Analysis of public perception of national obesity management policy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide essential data necessary for shaping future obesity policy directions and strengthening the effectiveness of such measures. METHODS: A literature review and expert meetings were conducted to identify policy objectives that should be included in the comprehensive national obesity management plan. Based on these objectives, a questionnaire was developed, and a survey was conducted nationwide through an online panel targeting citizens aged 15-69. RESULTS: When analyzing the appropriateness of promoting national obesity policies, 38.6% of respondents answered "not appropriate," while only 8.4% answered "appropriate." We also assessed the importance of the four key areas of the national obesity management policy, with 36.9% considering "improvement of lifestyle to prevent obesity" as the most important. Additionally, we analyzed the significance of specific tasks. "Strengthening child and adolescent obesity prevention and management," "enhancing group meal nutrition and hygiene," "strengthening the operation of community-based obesity and exercise clinics," and "advancing an integrated information platform for nutrition, dietary patterns, and physical activity" emerged as pivotal tasks within their respective areas. CONCLUSION: The primary tasks identified as top priorities by the public in this study regarding national obesity policy initiatives can be incorporated into future obesity management strategies. Our approach has the potential to enhance the efficacy of these policies by aligning future obesity policy trajectories with public demands and expectations.

Relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in older Korean adults: moderation analysis of muscular strength.

BACKGROUND: This population-based cross-sectional study examined the associations between physical activity (PA) and lower body muscle strength (LBMS) with late-life depression in a representative sample of older Korean adults aged 65 years and older. METHODS: The data used in the current study (n = 10,097/60% women) were extracted from the 2020 Korea Longitudinal Study on Aging, which is a nationwide population-based survey conducted in Korea. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale Short-Form. PA and LBMS were evaluated with a self-reported questionnaire and the 5 times sit-to-stand test, respectively. Covariates include age, gender, body mass index, education level, smoking status, alcohol intake, and comorbidity. RESULTS: Insufficient PA had higher odds of depression (odds ratio [OR] = 1.201, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.035-1.393, p = 0.016), even after adjustments for all covariates, compared to sufficient PA. Poor LBMS had higher odds of depression (OR = 2.173, 95% CI = 1.821-2.593, p < 0.001), even after adjustments for all covariates, compared to good LBMS. Particularly, a significant moderation effect of LBMS on the relationship between PA and depressive symptoms was observed (ß = 0.3514 and 95% CI = 0.1294 ~ 0.5733, p < 0.001). Individuals with poor LBMS had a greater odd of depression associated with physical inactivity compared to their counterparts with good LBMS. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the importance of promoting muscular strength through regular exercise as a preventive strategy against late-life depression in Korean adults.

Socioeconomic Status, Frailty, and All-Cause Mortality in Korean Older Adults: A 3-Year Population-Based Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) and frailty on mortality in Korea. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the combined impact of low SES and frailty on all-cause mortality in Korean older adults. METHODS: Study sample at baseline comprised 7,960 community-dwelling adults (56.8% women) aged 65 years and older. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of low SES and frailty for all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Overall, low SES plus frailty resulted in an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.09-2.23, P = 0.015) even after adjustments for all the measured covariates, as compared with high SES plus nonfrailty (HR = 1). Among older adults aged 65-75 years, the increased mortality risk of either low SES plus nonfrailty (HR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.02-1.84, P = 0.038) or high SES plus frailty (HR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.12-3.91, P = 0.021) remained significant even after adjustments for all the covariates, as compared with high SES plus nonfrailty (HR = 1). CONCLUSION: The current findings suggest that either low SES or frailty is significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality in Korean older adults.

Roles of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness on sex difference in insulin resistance in late elementary years.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the potential role of lifestyle factors in sex differences in insulin resistance in late elementary school children. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we compared sex differences in Tanner scales, body fat, physical activity (PA) and fitness, and insulin resistance markers in elementary school children (boys, n = 69 and girls, n = 81) aged 12-13 years. Body composition was assessed with a standardized protocol. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured as oxygen consumption during an incremental treadmill exercise. Fasting blood samples were collected for blood chemistry assays including lipids, glucose, insulin and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), leptin, and adiponectin. Daily PA was measured with an accelerometer for 7 consecutive days, and they were classified as low-, moderate-, and vigorous-PA. Independent t-tests were used to compare mean differences in the measured variables between boys and girls. There were significant sex differences in Tanner scales, body mass index, percent body fat, and waist circumference (WC). RESULTS: Girls had significantly higher values in Tanner scales (p < 0.001) and percent body fat (p < 0.001) than boys. Boys had significantly higher values in body mass index (p = 0.019) and waist circumference (p < 0.001) than girls. Boys also had significantly higher values in VO2max (p < 0.001) and low (p < 0.001), moderate (p < 0.001), and vigorous (p < 0.001) PAs. With respect to metabolic risk factors, girls had significantly higher serum levels of triglycerides (p = 0.005), insulin (p < 0.001), and HOMA-IR (p < 0.001) and significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.015) than boys. CONCLUSION: In summary, the current findings of the study showed that the increased risk for insulin resistance in girls over boys is associated with higher Tanner scale and percent body fat in conjunction with poor cardiorespiratory fitness and physical inactivity, suggesting that exercise intervention to promote physical activity and fitness is imperative for general health promotion of school children, with a special focus on girls.

Effect of walking exercise on abdominal fat, insulin resistance and serum cytokines in obese women.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of 12-week walking exercise on abdominal fat, insulin resistance and serum cytokines in obese women. METHODS: Following baseline measurements, obese women (N = 20) who met obesity criterion of BMI at 25 kg/m(2) or greater were randomly assigned to the control (n = 10) or exercise groups (n = 10). Women assigned to the exercise group participated in a walking exercise (with an intensity of 50-60% of predetermined VO(2)max, a frequency of 3 days per week and duration of 50-70 minutes targeting 400 kcal of energy expenditure per session) for 12 weeks, while women assigned to the control group maintained their sedentary lifestyle. After the 12-week walking intervention, post-test measurements were conducted using the same procedure as the baseline measurement. Analyses of variance with repeated measures were used to evaluate any significant time by group interactions for the measured variables. RESULTS: With respect to body fat parameters, significant time-by-group interactions were found in the abdominal subcutaneous (p = < 0.001) and visceral adipose tissues (p = 0.011). The exercise group had significant reductions in both subcutaneous and visceral adiposity, and the control group had no significant changes in those parameters. Similarly, there were significant time by group interactions in fasting glucose (p = 0.008), HOMA-IR (p = 0.029), serum TNF-α (p = 0.027), and IL-6 (p = 0.048) such that the exercise group had significant reductions in those parameters, with no such significant changes found in the control group. The exercise group also had a significant increase in serum adiponectin (p = 0.002), whereas the control group had no significant change in the parameter. CONCLUSION: In summary, the current findings suggest that walking exercise can provide a safe and effective lifestyle strategy against abdominal obesity and serum insulin resistance markers in obese women.