Background: Prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS) during childhood are crucial. Recently, obesity among children and adolescents has increased with an increase in mothers’ working hours. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between mothers’ working hours and MetS in their children. Methods: Data from the 2016–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used, and 2,598 children and adolescents aged 10–18 years were included. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between MetS and mothers’ working hours for each risk factor. Linear regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between mothers’ working hours and the number of risk factors for MetS. Results: Abdominal obesity in children was higher when the mothers’ working hours were 53 hours or more (odds ratio [OR], 2.267; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–4.25). In the trend analysis, the OR of children’s abdominal obesity increased significantly as mothers’ working hours increased (P-value <0.05). Additionally, sex-stratified analysis revealed a significant trend between maternal work hours and the presence of MetS in female children (P=0.016). The adjusted OR of the presence of MetS in female children with mothers working 53 hours or more weekly was 6.065 (95% CI, 1.954–18.822). Conclusion Mothers’ working hours were highly correlated with the risk of abdominal obesity in their children. The OR of the presence of MetS significantly increased in female children with mothers having longer working hours compared with those with stay-at-home mothers.

Background: Prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS) during childhood are crucial. Recently, obesity among children and adolescents has increased with an increase in mothers’ working hours. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between mothers’ working hours and MetS in their children. Methods: Data from the 2016–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used, and 2,598 children and adolescents aged 10–18 years were included. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between MetS and mothers’ working hours for each risk factor. Linear regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between mothers’ working hours and the number of risk factors for MetS. Results: Abdominal obesity in children was higher when the mothers’ working hours were 53 hours or more (odds ratio [OR], 2.267; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–4.25). In the trend analysis, the OR of children’s abdominal obesity increased significantly as mothers’ working hours increased (P-value <0.05). Additionally, sex-stratified analysis revealed a significant trend between maternal work hours and the presence of MetS in female children (P=0.016). The adjusted OR of the presence of MetS in female children with mothers working 53 hours or more weekly was 6.065 (95% CI, 1.954–18.822). Conclusion Mothers’ working hours were highly correlated with the risk of abdominal obesity in their children. The OR of the presence of MetS significantly increased in female children with mothers having longer working hours compared with those with stay-at-home mothers.

Background: Prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS) during childhood are crucial. Recently, obesity among children and adolescents has increased with an increase in mothers’ working hours. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between mothers’ working hours and MetS in their children. Methods: Data from the 2016–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used, and 2,598 children and adolescents aged 10–18 years were included. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between MetS and mothers’ working hours for each risk factor. Linear regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between mothers’ working hours and the number of risk factors for MetS. Results: Abdominal obesity in children was higher when the mothers’ working hours were 53 hours or more (odds ratio [OR], 2.267; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–4.25). In the trend analysis, the OR of children’s abdominal obesity increased significantly as mothers’ working hours increased (P-value <0.05). Additionally, sex-stratified analysis revealed a significant trend between maternal work hours and the presence of MetS in female children (P=0.016). The adjusted OR of the presence of MetS in female children with mothers working 53 hours or more weekly was 6.065 (95% CI, 1.954–18.822). Conclusion Mothers’ working hours were highly correlated with the risk of abdominal obesity in their children. The OR of the presence of MetS significantly increased in female children with mothers having longer working hours compared with those with stay-at-home mothers.

Background: Prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS) during childhood are crucial. Recently, obesity among children and adolescents has increased with an increase in mothers’ working hours. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between mothers’ working hours and MetS in their children. Methods: Data from the 2016–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used, and 2,598 children and adolescents aged 10–18 years were included. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between MetS and mothers’ working hours for each risk factor. Linear regression analysis was conducted to confirm the association between mothers’ working hours and the number of risk factors for MetS. Results: Abdominal obesity in children was higher when the mothers’ working hours were 53 hours or more (odds ratio [OR], 2.267; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–4.25). In the trend analysis, the OR of children’s abdominal obesity increased significantly as mothers’ working hours increased (P-value <0.05). Additionally, sex-stratified analysis revealed a significant trend between maternal work hours and the presence of MetS in female children (P=0.016). The adjusted OR of the presence of MetS in female children with mothers working 53 hours or more weekly was 6.065 (95% CI, 1.954–18.822). Conclusion Mothers’ working hours were highly correlated with the risk of abdominal obesity in their children. The OR of the presence of MetS significantly increased in female children with mothers having longer working hours compared with those with stay-at-home mothers.

Background: The 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet aims to present an updated overview of obesity prevalence across all age groups, including children and adolescents. Methods: This study included individuals aged ≥20 years (n=16,941,423 in 2021) who underwent health checkups provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2012 and 2021. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was standardized by age and sex using data from the 2010 population and housing census. For children and adolescents (6 to 18 years) (n= 884 in 2021), we used the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012 to 2021), and obesity was defined by the corresponding sex- and agespecific body mass index percentile of 95th or greater based on the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart for Children and Adolescents. Results: The overall prevalence of obesity in 2021 is 38.4% (49.2% in men and 27.8% in women), which is a 1.27-fold increase from 30.2% in 2012. The prevalence of obesity has increased across all age groups, particularly among those aged 20, 30, and 80 years. The prevalence of class III obesity substantially increased from 0.35% (men) and 0.42% (women) in 2012 to 1.21% and 0.97% in 2021, with 3.46- and 2.31-fold increases, respectively.This increase was particularly pronounced in young adults. The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has surged from 9.7% in 2012 to 19.3% in 2021, with a greater increase among boys. Conclusion Our study provides information on the current status of obesity prevalence based on the 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet, emphasizing the urgency of implementing timely strategies to reverse this increasing trend.

