Background
This study compared the impact of Short Message Service (SMS)-based education with traditional group-based education and the control group on body mass index, weight, and lifestyle in obese and overweight patients in a limited-resource country. It also compared the direct financial costs between the two intervention groups.
Methods
In this controlled randomized educational study, 90 overweight or obese adults from four family physician clinics in Shiraz, Iran were randomly allocated to three training groups: SMS-based education, group-based education, and a control group. The participants’ weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were measured at baseline, and the Physical Activity Scale questionnaire was completed. Group-based training was conducted in 1-hour weekly sessions. The SMS group received a text message each morning. The control group received routine care from a family physician. The intervention lasted 12 weeks. All participants were re-examined for the studied variables. Additionally, the direct costs were estimated, calculated, and compared.
Results
The mean weight, BMI, and waist circumference changed significantly after 3 months compared to baseline in each group. The mean weight change differed significantly among the three groups (P-value=0.04), and the mean BMI changes were near significant (P-value=0.06). A post hoc comparison of changes in weight and BMI showed a significant difference between the control and SMS groups. SMS education incurred much lower costs for patients and healthcare services than group-based education.
Conclusion
The study showed that SMS is an effective and cost-saving educational method for weight loss compared to group-based education, especially in developing countries.

Citations

• Barriers and Facilitators to Engagement With a Weight Management Intervention in Asian Patients With Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review
  Vickram Vijay Anand, Ethan Lee Cheng Zhe, Yip Han Chin, Wen Hui Lim, Rachel Sze Jen Goh, Chaoxing Lin, Cheng Han Ng, Gwyneth Kong, Phoebe Wen Lin Tay, Kamala Devi, Mark Muthiah, Vijai Singh, Dinh-Toi Chu, Chin Meng Khoo, Mark Y. Chan, Georgios K. Dimitria
  Endocrine Practice.2023; 29(5): 398.     CrossRef
• A Qualitative Exploration of Weight Loss Experiences through Hypnotherapy
  Nurul Afiedia Roslim, Aryati Ahmad, Mardiana Mansor, Myat Moe Thwe Aung, Farrahdilla Hamzah, Pei Lin Lua
  International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.2023; 71(3): 235.     CrossRef
• The experience of living with obesity for adults in Asian countries: A scoping review of qualitative studies
  Nor Akma Yunus, Grant Russell, Rosediani Muhamad, Tze Lin Chai, Mohamad Ariff Fahmi Ahmad Zawawi, Elizabeth Sturgiss
  Obesity Reviews.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Awareness of Blood Pressure or Blood Sugar Level and Subjective Body Weight Perception Impacts the Likelihood of Weight Loss Attempts among Overweight and Obese Adults: A Secondary Data Analysis
  Wonjong Kim, Ahra Jo, Geungyeong Park, Heeyoung Oh, Mirae Jo
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2023; 35(3): 195.     CrossRef
• Personal motivation, self-regulation barriers and strategies for weight loss in people with overweight and obesity: a thematic framework analysis
  Han Shi Jocelyn Chew, Yujia Gao, Asim Shabbir, Su Lin Lim, Kayambu Geetha, Guowei Kim, Choon Seng Chong, Davide Lomanto, Bok Yan Jimmy So
  Public Health Nutrition.2022; 25(9): 2426.     CrossRef
• Counselling and Behaviour Modification Techniques for the Management of Obesity in Postpartum and Midlife Women: A Practical Guide for Clinicians
  Gauri Shanker Kaloiya, Tanveer Kaur, Piyush Ranjan, Sakshi Chopra, Siddharth Sarkar, Archana Kumari, Harpreet Bhatia
  The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India.2022; 72(2): 134.     CrossRef
• What is it like to live with obesity in Peninsular Malaysia? A qualitative study
  Nor Akma Yunus, Grant Russell, Rosediani Muhamad, Chris Barton, Elizabeth Sturgiss
  Clinical Obesity.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Eating Concerns Associated with Nutritional Information Obtained from Social Media among Saudi Young Females: A Cross-Sectional Study
  Mona Mohammed Al-Bisher, Hala Hazam Al-Otaibi
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(24): 16380.     CrossRef
• Global Dieting Trends and Seasonality: Social Big-Data Analysis May Be a Useful Tool
  Myung-Bae Park, Ju Mee Wang, Bernard E. Bulwer
  Nutrients.2021; 13(4): 1069.     CrossRef
• Overweight or Obesity Onset and Past Attempts to Lose/Manage Weight: A Qualitative Study
  Ziaul Hasan Rana, Debra B. Reed, Wilna Oldewage-Theron, Conrad Lyford, Malinda Colwell, John A. Dawson
  Obesities.2021; 1(3): 136.     CrossRef
• Are pre-pregnancy weight fluctuations and adherence to prenatal nutrition and exercise recommendations related to excessive gestational weight gain?
  Taniya S. Nagpal, Harry Prapavessis, Christina G. Campbell, Barbra de Vrijer, Isabelle Giroux, Michelle F. Mottola
  Journal of Behavioral Medicine.2020; 43(6): 1047.     CrossRef
• An update on obesity research pattern among adults in Malaysia: a scoping review
  Noor Safiza Mohamad Nor, Rashidah Ambak, Norazian Mohd Zaki, Nur Shahida Abdul Aziz, Siew Man Cheong, Mohamad Aznuddin Abd Razak, Muslimah Yusof, Mohamad Hasnan Ahmad, Azli Baharuddin, Megat Rusydi Megat Radzi, Wan Nur Khairunnisa Wan Kozil, Intan Hafizah
  BMC Women's Health.2018;[Epub]     CrossRef

