Is a Telephone Reminder Effective in Improving Retention Rate of Obese Patients?

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of telephone call reminder on retention rate in obese patients. Methods: A total of 118 patients (85 first-time visitors, 33 re-visitors), who visited an obesity management clinic from May 2003 to May 2004, were divided into the intervention group (n=64) and the comparison group (n=54). The intervention was a telephone call reminder before the appointment date. The retention rate up to 7th visit and body mass index were compared between the two groups. Results: The retention rate was 64.4% at 4th visit (after 66.5+/-29.2 days from the first visit) and 36.4% at 7th visit (after 142.1+/-57.8 days from the first visit). For the first- time visitors, the retention rate at 3rd visit was significantly higher (85.1%) in the intervention group than those in the comparison group (67.6%, P=0.049). Otherwise, there were no significant differences in retention rate and body mass index at each visit between the two groups regardless of the visiting status. However, the body mass index at 4th and 7th visit was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the comparison group among the first-time visitors who completely attended 7 times (P=0.031). Conclusion: We could not find the telephone call reminder to be an effective method to improve retention rate in obesity management clinic. Further intensive approach is needed to promote attendance.

The Lifestyle associated with Weight Gain and Persistent Overweight for 2 Years among Hospital Workers

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the lifestyle associated with weight gain and persistent overweight for 2 years. METHODS: The subjects were 580 workers (109 men, 471 women) at one university affiliated hospital. Their height and weight were measured twice in 2000 and 2002. A questionnaire, about lifestyle was filled out in 2000. The questionnaire included the average amount of alcohol intake and the number of days per week in which alcohol was consumed, smoking status, and the number of days per week in which exercise was done. Their weight change in 2 years was calculated and their weight status was classified into two groups: persistent normal weight (BMI or =23 kg/m2). RESULTS: Among the total, 54.3% of men and 10.0% of women had persistent overweight over 2 years. Overall 93.4% of overweight men and 68.7% of overweight women remained overweight after 2 years. Compared with male non-smokers and male ex- smokers, current male smokers gained weight as much as 1.17 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.033). Compared with females who exercised less than 3 per week, those who exercised 3 or more per week lost weight as much as 1.21 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.005). Compared with males who consumed alcohol an average of 30 g were 4.1 times (95% C.I. 1.04~16.21) more likely to maintain persistent overweight over 2 years after adjustment for age and frequency of alcohol use. However no particular lifestyle was shown to predict the risk of persistent overweight for women. CONCLUSION: Regular exercise of moderate intensity and modest alcohol consumption seemed to prevent weight gain and persistent overweight. Such lifestyle may be encouraged to maintain healthy weight.

The Factors Associated with Becoming Obese Children: in 6th Grade Children of Elementary Schools in Busan

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to find the factors associated with becoming obese children during the past 2 years in 6th grade children of elementary school and then to evaluate the high risk groups for childhood obesity. METHODS: The 738 children from May to June, 2001 in 6th grade of 5 elementary schools in Busan were the subjects of this study. The children's height and weight in 4th grade and 6th grade were obtained from school health records. We calculated the body mass index in 4th and 6th grades and classified into 3 weight groups (normal, at risk for obesity, and obese) according to the age and sex-specific BMI established by the Korean Academy of Pediatrics. If children's weight group in 4th grade was changed to heavier weight group in 6th grade, we defined it as increased group. Otherwise, we defined it as non-increased group. The association between the increase in weight group and parental and children's characteristics were analyzed by x2-test, x2-test for the trend, t-test, ANOVA and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the total, 3.3% of children with normal weight and 16.9% of children at the risk for obesity in 4th grade were transformed to increased group in 6th grade, respectively (P or =2 hours/day for the past two years. These findings suggest promotion of educational plan to prevent childhood obesity.

Parental perception on childhood obesity according to weight status in children of elementary schools in Busan

BACKGROUND: It has been found that parental role is essential for obesity management in childhood. However, there are few studies concerning parental perception on childhood obesity in Korea. Parental perception on childhood obesity according to weight status in elementary school children was examined. METHODS: The subjects were 3,996 elementary school children and their parents in Busan. The surveys which included socioeconomic characteristics, children's eating habits and activities, parental weight and height, parental perception on childhood obesity, were filled out by parents. Children's body mass index (BMI) were calculated using the height and weight measured in school children were classified into the obese group (BMI 95 Percentile) , the high risk group (85 percentile BMI <95 percentile) and the normal weight group (85 percentile) according to BMI gender and age. The analyses were done using x2_ test and ANOVA. RESULTS: Parental BMI in the obese group was higher than the normal weight group in boys a girls (P<0.001) . Participation in regular exercise was higher among the obese group compared to the normal weight group regardless of sex, but daily exercise time was lesser among the obese group only in boys (P <0.001) . Daily TV watching time was not different according to weight status in both sex. The parents with obese children perceived their children's weight as an appearance problem or a health problem about 7-18 times more likely than the parents of children with normal weight. 70% of obese children have tried weight control. The proportion of parental understanding on childhood obesity as a disease was not different among boys, but different among girls (P<0.001) . Eighty five percents of the parents perceived childhood obesity as a disease or a risk factor. But, their perception for the association of hypertension, fatty liver, sleep apnea syndrome with obesity was relative low. CONCLUSION: Most parents with obese children perceived childhood obesity as an appearance problem, a health problem and as a disease or a risk factor.