Korean guidelines for the management of gout

Gout is the most common form of arthritis, with the prevalence increasing worldwide. The present treatment guidelines provide recommendations for the appropriate treatment of acute gout, management during the inter-critical period, and prevention of chronic complications. The guidelines were developed based on evidence-based medicine and draft recommendations finalized after expert consensus. These guidelines are designed to provide clinicians with clinical evidence to enable efficient treatment of gout.

Korean guidelines for the management of gout

Gout is the most common form of arthritis, with the prevalence increasing worldwide. The present treatment guidelines provide recommendations for the appropriate treatment of acute gout, management during the inter-critical period, and prevention of chronic complications. The guidelines were developed based on evidence-based medicine and draft recommendations finalized after expert consensus. These guidelines are designed to provide clinicians with clinical evidence to enable efficient treatment of gout.

Physicians’ Agreement on and Implementation of the 2019 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology Vaccination Guideline: An International Survey

Objective@#To evaluate the perspective of healthcare professionals towards the 2019 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) vaccination guideline in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD). @*Methods@#Healthcare professionals who care for patients with AIIRD were invited to participate in an online survey regarding their perspective on the 2019 update of the EULAR recommendations for vaccination in adult patients with AIIRD. Level of agreement and implementation of the 6 overarching principles and 9 recommendations were rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1~5). @*Results@#Survey responses of 371 healthcare professionals from Asia (42.2%) and North America (41.6%), Europe (13.8%), and other countries were analyzed. Only 16.3% of participants rated their familiarity with the 2019 EULAR guideline as 5/5 (“very well”). There was a high agreement (≥4/5 rating) with the overarching principles, except for the principles applying to liveattenuated vaccines. There was a high level of agreement with the recommendations regarding influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations; implementation of these recommendations was also high. Participants also reported a high level of agreement with the remaining recommendations but did not routinely implement these recommendations. @*Conclusion@#The 2019 update of EULAR recommendations for the vaccination of adult patients with AIIRD is generally thought to be important by healthcare professionals, although implementation of adequate vaccination is often lacking. Better education of healthcare providers may be important to optimize the vaccination coverage for patients with AIIRD.

Familial Types and Dietary Quality in Korean Elderly

Background@#The aim of this study is to assess the relationships between familial types and dietary quality measured by the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) in representative Korean elderly. @*Methods@#We used cross-sectional data from 4,260 Korean elderly, aged over 65 years, who had participated in the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The 14-item KHEI scores were calculated from the Food Frequency Questionnaire and the Dietary Habit Survey from the Nutrition Survey.Familial type was categorized into three groups of Live alone (LA), Live with a partner with or without other(s) (LP), and Live with other(s) without a partner (LO) based on the Household Interview Survey. @*Results@#LP had better dietary quality than LO for both sexes (both P<0.05). LA (64.5; standard error [SE], 1.0) had worse dietary quality than LP (66.7; SE, 0.6]) in elderly male (P<0.05) while they were not significantly different in elderly female. The percentages of subjects having poor dietary quality (total KHEI score of ≤50) in LA, LP, and LO were 20.6% (SE, 2.7), 7.3% (SE, 0.8), 8.9% (SE, 3.6) in elderly male, and 9.6% (SE, 1.2), 5.7% (SE, 0.8), 12.9% (SE, 1.8) in elderly female, respectively. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of having poor dietary quality compared with LP was 2.45 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66-3.60) for LA male, and 1.98 (95% CI, 1.19-3.28) for LO female. @*Conclusions@#Familial type affects dietary quality in Korean elderly. However, differential associations were shown between elderly male and female.

Protein Intake by Korean Adults through Meals

Background@#This study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of protein intake through meals and present the major protein sources of Korean adults. @*Methods@#Cross-sectional data of 15,639 adults aged 19 years or older from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were obtained. The total, animal, plant protein intakes were assessed using 1-day 24-hour recall. The distinction between breakfast, lunch, and dinner was based on the subjective answers of the participants. @*Results@#The adequacy of protein intake based on the Recommended Nutrient Intake was 67.4±1.2% and 62.9±1.1% in young men and women, respectively; it was 51.9±1.4% and 35.7±1.3% in older men and women, respectively. For men, the proportions of proteins through meals were 17.4±0.3%, 32.6±0.3%, 38.4±0.3%, and 11.6±0.2% for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, respectively. The women showed a similar distribution. In both men and women, as the age group progressed from the young (10.9±0.4 g/day, 12.2±0.4%) to the old (16.9±0.3 g/day, 27.3±0.4%), their intake of proteins and their proportions in meals taken as breakfast also increased, while their dinner protein intake and proportion decreased. The highest-ranked and the 2nd highest-ranked protein sources among the young and middle-aged groups were meat and grains, respectively; the third sources were fish and shellfish. In the old-age group, grains were the highest-ranked protein sources across all three meals. @*Conclusions@#Despite the increase in protein intake, one out of three young people and two out of three older adults in Korea had inadequate protein intake and uneven meal distributions of protein intake.

