This study was conducted to analyze the biochemical index, nutrient intakes, nutrition label use, diet-related factors and weight control behavior of Korean female adolescents at the age of 12 to 18 according to body mass index (BMI) by using the results of the 2010 and 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The obese group had higher waist circumference (p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01) than the normal group. In the biochemical index, the obese group had lower serum high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level (p < 0.001), while their triglyceride level was higher than the normal group (p < 0.01). Nutrient intake according to BMI was not significantly different except carbohydrate, and calcium intake was about 53% of recommended nutrient intake in all study subjects. The nutrition label was recognized in more than 90% of all groups. But actual nutrition label use was below 50% in all groups and the underweight group was the lowest (p < 0.05). In the result for subjective body image perception, even in the group with normal BMI, 25.3% recognized themselves as obese, and 75.3% said they were trying to lose weight, indicating that many female teens actually think their bodies are obese. In conclusion, obese female adolescents have high systolic blood pressure and serum triglyceride concentrations, which requires obesity prevention education. And a large number of female adolescents with normal BMI thought they were obese and tried to lose weight. Therefore, education on healthy weight and calcium intake is necessary.
Impact of intestinal microbes on obesity and health is a new topic recently started to get attention. Comparing to the global concern and research trends, there are few research on the association between intestinal bacteria and life style disease in Korean. One voluntary case (female) was reported to show the change in gut microbiota and weight by diet intervention. She was overweight (BMI 23.2 kg/m2) and has abnormal liver function, and the causes of overweight were frequent drinking and meat consumption at the late evening hours. For 47 days, she was administered an improved diet on breakfast and dinner with reduction of meat consumption frequency by 50%. Alcohol consumption was reduced to once a week. As a result, she lost 3 kilograms of body weight. Her fecal sample was collected before and after the intervention, and gut microbiota change was compared using a high-throughput sequencing technique. After diet correction, the shift of gut microbiota was clearly observed with decreased proportion of Firmicutes (from 75.7% to 47.3% in total microbiota) but increased proportion of Bacteroidetes upto 47.7%. After incorporating the diet intervention, it is meaningful to confirm the changes in dominant gut microbiota and weight loss.
Citations