1.Consumption of Weight-control or Health Functional Foods, Dietary Habits, and Weight Perceptions According to the Body Mass Index of Adult Women in the Chungcheong Area
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition 2022;27(2):81-93
Objectives:
This study was conducted to investigate the experience and perception among adult women regarding weight control and the consumption of weight-control foods or health functional foods based on their body mass index (BMI).
Methods:
The subjects were 634 adult women from the Chungcheong province, Korea, and data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire from July 2021 through September 2021. The subjects were divided into four groups based on their BMI status: underweight (< 18.5 kg/㎡ , 7.6%), normal weight (18.5 ~ 22.9 kg/㎡ , 53.3%), overweight (23 ~ 24.9 kg/㎡ , 19.7%), and obese ( ≥ 25 kg/㎡ , 19.4%).
Results:
Over the past 3 years, almost two-thirds (68.6%) of the adult women had tried weight control measures, despite the fact that a significant proportion of them were normal or underweight. More importantly, 57.6% of subjects reported the consumption of weightcontrol foods, with a lower proportion in the underweight (35.4%) group compared to the normal (56.2%), overweight (62.4%), and obese (65.0%) groups. The food items used for weight control were mostly salads, chicken breasts, low fat (soy) milk, slimming tea, protein shakes, low-calorie cereals, and energy/protein bars among others. In addition, one-third (31.1%) of the subjects reported the use of health functional foods containing ingredients for fat reduction. A significantly higher proportion of these was from the overweight (36.0%) and obese (38.2%) groups compared to the underweight (20.8%) and normal weight (28.1%) groups. Products containing Garcinia cambogia extract, green tea, or Cissus extract, were popular among users. Subjects who were obese had a poorer perception of their health and body. Most subjects felt the need for correct information regarding weight control, but this number was significantly more in the higher BMI groups.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that the use of weight-control foods or health functional foods is popular among adult women, especially those who are obese. Thus, nutrition education courses covering facts about weight control and practice need to be developed and provided based on the BMI status of subjects.
2.A Literature Review on Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among Domestic and Overseas Farmers
Siyoung KIM ; Seongyong YOON ; Jinseok KIM ; Seong-yong CHO ; Hyun Woo PARK ; Daehwan KIM ; Gayoung KIM ; Jisoo KANG ; Kyungsu KIM ; Dongphil CHOI ; Seok-Ju YOO
Journal of Agricultural Medicine & Community Health 2023;48(4):251-261
Objective:
Farmers are known to have high prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). This study aims to investigate the current status of asthma and COPD in domestic and foreign farmers with the ultimate goal of raising awareness of asthma and COPD among farmers and contribute to supporting evidence for the prevention of respiratory diseases in farmers.
Methods:
The study utilized data from the "Farmer’s Occupational Disease Survey," conducted by the Rural Development Administration, to determine the prevalence of respiratory diseases in domestic farmers.The prevalence of asthma and COPD in overseas farmers was evaluated by researching other foreign studies and articles.
Results:
The prevalence of asthma and COPD in domestic farmers was less than of foreign farmers’.The prevalence of asthma in domestic farmers was high as upto 8.4% and COPD upto 5.5%. Studies from Europe and America showed prevalence of asthma in farmers high as upto 14.8% and COPD upto 17.1%.
Conclusions
This study conducted an investigation using the 'Survey on Occupational Diseases and Injuries in Farmers to understand the current status of asthma and COPD in domestic farmers. Due to a lack of relevant domestic research, we examined and compared with the research results on asthma and COPD among overseas farmers. Further research is necessary and preventive measures for respiratory diseases need to be developed.