Prevalence of Overweight and Income Gaps in 245 Districts of Korea: Comparison Using the National Health Screening Database and the Community Health Survey, 2009-2014

Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention Based on Type D Personality in Overweight and Obese Middle-Aged Women: A Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND

Obesity is an important public health problem, particularly among middle-aged women. Type D personality, characterized by negative affectivity and social inhibition, is prevalent among obese and overweight middle-aged women and has been linked to maladaptive health-related behaviors and unhealthy lifestyle. Lifestyle interventions based on type D personality could be a first step in combatting obesity in middle-aged women.

AIM

To identify the effects of a lifestyle intervention based on type D personality on health-promoting lifestyle behaviors, psychological distress, type D personality, and body composition in overweight and obese middle-aged women.

METHODS

A total of 36 overweight and obese middle-aged women participated in a quasi-experimental design using a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest. The experimental group received a total of eight sessions of a lifestyle intervention program based on type D personality over the course of four weeks. Outcomes were measured health-promoting lifestyle behaviors, psychological distress, type D personality, and body composition (body weight, body mass index, body fat, and abdominal fat).

RESULTS

Following the intervention, the experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group for health-promoting lifestyle behaviors, and significantly lower than the control group for psychological distress and type D personality. Body weight and body mass index decreased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

Further research on various intervention programs for overweight and obese middle-aged women is warranted, including lifestyle interventions based on type D personality.

Regional Differences in Years of Life Lost in Korea from 1997 to 2015

BACKGROUND

Reducing the gaps in health inequality at a regional level and improving health equity have been emphasized in Korea, it is essential to accurately measure the burden of disease by region. This study aimed to estimate years of life lost (YLLs) in 17 Si and Do of Korea from 1997 to 2015 and determine the trends of regional differences in health status and disease structure.

METHODS

YLL was calculated by subtracting the age at death from the life expectancy. Data on the region, gender, and age-stratified cause-specific death were obtained from the Korean Statistical Information Service of Statistics Korea.

RESULTS

Age-standardized YLLs per 100,000 population decreased by year in all regions from 1997 to 2015 by 27.4% (27.5% for men; 27.2% for women). Despite the decline in YLLs, the regions with the highest and lowest YLLs did not change between 1997 and 2015. The diseases showing regional differences were caused by injury, often classified as avoidable mortality. We also confirmed that YLLs were higher in the regions with a higher deprivation index.

CONCLUSION

The present study identified that YLLs differed by regions in Korea with specific causes. The findings of this study can be used by decision-makers to prioritize the reduction of regional gaps in premature deaths.

Association between BMI for Obesity and Distress about Appearance in Korean Adolescents

BACKGROUND

Previous research has related obesity to body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. This study aimed to evaluate this relation between obesity and distress about appearance.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study using data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey for 288,390 participants assessed from 2009 to 2012. The participants were categorized according to body mass index; obese, overweight, healthy weight, and underweight. The relation between obesity and distress was analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression with complex sampling adjusted for age, sex, region of residence, economic level, parental education level, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits as confounders.

RESULTS

The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was higher for participants with obesity (AOR for healthy weight = 1.15 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.08-1.22]; AOR for overweight = 1.85 [95% CI, 1.72-1.98]; AOR for obese = 2.45 [95% CI, 2.27-2.64]; reference = underweight, P < 0.001). In males, healthy weight was associated with an AOR below 1 (AOR for healthy weight = 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85-0.99]; AOR for overweight = 1.26 [95% CI, 1.14-1.38]; AOR for obese = 1.66 [95% CI, 1.50-1.84], P < 0.001). In females, higher AORs were associated with obesity (AOR for healthy weight = 1.44 [95% CI, 1.33-1.57]; AOR for overweight = 2.71 [95% CI, 2.45-2.99]; AOR for obese = 3.71 [95% CI, 3.32-4.14], P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Obesity is related to distress about appearance, and the relation is stronger in girls than in boys.