Socioeconomic Costs of Overweight and Obesity in Korean Adults

This study was conducted to estimate the socioeconomic costs of overweight and obesity in a sample of Korean adults aged 20 yr and older in 2005. The socioeconomic costs of overweight and obesity include direct costs (inpatient care, outpatient care and medication) and indirect costs (loss of productivity due to premature deaths and inpatient care, time costs, traffic costs and nursing fees). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, stroke, colon cancer and osteoarthritis were selected as obesity-related diseases. The population attributable fraction (PAF) of obesity was calculated from national representative data of Korea such as the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIC) cohort data and the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. Direct costs of overweight and obesity were estimated at approximately U$1,081 million equivalent (men: U$497 million, women: U$584 million) and indirect costs were estimated at approximately U$706 million (men: U$527 million, women: U$178 million). The estimated total socioeconomic costs of overweight and obesity were approximately U$1,787 million (men: U$1,081 million, women: U$706 million). These total costs represented about 0.22% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 3.7% of the national health care expenditures in 2005. We found the socioeconomic costs of overweight and obesity in Korean adults aged 20 yr and older are substantial. In order to control the socioeconomic burden attributable to overweight and obesity, effective national strategies for prevention and management of obesity should be established and implemented.

Medical Expenditure Attributable to Overweight and Obesity in Adults with Hypertension, Diabetes and Dyslipidemia : Evidence from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data and Korea National Health Corporation Data / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to estimate medical expenditure attributable to overweight and obesity in adults with hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey data and Korea National Health Corporation data. METHODS: The medical expenditure of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia related to overweight and obesity were composed of inpatient care costs, outpatient care costs and medication costs. The population attributable risk (PAR) of overweight and obesity was calculated from national representative data of Korea such as the National Health Insurance Corporation cohort data and 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey data. RESULTS: The medical expenditure attributable to overweight and obesity of hypertension were 456 billion won (men : 215 billion won, women : 241 billion won). Those of diabetes were 282 billion won (men : 148 billion won, women : 135 billion won), and of dyslipidemia were 17 billion won (men : 9 billion won, women : 8 billion won). Consequently, these costs corresponded to 33.3% of total medical expenditure due to hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: We found a substantial medical expenditure due to overweight and obesity of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were very high. In order to reduce these costs, effective national strategies for prevention and management of overweight and obesity should be established and implemented.

Attitudes toward Smoking Cessation Intervention and Services among Korean Physicians: A Questionnaire Survey / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: There are limited data regarding smoking cessation treatment by physicians in Korea. Thus, we investigated the attitude to smoking cessation intervention and services among Korean physicians. METHODS: This survey was conducted in 987 participating physicians who had experiences in smoking cessation services. The subjective difficulties of smoking cessation services and its causes and the presumptive reasons for failure of smoking cessation among their patients were investigated using questionnaires. RESULTS: Overall smoking rate among Korean physicians who participated in this survey was 12.6%. Most participating physicians had a difficulty in smoking cessation services and its causes were high cost of medication for smoking cessation due to non-imbursement (50.7%) and the absence of a medical fee on smoking cessation services (34.8%). The high cost of medication for smoking cessation due to non-imbursement (29.5%) also ranked high in the presumptive reasons for failure of smoking cessation among their patients. CONCLUSION: The smoking rate of Korean physicians in this survey was lower than those of the general population. Most participating physicians had a difficulty in offering smoking cessation services. And the most common cause for the difficult was non-imbursement of their services and medication.

What Types of Dietary Supplements Are Used in Korea? Data from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2005 / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: Dietary supplements affect the health and disease status of Koreans. We assessed the patterns of dietary supplements use and the related factors in Korean adults from the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES). METHODS: Among the subjects, 2,024 men and 2,811 women underwent all the three parts of 2005 KNHANES, which consisted the health survey, the health examination, and the nutritional survey. Reported supplements were classified according to the 2008 Korea Food and Drug Administration Notification. We assessed the relationship between supplements use and socioeconomic state, health behaviors, and chronic diseases. RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent of Korean adults was taking dietary supplements. Vitamin/mineral supplements were the most commonly taken one. Glucosamine/mucopolysaccharide, ginseng, spirulina/chlorella, omega-3, and aloe followed in listing. Supplement users were likely to be woman and middle-aged. Supplement use was associated with older, high income, with spouse, higher education, urban-living, regular exercise, non-smoker, and lower BMI. Musculoskeletal diseases were associated with supplement use. CONCLUSION: Dietary supplement use is prevalent in Korean adults. The supplement use was associated with some demographics characteristics, health behavior, and chronic diseases. These factors should be considered when evaluating the efficacy of dietary supplements.