Citations

• Diet-Induced Obesity Induces Transcriptomic Changes in Neuroimmunometabolic-Related Genes in the Striatum and Olfactory Bulb
  Rosario B. Jaime-Lara, Claudia Colina-Prisco, Marcel De Jesus Vega, Sarah Williams, Ted Usdin, Bridget Matikainen-Ankney, Alayna Kinkead, Brianna Brooks, Yupeng Wang, Alexis T. Franks, Alexxai Kravitz, Paule V. Joseph
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2024; 25(17): 9330.     CrossRef
• Molecular Genetics of Abnormal Redox Homeostasis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
  Iuliia Azarova, Alexey Polonikov, Elena Klyosova
  International Journal of Molecular Sciences.2023; 24(5): 4738.     CrossRef
• In utero exposure to parabens and early childhood BMI z-scores – Associations between placental ethyl paraben, longitudinal BMI trajectories and cord blood metabolic biomarkers
  Brigitte Reimann, Karen Vrijens, Harry A. Roels, Congrong Wang, Charlotte Cosemans, Ilse Van Overmeire, Tim S. Nawrot, Michelle Plusquin
  Environment International.2021; 157: 106845.     CrossRef
• The Efficacy of a Family-Based Intervention Program on Childhood Obesity
  Chia-Ying Chen, Chia-Chan Kao, Hsiu-Yueh Hsu, Ruey-Hsia Wang, Shu-Hua Hsu
  Biological Research For Nursing.2015; 17(5): 510.     CrossRef

Background
Overweight in Korean adolescents has continuously increased over the past few years and it is recognized as a public health problem. We investigated the relationship between socioeconomic status and overweight in Korean adolescents. Methods: The data was obtained from the 2007 Korean Youth's Risk Behavior Web-based Study. We included adolescents aged 12 to 18 yearswho were ≥ 5th percentile of the BMI cut-off point based on the Korean child growth curve. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between socioeconomic status and overweight. Results: The adjusted odds ratios for overweight were 1.116 (95% confidence interval [CI],1.021 to 1.220), 1.390 (95% CI, 1.242 to 1.555) in girls having middle and low grade family affluence scale (FAS), respectively, compared in girls having high grade FAS (P < 0.05). However, in boys, there was no significant relationship between FAS and overweight. In both gender, perceived household economic status and parental education level were negatively related to overweight in adolescents (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Lower socioeconomic status increased the risk of overweight in Korean adolescents. Efforts to reduce socioeconomic disparities in adolescents should be initiated for overweight prevention.

Citations

• Relationships between objective and subjective socioeconomic status and physical health among adolescents in South Korea
  Sue‐Lynn Kim, Joan P. Yoo
  Asian Social Work and Policy Review.2022; 16(2): 197.     CrossRef
• Predicting South Korean adolescents vulnerable to obesity after the COVID-19 pandemic using categorical boosting and shapley additive explanation values: A population-based cross-sectional survey
  Haewon Byeon
  Frontiers in Pediatrics.2022;[Epub]     CrossRef
• The Distribution of Weight Status according to Familial Socioeconomic Status in Korean Adolescents: The Twelfth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, 2016
  Jinyoung Jang, Young Gyu Cho, Jae-Heon Kang, Hyun Ah Park, Kyoungwoo Kim, Yang-Im Hur, Ki Byeong Park
  Korean Journal of Health Promotion.2018; 18(1): 23.     CrossRef
• Factors Influencing the Health-related Quality of Life by Socioeconomic Level during Early Adolescence
  Soo Young Jun, Yeong-Suk Song
  Journal of the Korean Society of School Health.2017; 30(1): 81.     CrossRef
• Effects of family affluence on the health behaviors of Korean adolescents
  Min H. Park, Eun H. Hwang
  Japan Journal of Nursing Science.2017; 14(3): 173.     CrossRef
• Family Factors and Obesity in High School Students
  Sang-Mi Lee
  Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society.2016; 17(8): 84.     CrossRef

