Smoking status and expired carbon monoxide concentration

BACKGROUND: The measurement of carbon monoxide concentration in expired air is used as an objective method to analyze the smoking status. This method has been proven to be reliable and is used throughout the world but it has been only recently accepted in Korea. Therefore the purpose of this study was to examine if measuring the concentration in expired air accurately reflects the Korean's smoking status. METHODS: The subjects were from ages of 19 through 75 healthy people including smokers and nonsmokers. The smokers had their carbon monoxide measured after answering a questionnaire. This questionnaire was formed to obtain information concerning smoking status, smoking habit and factors that influence carbon monoxide measurement. Micro II smokerlyzer (Bedfont Instruments Ltd., England) was used to analyze CO concentration in expired air. The method used for measuring CO concentration was to deeply inhale and hold one's breath for 15 seconds and measure CO concentration while exhaling. RESULTS: The total number of subjects was 148(143 males, 5 females) consisting of 114 smokers, 34 non smokers(never smokers 23, ex smokers 11). The average CO concentration in exhaled air in smokers was 17.247.30 ppm, in nonsmokers 6.031.06 ppm(in ex smokers 6.361.29 ppm, in never smokers 5.870.92 ppm). A significant difference was evident between smokers and non smokers(P<0.0001). The CO concentration values compared among the groups divided in terms of daily smoking rate were as the following 11.885.57 ppm in subjects smoking less than 10 cigarettes/day, 17.356.48 ppm in those smoking 11 20 cigarettes/day, 20.006.35 ppm in the 21 30 cigarettes/day group, and 24.889.70 ppm in the 31 cigarettes/day group (p<0.0001). In addition, the CO concentration was influenced by the change of the degree of inhalation and the elapsed time since last smoking. CONCLUSION: The measurement of CO concentration in exhaled air among the Koreans proved to be an accurate and reliable method reflecting the present smoking status.

The prevalence and risk factors of childhood obesity in elementary students in Seoul

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to provide useful information for prevention and management of childhood obesity in a school-based setting. METHODS: One thousand and 981 elementary children from 2 different elementary schools in Seoul were studied. The survey concerning the risks of childhood obesity was carried out by having parents answer a questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of childhood obesity was 18.1% showing significantly higher rate in boys than in girls (P<0.05). It was found that obese children had a higher intake of fish and meat (P<0.05) and a lower intake of vegetables compared to the non-obese group (P<0.05). Obesity was more prevalent among children who frequently skipped breakfast (P<0.05) and also more prevalent among an only child (P<0.05). The obese children significantly spent more time watching TV (P<0.05). There was a higher family history of obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM in the obese group (P<0.05). The factors which significantly attributed to childhood obesity were birth weight, parenteral BMI, and father's age (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of childhood obesity was 18.1%. There was a statistically significant correlation between childhood obesity and gender, eating habit, time spent on watching TV, number of siblings, birth weight, parenteral BMI, father's age and family history such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM.

Comparison of modifications of intra-abdominal fat between low calorie diet alon and low calorie diet with exercise in Korean women

BACKGROUND: Obesity and its complicatians are increasing as social ecanamic standard of living is improving and life style has been changing in Korea. There is growing evidence that the visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) on computed tomography (CI) is closely related to the obesity camplications. Therefore, it is important to determine whether the VSR reduction is praduced during weight loss. The purpose of this study was to observe and campare the amount of reduction of intraabdaminal fat between low calorie diet (LCD) alane and LCD with exercise. METHODS: Sixty obese females were randomly prescribed a LCD alone or a LCD with exercise. Thirty obese females were treated with a LCD of 1,000kcal/d for 8 weeks (group A). Another thirty obese females were treated with a LCD of 1,000kcal/d combined with supervised aerobic exercise for 8 weeks (group B). Weight, height, BMI, and body fat distribution were measured in all subjects immediately before and after 8 weeks of this study. The body fat distribution was assessed by CT, by which the total abdaminal adipose tissue area (AT), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAT), intra-abdominal adipose tissue (VAT), and visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) were measured at the level of the umbilicus. A venous blood sample was taken after an overnight fast to determine lipid, glucose, and insulin concentrations in all subjects before and after 8 weeks of this study. RESULTS: Body weight, BMI, CI' measurement of total (AT), visceral (VAT), and subcutaneous (SAT) fat were found to be decreased significantly in the two groups. The VSR of the group A did not change after weight loss. In contrast, the VSR of the group B decreased significantly (P<0.05) during weight loss. Fasting plasma glucose and total cholesterol levels significantly decreased in the both groups (P<0.001). Fasting plasma insulin and triglyceride levels significantly decreased in the group B, but not in group A. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the VSR decreased significantly in group B, but not in group A. Fasting plasma insulin and triglyceride levels decreased significantly in group B, but not in group A. These results suggest that the LCD with exercise is more effective in reducing expected complications of obesity than LCD alone.

Depression and weight loss in low calorie diet and low calorie diet with exercise on obese women

BACKGROUND: The relation of initial depression and weight loss in a low calorie diet(LCD) alone or exercise combination in Korean wamen, was considered and change of emotional state after program was determined in this study. METHODS: Sixty obese females were randomly prescribed a LCD(low calorie diet) alone or a LCD with exercise. Thirty obese females were treated with a LCD of 1,000kcal/d for 8weeks(group A). Another thirtyt obese females were treated with a LCD of 1,000kcal/d combined with supervised aerobic exercise for 8 weeks(group B). Questionnaires including Korean-translated Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Korean- translated Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument(BEPSI) were reported before and after 8weeks fo this study. RESULTS: 21 out of 30 obese females in group A and 25 out of 30 obese females in group B completed the study. At the eighth week, mean weight loss was 5.7+/-2.2kg(8.0%) in group A, and 6.8+/-1.7kg(9.5%) in group B. Depression were decreased after program(decreased BDI score in combined group(6.86+/-6.31: p = 0.0001), group A(5.79+/-4.06:p=0.0001) and group B(7.68+/-7.58:p=0.0001), but no statistically significant difference between group A and B was noted(p=0.3309). Initial BDI score was negatively correlated with the percent of weight loss in group A(r =-0.659: p=0.0012). But initial BDI score was not correlated with the percent of weight loss in group B(r =0.099: p=0.637). In group A and B, the percent of weight loss was not correlated with change of BDI score. In group A and B, the change of BDI score was positively correlated with the initial BDI score(group A;r=0.504:p=0.028, group B;r=0.762:p=0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the exercise combination, LCD therapy seemed to decrease diepression. The degree of weight loss was negatively correlated with initial degree of depression. this negative correlation can be compensated by planned thorough exercise.