Epidemiology of the Smoking-related Diseases in Korea

No abstract available.

A Case of Hypothyroid Myopathy Found in Periodic Health Examination

Myalgia, muscle weakness, muscle cramping, muscular rigidity and elevated levels of serum creatinine kinase (CK) are very common in patients with hypothyroidism. However, these symptoms are not clinically serious in most cases and are not found in primary care. So far, 5 Cases with hypothyroid myopathy have been reported in the Korean literature. However, it is not reported that this case has been found in primary care or in periodic health examination. We report a case of hypothyroid myopathy that was presented with exercise-induced myalgia. This case was diagnosed as hypothyroid myopathy through abnormal thyroid function test and elevated levels of serum CK and myoglobin in periodic health examination. Muscle symptoms and laboratory abnormality were improved only with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

The Relationships between Parental Lifestyle Habits and Children's Overweight

BACKGROUND: Children of obese parents are more likely to be obese themselves. Parental lifestyle habits could induce or aggravate children's obesity. This study was conducted to assess the relationship between parental lifestyle habits and children's overweight. METHODS: Children who were enrolled in this study were first grade students from elementary schools in Gwacheon and Seoul. A total of 121 children (50 overweight children and 71 normal weight children) and their parents underwent anthropometric measurements and also were surveyed by a questionnaire. RESULTS: The children of obese parents were more likely to be diagnosed as overweight compared to the children whose parents were normal weight (Father: P=0.037, Mother: P=0.001). Among the paternal lifestyle habits, hours of watching TV or computer usage (adjusted odd ratio =2.08, 95% CI=0.90~4.80) and eating frequency of soda, ice cream, cake and chips (adjusted OR=5.77, 95% CI=1.65~20.22) were found to be related to their children being overweight. Among the maternal lifestyle habits, hours of watching TV or computer usage (adjusted OR=2.35, 95% CI=0.99~5.58), the frequency of eating breakfast (adjusted OR: 2.48, 95% CI=1.07~5.75) and the frequency of overeating (adjusted OR: 2.15, 95% CI=0.91~5.11) were found to be related to their children being overweight. Additive adjustment of children's lifestyle habits made the relationship between maternal lifestyle habits and children's overweight reduced. However, the odds ratio of paternal lifestyle habits was not reduced. CONCLUSION: Parental obesigenic lifestyle habits were related to children's overweight. Maternal lifestyle habits could affect her children's weight via an effect on her children's lifestyle habits

Glycemic Index and Chronic Diseases

No abstract available.

State of Diabetes Care in Korean Adults: According to the American Diabetes Association Recommendations

BACKGROUND: We assessed the state of diabetes control in Korean adults from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey. METHODS: A total of 271 adult diabetes patients (125 males, 146 females) were identified from the health interview survey. Diabetes control status was assessed by the American Diabetic Association (ADA) recommendations. Socioeconomic characteristics and the health status were assessed by an interview and the health- related behavior was assessed by self-questionnaire. A one-day 24-hour recall was used for the dietary assessment. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were done. Fasting blood was drawn for glucose, HbA1c, and lipids profile. RESULTS: The proportions of patients reaching the recommended goals for fasting plasma glucose (45 mg/dl for males, >55 mg/dl for females) were 57.2%, 19.9%, 24.4%, 27.8%, 64.5% and 20.7%, respectively. Body mass index, and smoking in males and age, and diabetes duration in females were associated with HbA1c level. CONCLUSION: This study shows that diabetes in Korean adult is not adequately controlled. National effort is needed to achieve the recommended treatment goals and to manage modifiable risk factors such as obesity and smoking.

The novel expression method of pediatric body composition: fat mass index and fat-free mass index / 소아과

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the usefulness of fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) as novel expression methods of body composition in children. METHODS: A total of 466 Second grade students-248 boys and 218 girls- from all elementary schools the Gwacheon City underwent anthropometric measures including bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and biochemical tests. The correlation coefficients between obesity indices, including FMI and FFMI, and metabolic risk factors, were assessed. Metabolic risk factors of children with increased FMI were compared with those of children with normal FMI. We compared FMI and FFMI percentile distribution between this study's subjects and the subjects of the Fukuoka body composition study. RESULTS: FMI was lower and FFMI was higher in this study's subjects compared to the subjects of the Fukuoka body composition study. FMI was correlated with other obesity indices and several metabolic risk factors. Metabolic risk was higher in children with increased FMI than in children with normal FMI. CONCLUSION: FMI and FFMI were useful indicators in comparing difference of body composition among children that had different body size and growth. High FMI was related to increase of metabolic risk in children.