Background
Many parents of overweight children have believed that their children's weight may be lost with the increase of their height. The purpose of this 2-year prospective study was to examine whether such belief is valid. Methods: A total of 190 children (113 boys and 77 girls) aged 6-11 years who were overweight (BMI > 85th percentile of age and gender-specifi c 1999 Korean children standard) from two elementary schools were the subjects. Their height and weight were measured again after 2 years. Children and their parents completed questionnaires on eating habits and physical activity, and their attitude on weight in the beginning of study. Children's weight status was evaluated using relative BMI. Results: Children's baseline relative BMI was 134.9 ± 13.8%. About 60% of the children reported weight loss attempt and 49% of their parents tried to persuade their child to lose weight. Children's BMI increased by 1.6 ± 2.1 kg/m2 and their relative BMI decreased by 1.2 ± 12.1% over 2 years. While children's eating habits and physical activity, and their attitude on the child's weight were not related to the 2-year relative BMI change, the child's age, gender, baseline relative BMI, and the 2-year height change were associated with the 2-year relative BMI change (R2 = 0.15, P < 0.001). The 2-year relative BMI increased with the 2-year height increase after controlling for the three predictors (B = 0.86, SE = 0.28, P = 0.002). Conclusion: We found the 2-year height change positively associated with the 2-year relative BMI change among schoolaged overweight children. Then, the belief that children's weight status may be improved with the increase of their height should be denied.

Citations

• Vitamin D deficiency and Metabolic Syndrome among Korean Adolescents: Based on Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (KNHANES)
  Ha Na Yoo, Hyeon Suk Kim
  Journal of the Korean Society of School Health.2016; 29(1): 22.     CrossRef

Background
The worldwide prevalence of obesity and allergic diseases has increased. We aimed to explore the relation of overweight to asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis in a sample of Korean adolescents.Methods: We investigated the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and other allergic diseases by using a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. The survey was conducted among 1,499 high school students in 3 regions of Korea.Results: The lifetime prevalence of wheezing (21.2% vs. 15.7%, P = 0.04), the 12 months-prevalence of wheezing (4.5% vs. 2.0%, P = 0.04), exercise induced wheezing (13.8% vs. 9.3%, P = 0.04), treatment of asthma (3.3% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.01) and the prevalence of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (11.0% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.001) were signifi cantly higher in overweight boys than normal weight boys, but not in girls. However, there were no signifi cant differences of the prevalence of symptoms and past history of atopic dermatitis and allergic conjunctivitis between overweight and normal weight groups. In boys, overweight increased the risk of the lifetime prevalence of wheezing (OR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.05-2.24) and 12 months- prevalence of exercise induced wheezing (OR 1.64, 95% CI: 1.05-2.55) after adjusting for confounding variables.Conclusion: Overweight could be a risk factor for the development of symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis in adolescent boys, whereas it was not a signifi cant risk factor for allergic diseases in girls.

Citations

• Factors related to Asthma in Korean Adults: A Secondary Data Analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016
  Mi-Jeong Yun
  Korean Journal of Adult Nursing.2019; 31(3): 259.     CrossRef

Background
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between the change of parental weight status and the change of their child's weight status over 2 years. Methods: A total of 379 children ages 11-13 years were measured their height and weight in 2001 and 2003. Their parents completed a questionnaire including self-reported parental weight and height during the same period. Parental weight status was classified as overweight (BMI≥25 kg/m²) and non-overweight (BMI＜25 kg/m²). Children's weight status was classified as overweight and non-overweight using the age and gender-specific BMI established by the Korean Academy of Pediatrics. The weight status over 2 years was categorized as a group of persistent overweight, persistent non-overweight, shifting overweight to non-overweight, and shifting non-overweight to overweight. Results: After adjusting for the child's gender and the father's weight status, the odds ratio for being persistently overweight over 2 years in a child having a mother with persistent overweight was 2.8 (95% CI: 0.9-8.5) compared to a child having a mother with persistent non-overweight. Likewise, the odds ratio for being persistently overweight over 2 years in a child having a father with persistent overweight was 2.9 (95% CI: 1.4-6.1) compared to the child having a father with persistent non-overweight. Conclusion: Parental weight status over 2 years was associated with the 2-year weight status in children. The parents- and family-based intervention are needed to prevent and manage childhood obesity. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2008;29:336-341)

