age (SGA) and 273 (9.48%) were large for gestational age (LGA). After adjusting the possible confounding factors, results from the multinomial logistic regression showed that pre-pregnancy underweight women were more possible to deliver SGA (aRR=1.33, 95%CI: 1.02-1.73). If the gestational weight gain was below the recommended criteria, the risk of SGA (aRR=1.64, 95%CI: 1.23-2.19) might increase. Pre-pregnancy overweight/obese could increase the risk of being LGA (aRR=1.86, 95%CI: 1.33-2.60). Maternal gestational weight gain above the recommendation level was associated with higher rates of LGA (aRR=2.03, 95%CI: 1.49-2.78). Results from the interaction analysis showed that there appeared no significant interaction between pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight on birthweight. Conclusion: Pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain were independently associated with neonatal birthweight while pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain did not present interaction on birthweight.
Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; China/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Gestational Weight Gain ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Small for Gestational Age ; Logistic Models ; Obesity/epidemiology* ; Overweight/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnant Women ; Risk Factors ; Thinness/epidemiology* ; Weight Gain