Reliability and Validity of an Ultrasonic Device for Measuring Height in Adults / 가정의학회지

Background@#The ultrasonic stadiometer was originally developed as a device to measure and monitor children’s height. However, an ultrasonic stadiometer (InLab S50; InBody Co., Seoul, Korea) was used to measure adults’ height in the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS). This study was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the InLab S50 in adults. @*Methods@#The study subjects were 120 adults (reliability test, n=20; validity test, n=100) who had visited a health screening center. The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of InLab S50 were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The agreement between InLab S50 and an automatic stadiometer (HM-201; Fanics, Busan, Korea) was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis. @*Results@#The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of the InLab S50 were excellent (ICC=0.9999 and 0.9998, respectively). The correlation coefficient of the height measured by the two measurement devices was very high (r=0.996). The difference (Δheight [HM-201-InLab S50]) was -0.15±0.78 cm (95% limit of agreement [LOA], -1.69 to 1.38). After excluding the values outside 95% LOA, the difference was further reduced to -0.05±0.59 cm (95% LOA, -1.20 to 1.10). @*Conclusion@#This study showed that the InLab S50 is a reliable and valid device for the measurement of adults’ height. Therefore, we think that InLab S50 could be used to measure adults’ height in household health surveys such as the KCHS.

Fruit Intake to Prevent and Control Hypertension and Diabetes / 가정의학회지

Fruits are considered healthy because of their high antioxidant, vitamin, mineral, fiber, and phytochemical contents. However, their high sugar content is a concern for glucose, lipid, and uric acid metabolism. We reviewed related articles published in the last 10 years and summarized evidence that relates fruit intake to the prevention and control of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Clinicians should familiarize themselves with appropriate fruit intake to counsel at-risk patients on hypertension and diabetes.

Protein Intake by Korean Adults through Meals

Background@#This study aimed to evaluate the adequacy of protein intake through meals and present the major protein sources of Korean adults. @*Methods@#Cross-sectional data of 15,639 adults aged 19 years or older from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were obtained. The total, animal, plant protein intakes were assessed using 1-day 24-hour recall. The distinction between breakfast, lunch, and dinner was based on the subjective answers of the participants. @*Results@#The adequacy of protein intake based on the Recommended Nutrient Intake was 67.4±1.2% and 62.9±1.1% in young men and women, respectively; it was 51.9±1.4% and 35.7±1.3% in older men and women, respectively. For men, the proportions of proteins through meals were 17.4±0.3%, 32.6±0.3%, 38.4±0.3%, and 11.6±0.2% for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, respectively. The women showed a similar distribution. In both men and women, as the age group progressed from the young (10.9±0.4 g/day, 12.2±0.4%) to the old (16.9±0.3 g/day, 27.3±0.4%), their intake of proteins and their proportions in meals taken as breakfast also increased, while their dinner protein intake and proportion decreased. The highest-ranked and the 2nd highest-ranked protein sources among the young and middle-aged groups were meat and grains, respectively; the third sources were fish and shellfish. In the old-age group, grains were the highest-ranked protein sources across all three meals. @*Conclusions@#Despite the increase in protein intake, one out of three young people and two out of three older adults in Korea had inadequate protein intake and uneven meal distributions of protein intake.

Reliability and Validity of an Ultrasonic Device for Measuring Height in Adults / 가정의학회지

Background@#The ultrasonic stadiometer was originally developed as a device to measure and monitor children’s height. However, an ultrasonic stadiometer (InLab S50; InBody Co., Seoul, Korea) was used to measure adults’ height in the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey (KCHS). This study was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the InLab S50 in adults. @*Methods@#The study subjects were 120 adults (reliability test, n=20; validity test, n=100) who had visited a health screening center. The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of InLab S50 were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The agreement between InLab S50 and an automatic stadiometer (HM-201; Fanics, Busan, Korea) was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis. @*Results@#The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of the InLab S50 were excellent (ICC=0.9999 and 0.9998, respectively). The correlation coefficient of the height measured by the two measurement devices was very high (r=0.996). The difference (Δheight [HM-201-InLab S50]) was -0.15±0.78 cm (95% limit of agreement [LOA], -1.69 to 1.38). After excluding the values outside 95% LOA, the difference was further reduced to -0.05±0.59 cm (95% LOA, -1.20 to 1.10). @*Conclusion@#This study showed that the InLab S50 is a reliable and valid device for the measurement of adults’ height. Therefore, we think that InLab S50 could be used to measure adults’ height in household health surveys such as the KCHS.

