PURPOSE: This study examined whether the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the morbidity of chronic diseases differs by marital status, education, and income level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a nationally representative sample of 5,526 adults from the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005), data regarding measured height and weight to classify BMI category (< 23, 23-24.9, > or = 25), self-reported sociodemographics (marital status, education, income, age, sex, and residence area), health behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, exercise, sleep, stress perception, and depression), and morbidity from at least one chronic disease were collected. RESULTS: Education, income, and marital status were significantly associated with morbidity regardless of adjustment for BMI and health behaviors. After adjusting for BMI, other sociodemographic factors, and health behaviors, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of morbidity was 2.9 (2.4-3.7) for those in the married group and 2.9 (2.1-4.0) for those in the separated/divorced/widowed group, 2.0 (1.6-2.5) for those in the lowest education group, and 1.3 (1.2-1.6) for those in the lowest income group. When the BMI category and sociodemographic factors were combined, the odds ratios were elevated for those in the combination group with higher BMI and lower sociodemographic position. CONCLUSION: Korean subjects who were married, in the lowest education group, or in the lowest income level had a higher risk of morbidity in relation to BMI.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; *Body Mass Index ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Income ; Male ; Marital Status ; Middle Aged ; *Morbidity ; Odds Ratio ; Young Adult

To investigate the drug effect of topical Mitomycin C in various concentrations combined with steroid, we used 30 rabbits whose corneal epitheliums were abraded intentionally. They were divided into 5 groups. Using MMC in various concentrations and steroids, we instilled them into right eyes and saline into left eyes as control. We measured the healing rate at a interval of 12 hours. Three months later, we sacrificed one of them and examined the pathological changes from various ocular tissues. We found many complications such as corneal edema, ulcer, opacity and definite delay of wound healing when the concentration higher than 0.04%MMC was used. There were also decreased fibroblast cells in H-E staining. The steroids seemed not to pose any influence on the effect of MMC. In conclusion, we must take the great care in the use of MMC, and the concentration should be low when used. In addition, we still think there ought to be more studies as to the effect of steroids according to MMC levels.
Cornea* ; Corneal Edema ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Fibroblasts ; Intention ; Mitomycin* ; Ophthalmic Solutions* ; Rabbits ; Steroids ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing

To investigate the drug effect of topical Mitomycin C in various concentrations combined with steroid, we used 30 rabbits whose corneal epitheliums were abraded intentionally. They were divided into 5 groups. Using MMC in various concentrations and steroids, we instilled them into right eyes and saline into left eyes as control. We measured the healing rate at a interval of 12 hours. Three months later, we sacrificed one of them and examined the pathological changes from various ocular tissues. We found many complications such as corneal edema, ulcer, opacity and definite delay of wound healing when the concentration higher than 0.04%MMC was used. There were also decreased fibroblast cells in H-E staining. The steroids seemed not to pose any influence on the effect of MMC. In conclusion, we must take the great care in the use of MMC, and the concentration should be low when used. In addition, we still think there ought to be more studies as to the effect of steroids according to MMC levels.
Cornea* ; Corneal Edema ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Fibroblasts ; Intention ; Mitomycin* ; Ophthalmic Solutions* ; Rabbits ; Steroids ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing

It is not easy to maintain long-term weight loss even though it is the ultimate goal of obesity management. The Look AHEAD study in which 50% of participants in the intervention arm maintained a weight loss at least 5% below their initial weight after 8 years of intensive lifestyle intervention confirms a crucial role of continuous and constant application of lifestyle changes. Alteration of appetite-related hormones, energy homeostasis, nutrient metabolism, and subjective appetite are involved in biological pathways responsible for balance between energy utilization and storage following weight loss. Previous studies have shown that some appetite-related hormones and metabolites are potential predictors of weight-regain after weight loss, and specific diet pattern and physical activity could oppose weight loss regain.
Appetite ; Arm ; Diet ; Homeostasis ; Life Style ; Metabolism ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Weight Loss

