J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2006 Mar;27(3):175-181.

The Prevalence of Obesity and Obesity-related Metabolic Complications in Korean Adolescents

• Choi TI
• Rhee HJ
• Ko KM
• Yoo SM
• Kim KN
• Lee SY
• Kang JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity in adolescence is a serious health problem because it may proceed to adulthood, cause metabolic complications, and thereby increase mortality. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity and other metabolic complications related to obesity among Korean adolescents.
METHODS
The subjects of the study were 3,615 adolescents recruited from 12 middle schools nationwide. We measured their height, weight, obesity indices, fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL- cholesterol, ALT, AST, and uric acid levels. The risk factors of obesity were assessed by self-administered questionnaires.
RESULTS
Obesity was evident in 16.2% of the subjects (20.7% in boys, 11.0% in girls). Adolescent obesity was closely related to parental obesity (Odds Ratio 2.9, 95% CI (Confidence Interval) 1.7~2.5). Obese adolescents were at higher risk of elevated AST (OR 10.2, 95% CI, 5.2 ~19.9), elevated ALT (OR 12.9, 95% CI, 6.9~24.2), hypercholesterolemia (OR 1.5 95% CI, 1.2~1.8, P<0.05), hypertriglyceridemia (OR 4.0, 95% CI, 3.1~5.3), and hyperuricemia (OR 2.2, 95% CI, 1.7~3.0). More than 70% of obese adolescents had one or more metabolic complications related to obesity.
CONCLUSION
Adolescent obesity was closely related to parental obesity and metabolic complications related to the obesity were common among both obese boys and girls.

Keyword

adolescence; obesity; prevalence; metabolic complication

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Fasting
Female
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypertriglyceridemia
Hyperuricemia
Mortality
Obesity*
Parents
Pediatric Obesity
Prevalence*
Risk Factors
Triglycerides
Uric Acid
Surveys and Questionnaires
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol
Uric Acid