Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  2017 Dec;27(3):67-71.

Use of Appropriate Body Mass Index Cutoff for Obesity Among Korean Civilian Pilots and Its Comparison to General Adult Men

• Kwon YH
• Lee MJ
• Lee WC

Abstract

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to analyze the health implication and control using an appropriate body mass index (BMI) cutoff for obesity among Korean civilian pilots, and its comparison to the Korean general adult men in 2015. A comparative study of a simple cross-section, nationally representative of the raw data from the medical examination of anthropometric measures among Korean civilian pilots (3,220) compared with those in adult men (2,450) (Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015: KNHANES-VI-3) were used. We analyzed data regarding were obesity, with a BMI of ≥25 kg/m2 by the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and Asian-specific being BMI cutoff point by the WHO Expert Consultation. The mean value of a BMI among civilian pilots was 24.6 kg/m2, and that in adult men was 24.4 kg/m2, respectively.When compared with the mean value of BMI of civilian pilots was significantly higher than that in adult men (P＜0.05). Moreover, the BMI values in both subjects tended to increase with the aging. Especially, BMI values of the elderly aviators in over 50-year-old groups were clearly showing a higher value than those in adult men (P＜0.01). The prevalence rate (PR) of obesity in civilian pilots was 36.8% and that in adult men was 39.6%, respectively. The PR of obesity in civilian pilots was significantly lower than that in adult men (P＜0.05). Additionally, the PR of obesity among civilian pilots aged 49 years or younger by age-specific groups were clearly showing a lower value than that in adult men (P＜0.01). However, the PR for the over 50-year-old groups in civilian pilots were higher than that in adult men.

Keyword

BMl; PR of obesity; Civilian pilots; Adult men; Republic of Korea