Fruit Intake to Prevent and Control Hypertension and Diabetes / 가정의학회지

Fruits are considered healthy because of their high antioxidant, vitamin, mineral, fiber, and phytochemical contents. However, their high sugar content is a concern for glucose, lipid, and uric acid metabolism. We reviewed related articles published in the last 10 years and summarized evidence that relates fruit intake to the prevention and control of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Clinicians should familiarize themselves with appropriate fruit intake to counsel at-risk patients on hypertension and diabetes.

Animal and Plant Protein Intake and Socioeconomic Status in Young and Middle-Aged Korean Adults

Background@#Dietary intake is affected by socioeconomic status (SES). The aim of this study is to assess adequacy of protein intake, and to investigate the association between SES, in terms of household income and educational attainment, and protein intake according to the protein source i.e., plant or animal protein, in a nationally representative sample of young and middle-aged Korean adults. @*Methods@#We used cross-sectional data from 1,404 Koreans, aged between 19 and 64, who had participated in the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. One day (24-hour) recall data was used to estimate the daily total of animal and plant protein intake. Household income quartiles and educational attainment were assessed by trained interviewers. @*Results@#The proportion of protein intake adequacy, based on the Korean recommended nutrient intake (RNI; 0.91 g/kg/day), was 66.5% (0.8) for males and 58.2% (0.8) for females. After adjustment, household income quartiles were positively associated with animal protein intake with a marginal significance both in males (P=0.051) and females (P=0.080) and showed a marginal negative association with plant protein intake in males (P=0.050) and a marginal positive association in females (P=0.074). Educational attainment was positively associated with total protein (P=0.001), animal protein (P=0.003), and plant protein intake (P=0.002), only in females. @*Conclusions@#One out of three young and middle-aged Korean adults showed protein intake inadequacy. Socioeconomic status, measured by household income and educational attainment, was associated with protein intake in young and middle-aged Korean adults and the associations were more marked in females.

The Differences in Obesity Rates According to Status of Co-Residence with Their Parents in Korean Adolescents: The Implication of the Gender of Single Parent Living with Adolescents

BACKGROUND: Many studies have reported that adolescents living with single parent have a high risk of obesity. However, those studies did not explore the implication of the gender of single parent living with adolescents. This study investigated the differences in obesity rates according to status of co-residence with their parents in Korean adolescents. The family living with single parent was classified into the family living with single father and the family living with single mother. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 59,602 adolescents who participated in the 2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. The data on height, weight, status of co-residence with parents, and the other variables were obtained through online questionnaires. RESULTS: In male adolescents, the family living with single mother was related to a high proportion of obesity (odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–1.40) and overweight (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.03–1.34). However, in female adolescents, the family living with single father was related to a high proportion of obesity (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.23–1.82). In addition, female adolescents living with neither parent were more likely to be obese (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.13–1.91) and overweight (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.00–1.70). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a risk of obesity in adolescents living with single parent differs according to the gender of single parent living with adolescents. Not adolescents living with a same-gender parent, but those living with an opposite-gender parent have a high risk of obesity.

Which Types of Dietary Supplements Are Used in Korea? Data from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND: The consumption of dietary supplements is increasing in Korea. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence, types, and trends of dietary supplement (DS) use in Korean adults. METHODS: We analyzed the Nutrition Survey data of Korean aged 19 years old or older from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Two thousand and six hundred twenty one men and 3,324 women totaling 5,945 adults were included. The prevalence of DS use was calculated by two methods, i.e., consumption experience of more than two weeks during previous one year and current consumption. Each reported DS in the one day 24 hour recall was coded based on ingredients according to the 2016 Korean Food and Drug Administration Notification. RESULTS: The prevalence (standard error) of current DS use was 18.4% (1.2) for men, 27.4% (1.1) for women. Those with DS use for longer than two weeks during previous one year were 35.2% (1.5), and 50.4% (1.2), for men and women respectively. Multi-vitamin mineral supplement (89.6/103 persons) was the most frequently consumed DS in Korean adults followed by vitamin C (66.2/103 persons), omega 3 fatty acid (49.5/103 persons), Panax ginseng (27.3/103 persons), and probiotics (22.2/103 persons) in listing. CONCLUSIONS: The trend for DS use in Korean adults is changing as well as increasing. These factors should be considered in patient care.