No abstract available.
Obesity

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) is an important predictor of long-term health and physical function. Studies have associated alcohol consumption with HGS but based on inconsistent findings. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data were analyzed to examine the association between alcohol consumption levels and HGS based on sociodemographic and health-related factors. Methods: Using the 2014 to 2018 KNHANES data, alcohol consumption levels (abstinence, moderate, binge, and heavy consumption) and HGS levels (normal vs. weak) were determined in 8,556 men and 10,054 women (age, 49±16 years). Logistic regression analyses were conducted after adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related factors and in subgroups of those factors. Results: Binge or heavy consumption was reported in 50.2% of men and 22.7% of women, and weak HGS was found in 4.6% of men and 9.9% of women. In the fully adjusted model, weak HGS was associated with binge consumption (odds ratio [OR], 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37–0.71) and heavy consumption (OR, 0.37, 95% CI, 0.22–0.63) in men, and moderate consumption (OR, 0.79, 95% CI, 0.67–0.93) and binge consumption (OR, 0.65, 95% CI, 0.52–0.83) in women. An association between consumption levels and weak HGS was found in both sexes regardless of age (<65 vs. ≥65 years), education/income level, exercise endurance level, presence/absence of co-morbid illness, weight, and the presence/absence of metabolic syndrome. Conclusions Alcohol consumption may be inversely associated with weak HGS, regardless of sociodemographic and health-related factors using the 2014 to 2018 KNHANES data. Further prospective studies are necessary to examine the causality of the association.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether food security moderates the relationship of skeletal muscle mass with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance (IR). Methods: This study analyzed the data of 10,680 adults using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011. The food security reported by households, appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) divided by body mass index (BMI) (ASM/BMI), weight (ASM/weight), or height squared (ASM/height2) as muscle mass indicators, MetS (defined as presence of at least 3 components of MetS), and IR (defined as sex-specific highest quintile of homeostatic model assessment for IR) were assessed. The association between the muscle mass indicators and food security as well as their interaction with MetS and IR was analyzed for all participants and each sex using complex sample logistic regression and general linear model analyses. Results: When the ASM/BMI increased by 0.1 kg/BMI, the odds for MetS and IR decreased by 36% and 29%, respectively, after adjusting for age, sex, education, economic level, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, chronic diseases, and intake of fats and protein. There was a significant interaction between ASM/BMI and food security in their relationship with MetS and its components. In the low food security group, the inverse relationship of ASM/BMI with MetS and IR was stronger than in the food security group. These findings were more pronounced in men than in women, and similar findings were observed in the association with ASM/weight. Conclusions The associations of skeletal muscle mass with MetS and IR may be influenced by household food security in Korean adults.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between sleep duration and handgrip strength (HGS) with the consideration for sex and age groups. Methods: Among 10,783 individuals of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2017, the associations of weekend and weekdays sleep duration with HGS were analyzed using logistic regression analysis after adjusting for income, education, smoking·alcohol use, weight status, presence of metabolic syndrome and chronic illness according to sex and age (19-40, 41-60, ≥61). Results: With respect to the weekdays sleep duration, the odds ratios for low HGS in men and women aged ≥61 years with >8 hours sleep duration were 1.8 and 1.7, while the odds ratio (OR) was 1.4 in women aged ≥61 years with <6 hours compared to reference group. With respect to the weekend sleep duration, the ORs for low HGS in men 41-60 years with 7-8 hours or >8 hours sleep were 2.7 and 4.9, while the OR in men ≥61 years with >8 hours sleep was 2.1. In women, the OR was 1.5 for those 19-40 years with >8 hours sleep duration; 1.4, 1.4, and 2.0 for those ≥61 years with <6 hours sleep, 7-8 hours sleep, and >8 hours sleep. Conclusions Higher risk for low HGS was associated with >8 hours sleep duration in weekdays and weekend in older men and women, <6 hours sleep duration in weekdays or weekend in older women, and >8 hours weekend sleep duration in younger men and women.

PURPOSE: This ethnography was done to explore patterns of weight management behavior among adults using obesity clinics. METHODS: The participants were 12 adults who were overweight or obese and 2 family members. Data were collected from iterative fieldwork in the obesity clinics of two hospitals. Data were analyzed using text analysis and taxonomic methods. RESULTS: Weight management behaviors among participants varied according to the recognition of the body and motivation for weight control, Participants' behavior was discussed in the socio-cultural context of obesity. Patterns of weight management behavior among participants were categorized by focus: strategic self-oriented type including managements for the body as a social asset and for health, selective neglect type, and passive group value-oriented type including type dependent on others and managements for beauty. CONCLUSION: Participants' weight management behavior was guided by folk concepts of body and health. and constructed within the socio-cultural context. It is necessary for health care providers to understand physical and psychological problems arising from the repeated trials, excessive control of weight, and Western cultural discourse on beauty ideals among adults who are overweight or obese. Therefore, interventions should be tailored to address individual and community needs.
Adult ; Aged ; Attitude to Health ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motivation ; Obesity/*psychology ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the willingness to quit cigarette price among Korean male adults, and to examine he factors affecting the willingness to quit cigarette price. METHODS: The data was collected by a random digit dial telephone survey. 702 samples were analyzed by using ttests, ANOVA and OLS regression analysis. To estimate the willingness to quit cigarette price, smokers were asked dichotomous questions with open-ended follow-up and the starting point of the price was randomized by one of 5 bid prices elicited from a pilot study. RESULTS: The mean of the willingness to quit cigarette price was 4,287 Won per package, which was about 2,000 Won higher than the mean of the actual price the smokers now paid. About 41% of respondents were willing to quit smoking if the price of cigarette would be increased by 3,000 Won, and if the price would be increased by 20,000 Won, all respondents were willing to quit smoking. The factors associated with the willingness to quit cigarette price were the place of residence, the amount of smoking and the degree of exposure to smoking through the mass media. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that to get people to quit smoking, increasing the cigarette price would obviously be effective and much higher prices have a greater effect. Furthermore, to enlarge the effect of increased cigarette prices, providing more cessation programs to small towns, reducing the amount of smoking and decreasing or prohibiting advertisements of cigarettes and smoking in the mass media will be efficient.
Adult ; *Commerce ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Motivation ; Smoking/*economics/ethnology ; Smoking Cessation/*ethnology