Background: The 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet aims to present an updated overview of obesity prevalence across all age groups, including children and adolescents. Methods: This study included individuals aged ≥20 years (n=16,941,423 in 2021) who underwent health checkups provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2012 and 2021. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was standardized by age and sex using data from the 2010 population and housing census. For children and adolescents (6 to 18 years) (n= 884 in 2021), we used the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012 to 2021), and obesity was defined by the corresponding sex- and agespecific body mass index percentile of 95th or greater based on the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart for Children and Adolescents. Results: The overall prevalence of obesity in 2021 is 38.4% (49.2% in men and 27.8% in women), which is a 1.27-fold increase from 30.2% in 2012. The prevalence of obesity has increased across all age groups, particularly among those aged 20, 30, and 80 years. The prevalence of class III obesity substantially increased from 0.35% (men) and 0.42% (women) in 2012 to 1.21% and 0.97% in 2021, with 3.46- and 2.31-fold increases, respectively.This increase was particularly pronounced in young adults. The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has surged from 9.7% in 2012 to 19.3% in 2021, with a greater increase among boys. Conclusion Our study provides information on the current status of obesity prevalence based on the 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet, emphasizing the urgency of implementing timely strategies to reverse this increasing trend.

Background: The 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet aims to present an updated overview of obesity prevalence across all age groups, including children and adolescents. Methods: This study included individuals aged ≥20 years (n=16,941,423 in 2021) who underwent health checkups provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2012 and 2021. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was standardized by age and sex using data from the 2010 population and housing census. For children and adolescents (6 to 18 years) (n= 884 in 2021), we used the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012 to 2021), and obesity was defined by the corresponding sex- and agespecific body mass index percentile of 95th or greater based on the 2017 Korean National Growth Chart for Children and Adolescents. Results: The overall prevalence of obesity in 2021 is 38.4% (49.2% in men and 27.8% in women), which is a 1.27-fold increase from 30.2% in 2012. The prevalence of obesity has increased across all age groups, particularly among those aged 20, 30, and 80 years. The prevalence of class III obesity substantially increased from 0.35% (men) and 0.42% (women) in 2012 to 1.21% and 0.97% in 2021, with 3.46- and 2.31-fold increases, respectively.This increase was particularly pronounced in young adults. The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has surged from 9.7% in 2012 to 19.3% in 2021, with a greater increase among boys. Conclusion Our study provides information on the current status of obesity prevalence based on the 2023 Obesity Fact Sheet, emphasizing the urgency of implementing timely strategies to reverse this increasing trend.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the longitudinal trends in prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in Korean adults and hypertriglyceridemia-associated lifestyle habits, socioeconomic factors and comorbidities. Methods: Data from the 2007–2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were used in this study. Two cutoff values (≥150 mg/dL and ≥200 mg/dL) for fasting serum triglyceride levels were used to estimate the age- and sex-specific prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia. Use of lipid-lowering medications, lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and regular exercise, socioeconomic variables such as educational attainment and household income, and comorbidities such as obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were also investigated. Results: The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia among Koreans based on KNHANES 2007–2020 was 29.6% at ≥150 mg/dL and 16.1% at ≥200 mg/dL. While the rate of using lipidlowering medications increased steadily from 2007 to 2020, changes in annual prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia were subtle. The prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in men peaked in middle age (47.7% and 30.0% for ≥150 mg/dL and ≥200 mg/dL, respectively, in their 40s), but its prevalence in women increased throughout their lifetime (32.6% and 14.7% for ≥150 mg/ dL and ≥200 mg/dL, respectively, in their 70s). Smoking and high-risk drinking exacerbated peak prevalence in both sexes. Young adults with any comorbidities had prominently increased prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia. The lowest levels of education and income were both associated with the higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia in both sexes. Conclusion It is important to understand the age- and sex-specific epidemiology of hypertriglyceridemia to establish its appropriate management plans.

OBJECTIVES: Studies evaluating weight changes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have yielded inconsistent results, and most of those studies were based on self-reported anthropometric measures. We investigated changes in body mass index (BMI), professionally measured waist circumference (WC), and metabolic syndrome components from before to during the pandemic in a sample of the adult population in Korea. METHODS: This retrospective study included 1,118 male and female (age≥18 years) who underwent health checkups at a university medical center between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2022. Changes in BMI, lifestyles, and metabolic syndrome components during the pandemic were analyzed using the paired t-test, McNemar test, generalized estimating equations, and repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Changes in body weight, BMI, and body fat percentage during the pandemic were not clinically significant. However, statistically significant results were found for decreased physical activity (p<0.001) and WC (p<0.001), and exacerbation of all metabolic syndrome components (except serum triglyceride levels). Moreover, the metabolic syndrome prevalence increased significantly from 20.2% to 31.2% during the pandemic (p<0.001). The prevalence of abdominal obesity and high fasting blood glucose levels also significantly increased from 2019 to 2021. CONCLUSIONS Metabolic syndrome, its components, and fat distribution worsened significantly after the implementation of social distancing and lockdowns, despite no clinically significant changes in body weight and BMI. Further studies on the post- pandemic period should investigate the long-term impact of social lockdowns on BMI and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.