Relationship between obesity in Korean adolescents and the frequency of alcohol consumption, the amount of alcohol consumed, and the frequency of severe alcohol intoxication

Association between Alcohol Consumption and Body Mass Index in University Students

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between alcohol consumption and body mass index in university students in Eastern Thailand. Methods: Undergraduate students (19-23 years, n = 396) were randomly surveyed via questionnaires, which included general information, alcohol consumption, and unhealthy food consumption. Average daily alcohol consumption was then calculated from grams of ethanol consumed per day. A subject, who has body mass index (BMI) more than 23 kg/m², was defined as excessive weight. Difference between genders of each variable was compared using independent t-test. Mean of each variable between groups was compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The correlation between average daily alcohol consumption and BMI, unhealthy consumption and BMI were analyzed by applying Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: 229 university students consumed alcohol (58%). After 229 subjects were divided into three categories, the average daily alcohol consumption of the overweight group was significantly higher than the underweight and normal weight groups in women; meanwhile, unhealthy food consumption frequencies was not different between groups. Average daily alcohol consumption levels for overweight group were 74.17 and 73.45 g/day in men and women, respectively. Furthermore, higher daily alcohol consumption was independently associated with higher BMI (95% confidence interval [CI] R = 0.161: p = 0.015; men R = 0.120: p = 0.236; women R = 0.214: p = 0.015). Conclusion: There was a positive relationship between alcohol consumption and BMI in university students in Eastern Thailand. This study supports that the daily alcohol consumption is a risk factor for excessive weight and gender may contribute to the correlation.

Stigma, Obesity and Adolescent Risk Behaviors: Current Research and Future Directions

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to risk behaviors as, in this life stage, they are experiencing intense physical, psychological and social changes. Adolescents who are overweight/obese, but particularly those who perceive themselves as such, are more likely to engage in risk behaviors than those who are or perceive themselves of normal-weight. Weight stigma and discrimination may contribute to this association as they reinforce poor body image and create intense stress. Stress is associated with poor emotion regulation, more impulsive, contextually-determined, and less rational decision-making, leading to greater engagement in risk behaviors. However, pathways from weight stigma/discrimination to risk behavior may be moderated by adolescents' social networks. This review provides a conceptual model and empirical evidence to illustrate the proposed pathways from weight stigma and discrimination to risk behaviors. Public health implications and future research directions are also discussed.

BMI, overweight status and obesity adjusted by various factors in all age groups in the population of a city in Northeastern Brazil

OBJECTIVE

In Brazil, demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological changes over time have led to a transition in nutritional standards, resulting in a gradual reduction of malnutrition and an increased prevalence of overweight and obese individuals, similar to the situation in developed countries in previous decades. This study assessed the body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of an overweight status and obesity, adjusted for various factors, in a population in northeastern Brazil including all age groups.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study using single sampling procedure composed of levels. Given the heterogeneity of the variable "income" and the relationship between income, prevalence of diseases and nutrition, a stratified sampling on blocks in the first level was used. In this, city districts were classified by income into 10 strata, according to information obtained from IBGE. A systematic sampling was applied on randomly selected blocks in order to choose the residences that would be part of the sample (second level), including 1165 participants from all age groups.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The prevalence of an overweight status or obesity was adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle variables. When the Chi-square test was applied, a relationship was observed between the prevalence of an overweight status or obesity and the age group, gender, educational level and income of the participants. Regarding lifestyle parameters, only smoking was associated with the prevalence of an overweight status or obesity, in both adults and in the total sample. The results for the following groups were significant (p < 0.05): the age group from 20 to 59 years, when the individual presented an educational level greater than or equal to high school; and the age group ≥ 60 years, when the individual was female. It is noteworthy that educational level and being female were significant in adjusting for the total population as major factors influencing an increased BMI, followed by the variables physical activity and family income.

CONCLUSIONS

The adjusted results justify the adoption of intervention and prevention policies to combat these clinical conditions for the study population as a whole, particularly directed toward adults with higher education level as well as elderly females.