Comparison of Serum Adiponectin Levels According to Body Mass Index and Dietary Behaviors of Female University Students in Seoul / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to determine whether dietary factors could be related with serum adiponectin concentrations in 243, year-three female university students living in Seoul. The mean of body mass index (BMI) and adiponectin levels of all subjects were 20.17 kg/m2 and 11.07 microg/ml, respectively. When the subjects were divided into 3 groups based on BMI (underweight: or = 23), serum adiponectin levels in underweight group was significantly higher than that in 'normal' or 'overweight and 'obesity' groups. Also when the subjects were divided into two groups by mean adequacy ratio (MAR), serum adiponectin concentration of the high MAR group (MAR > 75) was slightly higher than that the low MAR group (MAR < or = 75). Serum adiponectin levels showed a negative correlation with body weight (p < 0.01) or BMI (p < 0.001) and a positive correlation with intakes of of animal or total protein (please clarify) or vegetable protein.Among the dietary behaviors, serum adiponectin levels of females who answered 'yes' to the question about 'eating breakfast' was significantly higher than that of those who answered 'sometimes' or 'No' (p < 0.05) and serum adiponectin levels were higher among those who reported higher fruit intakes. Overall, our results suggested that healthy lifestyle including acceptable BMI, eating breakfast and higher fruit consumption might play an important role in the prevention of obesity and enhancement of blood adiponectin levels.

A Study on the Nutrition Knowledge and Nutritional Status of Food and Nutrition Major and Physical Science Major Female Students / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study is to examine the nutrition knowledge, characteristics related to, nutrient intakes, anthropometrics, biochemical indices of university female students by major (food and nutrition versus physical science). Data were taken from 120 university female students (60 from each major) and the results follows. The mean age of the subjects was 19.6 years old. Most of subjects responded that they were healthy; subjects majoring in physical science scored higher in regular exercise (p < 0.01) and were more satisfied with their own body figures (p < 0.01), compared with the counterparts. The total nutrition knowledge score was 81.01 +/- 12.3 for food and nutrition majors and 72.5 +/- 15.2 points for physical science majors. (p < 0.01) The percentages of body fat were significantly higher in the food and nutrition students than the counterparts. (p < 0.001) The result of biochemical analysis showed that both groups were in normal range. But there was some statistically significant difference between groups in GTP, HDL-cholesterol and ALP levels. It suggests that regular exercise might have a positive effect on the body. This study showed that although both groups had different knowledge of nutrition, there was not much difference in the intakes of nutrients. But especially, the intakes of calcium and iron were quite low in both groups. Subjects majoring in Physical science had more lipid intake, but they had lower body fat. This suggests that regular exercise in this group might have effects on the percentages of body fat. In future study, nutrition education might be planned to increase nutrition knowledge and to connect nutrition knowledge to eating behaviors and to promote health to regular exercise. Also, the desire and the social perception for pursuing alean body figure and being underweight should be changed for optimal health

Weight Control and Associated Factors among Health-related Major Female College Students in Seoul / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to investigate weight control status and associated factors among health-related major female college students. The subjects consisted of 41 nutrition and 78 physical exercise major female college students. Nutrient intakes, biochemical index, nutrition knowledge (recognition and accuracy), interest of weight control, body satisfaction, self-recognition of health condition, self-evaluated body weight were studied. About 73% of nutrition and 79% of physical exercise major female students were in the normal range of BMI (18.5~23) and 2% of nutrition and 1% of physical exercise major female students were underweight, 10% of nutrition and 6% of physical exercise major female students were obese. There were no significant differences in height and weight by major but %body fat and WHR in physical exercise majors were significantly lower than nutrition major students (respectively p < 0.01, p < 0.05). Overall, nutrition intakes of subjects were not shown to be appropriate, especially Ca/P of subjects was shown 0.54~0.64, fat% out of energy of subjects was shown 24.7~29.0 and Na intake was shown above 2000mg. Recognition and accuracy of nutrition were higher than those of physical exercise majors (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in self-recognition of health condition, self-evaluated body weight, satisfaction of body shape by major and weight control attempt. But interest of weight control of attempter was higher than that of no-attempter in nutrition (p < 0.05) and physical exercise major students (p < 0.01). Significantly negative correlation was found in satisfaction of body and BMI, body fat mass, %bodyfat, WHR. And significantly positive correlation was found in interest of weight control and BMI, %bodyfat, WHR. It was noticeable to see that interest of weight control was positively correlated to accuracy and accuracy was negatively correlated to blood cholesterol level. Therefore, proper nutrition education for female college students is needed in order to improve their weight control-related health.