The Distribution of Weight Status according to Familial Socioeconomic Status in Korean Adolescents: The Twelfth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, 2016

BACKGROUND: The influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on weight status varies depending on the countries' levels of social and economic development. There are many studies on a risk of adolescent obesity according to familial SES in Korea. However, it is not clarified what effects familial SES has on a risk of underweight in Korean adolescents. This study investigated the distribution of weight status including obesity and underweight according to familial SES in Korean adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 63,741 adolescents who participated in the 2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Wed-based Survey. The data on height, weight, familial SES, current smoking status, current alcohol intake, physical activity, breakfast skipping, perceived stress, depressive mood, and living with family were obtained through online questionnaires. The assessment of familial SES was based on perceived household economic status and parental education level. RESULTS: In boys, low household economic status was related to a high proportion of obesity (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.25) and underweight (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.14–1.51). Girls with low household economic status were more likely to be obese (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.61–2.03) and overweight (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.23–1.60) but, although not statistically significant, less likely to be underweight (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.75–1.04). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that adolescents with low familial SES were at a high risk of obesity and underweight. A risk of underweight was increased in boys with low familial SES but in girls with high familial SES.

Adequacy of Protein Intake among Korean Elderly: An Analysis of the 2013–2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Protein intake in South Korea is generally considered to be adequate; however, there is concern that it may be inadequate among the elderly. This study evaluated the adequacy of protein intake, the source of protein, and the distribution of protein intake in daily meals in the Korean elderly population. METHODS: Data were obtained from 1,484 men and 2,028 women aged 60 years or older who had participated in the nutrition survey of the 2013–2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. One-day (24-hour) recall data were used to estimate the daily protein intake. RESULTS: The mean protein intake was 65.3±1.0 g/d (13.1%±0.1% of energy) and 49.7±0.7 g/d (12.6%±0.1% of energy) for men and women, respectively. The protein intake was less than the estimated average requirement in 30.8%±1.4% of men and 42.6%±1.3% of women, and 47.9%±1.6% and 60.1%±1.4%, respectively, consumed less than the recommended daily allowance. The protein intake was relatively evenly distributed among meals; however, the absolute amount of protein consumption per meal was very low. Only one-third of the protein intake came from animal sources. CONCLUSION: The quantity and quality of protein intake were inadequate in the elderly Korean population.

Which Types of Dietary Supplements Are Used in Korea? Data from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND@#The consumption of dietary supplements is increasing in Korea. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence, types, and trends of dietary supplement (DS) use in Korean adults.@*METHODS@#We analyzed the Nutrition Survey data of Korean aged 19 years old or older from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Two thousand and six hundred twenty one men and 3,324 women totaling 5,945 adults were included. The prevalence of DS use was calculated by two methods, i.e., consumption experience of more than two weeks during previous one year and current consumption. Each reported DS in the one day 24 hour recall was coded based on ingredients according to the 2016 Korean Food and Drug Administration Notification.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence (standard error) of current DS use was 18.4% (1.2) for men, 27.4% (1.1) for women. Those with DS use for longer than two weeks during previous one year were 35.2% (1.5), and 50.4% (1.2), for men and women respectively. Multi-vitamin mineral supplement (89.6/103 persons) was the most frequently consumed DS in Korean adults followed by vitamin C (66.2/103 persons), omega 3 fatty acid (49.5/103 persons), Panax ginseng (27.3/103 persons), and probiotics (22.2/103 persons) in listing.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The trend for DS use in Korean adults is changing as well as increasing. These factors should be considered in patient care.

The Distribution of Weight Status according to Familial Socioeconomic Status in Korean Adolescents: The Twelfth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, 2016

BACKGROUND@#The influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on weight status varies depending on the countries' levels of social and economic development. There are many studies on a risk of adolescent obesity according to familial SES in Korea. However, it is not clarified what effects familial SES has on a risk of underweight in Korean adolescents. This study investigated the distribution of weight status including obesity and underweight according to familial SES in Korean adolescents.@*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study involved 63,741 adolescents who participated in the 2016 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Wed-based Survey. The data on height, weight, familial SES, current smoking status, current alcohol intake, physical activity, breakfast skipping, perceived stress, depressive mood, and living with family were obtained through online questionnaires. The assessment of familial SES was based on perceived household economic status and parental education level.@*RESULTS@#In boys, low household economic status was related to a high proportion of obesity (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.25) and underweight (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.14–1.51). Girls with low household economic status were more likely to be obese (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.61–2.03) and overweight (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.23–1.60) but, although not statistically significant, less likely to be underweight (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.75–1.04).@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study showed that adolescents with low familial SES were at a high risk of obesity and underweight. A risk of underweight was increased in boys with low familial SES but in girls with high familial SES.

The Differences in Obesity Rates According to Status of Co-Residence with Their Parents in Korean Adolescents: The Implication of the Gender of Single Parent Living with Adolescents

BACKGROUND@#Many studies have reported that adolescents living with single parent have a high risk of obesity. However, those studies did not explore the implication of the gender of single parent living with adolescents. This study investigated the differences in obesity rates according to status of co-residence with their parents in Korean adolescents. The family living with single parent was classified into the family living with single father and the family living with single mother.@*METHODS@#This cross-sectional study involved 59,602 adolescents who participated in the 2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. The data on height, weight, status of co-residence with parents, and the other variables were obtained through online questionnaires.@*RESULTS@#In male adolescents, the family living with single mother was related to a high proportion of obesity (odds ratio [OR] 1.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–1.40) and overweight (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.03–1.34). However, in female adolescents, the family living with single father was related to a high proportion of obesity (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.23–1.82). In addition, female adolescents living with neither parent were more likely to be obese (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.13–1.91) and overweight (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.00–1.70).@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study showed a risk of obesity in adolescents living with single parent differs according to the gender of single parent living with adolescents. Not adolescents living with a same-gender parent, but those living with an opposite-gender parent have a high risk of obesity.

Snack Consumption Patterns and Its Nutritional Significance in Korean Elderly Population: from the 2013-2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the importance of snacks to a balanced diet by assessing snack consumption patterns and factors associated with eating snacks of Korean elders of 60 years or more. METHODS: This analysis is based on participants from the 2013-2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Meal or snack consumption was based on a 24 hours recall data, and the adequacy of each nutrient intake was based on the Dietary Reference Intakes by the Korea Nutrition Society. The cutoff for snack consumption valued as meaningful was more than 200 kcal/day of snack energy intake. RESULTS: Korean male elders of age 60 years or more are consuming 333.6±11.1 kcal of snack and 271.7±7.4 kcal for females. When consumed together with meals, snack consumption increased the adequacy of all nutrients intake, except sodium. Based on energy contribution, male Korean elders are consuming snack food group in order of beverage and alcohols, grains, and fruits, while for females the order was grains, fruits, and dairy. Older age (men and women), joblessness (men), and chronic disease (women) were positively associated with having snack of 200 kcal or more per day, whereas ‘living with a partner (men)’, alcohol intake frequency of more than twice per week (men), and ‘doing regular aerobic physical activity (women)’ showed negative association. CONCLUSIONS: Snack consumption of Korean elders contributed to more adequate nutritional status, but improvement of food groups is needed because they were mainly concentrated on grains.

The Relationship between Smoking and Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors among Korean Adolescents: The Tenth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey, 2014 / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Adolescent smoking is positively related to weight control attempts, especially by unhealthy methods. The co-occurrence of smoking and unhealthy weight control behaviors may cause serious health problems in adolescents. This study examined the relationship of smoking with unhealthy weight control behaviors among Korean adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 31,090 students of grades 7 to 12, who had tried to reduce or maintain their weight during the 30 days prior to The Tenth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, 2014. Data on height, weight, weight control methods, smoking, alcohol intake, living with one's family, and perceived economic status were obtained through self-report questionnaires. ‘Unhealthy weight control behaviors’ were subcategorized into ‘extreme weight control behaviors’ and ‘less extreme weight control behaviors.’ RESULTS: The smoking rates were 13.3%±0.4% in boys and 3.8%±0.2% in girls. Current smokers were more likely to engage in extreme weight control behaviors (odds ratio [OR], 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 2.00 in boys, and OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.59 to 2.65 in girls) and less extreme weight control behaviors (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.40 in boys, and OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.76 in girls) compared to non-smokers among both boys and girls. CONCLUSION: Current smoking is independently related to a high likelihood of engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors among Korean adolescents. This relationship is stronger for girls than for boys. Extreme weight control behaviors have a stronger relationship with current smoking than less extreme weight control behaviors.