Background
The association between obesity development and poor family function was controversial in previous studies and has been seldom evaluated in Korean adolescents. Methods: A questionnaire asking family function (family APGAR, Korean family function assessment tool for adolescents), socioeconomic environment, and behavioral characteristics was self-administered to 1,056 adolescents enrolled in a Korean middle school. A total of 774 adolescents who answered the questionnaire thoroughly and had no diseases influencing family function were included. After calculating body mass index (BMI) using the data of physical measurement at school, we classified participants into overweight-obesity (upper 15%) and normal weight group (lower 85%) based on the reference data of Korean childrens' BMI distribution (Korean pediatric society, 1998). Results: The prevalence of overweight-obesity was 13.0% (14.8% among boys and 10.9% among girls). Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis showed overweight-obesity was associated with better family function, higher school grade, fattier body shape of mother, and lower educational level of mother. Gender- specifically, overweight-obesity was associated with better family functioning and higher school grade with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 2.36 (1.13, 5.55) and 2.59 (1.36, 4.93), respectively, in boys, whereas only those who were not living with both parents were 2.67 (1.09∼6.54) times more likely to be overweight or obese among girls. Conclusion: The factors associated with overweight- obesity differed by gender and the family function of overweight-obesity group was better than normal weight group, especially in boys. These findings suggest poor family function is neither the cause nor the result of obesity development in adolescents. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2008;29:259-268)

Background
The purpose of this study was to find the weight-related factors related to active attitude towards weight loss in children who are overweight or obese and their parents. Methods: A total of 252 elementary school children who were overweight or obese and their parents were surveyed on weight-related attitudes for one month in May 2003 in Kimhae. The definition of overweight and obesity was based on age and sex-specific Korean children's BMI references established in 1998. Results: Among the total, 64.5% of children and 76.4% of parents thought frequently about losing weight in children. Among the total, 52.8% of children and 47.6% of parents tried losing weight in children more than three times. In children, the factors related to frequent thoughts of losing weight were gender, body mass index (BMI), body dissatisfaction index, and the score of eating attitude (P＜0.05). Parents' thought about their children's losing weight and the efforts to persuade their children to lose weight were related to children's frequent thought about losing weight. The children's factors related to trying to lose weight by themselves were age, BMI, and the score of eating attitude. The parent's factors related to children trying to lose weight were body dissatisfaction index of their children by parents, parent's eating attitude score, parent's thought about children's losing weight and making efforts to persuade children to lose weight by parents. The children's eating attitude was related to frequent thoughts about losing weight (odds ratio 1.05, 95% CI 1.03∼1.07) and trying to lose weight more than 3 times (odds ratio 1.02, 95% CI 1.003∼1.04) after adjusting for other factors. Likewise, parents' effort to persuade their childrento lose weight was related to children's effort to lose weight (odds ratio 2.62, 95% CI 1.34∼5.1). Conclusion: Active attitude towards losing weight in overweight or obese children was related to parent's attitude to wards losing weight. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2007;28:179-186)

Background
: The purpose of this study was to assess the lifestyle associated with weight gain and persistent overweight for 2 years.

Methods : The subjects were 580 workers (109 men, 471 women) at one university affiliated hospital. Their height and weight were measured twice in 2000 and 2002. A questionnaire, about lifestyle was filled out in 2000. The questionnaire included the average amount of alcohol intake and the number of days per week in which alcohol was consumed, smoking status, and the number of days per week in which exercise was done. Their weight change in 2 years was calculated and their weight status was classified into two groups: persistent normal weight (BMI＜23 kg/m²) and persistent overweight (BMI≥23 kg/m²).

Results : Among the total, 54.3% of men and 10.0% of women had persistent overweight over 2 years. Overall 93.4% of overweight men and 68.7% of overweight women remained overweight after 2 years. Compared with male non-smokers and male ex- smokers, current male smokers gained weight as much as 1.17 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.033). Compared with females who exercised less than 3 per week, those who exercised 3 or more per week lost weight as much as 1.21 kg over 2 years after adjusting for age and initial BMI (P=0.005). Compared with males who consumed alcohol an average of ≤30 g per consumption, those who consumed an average of ＞30 g were 4.1 times (95% C.I. 1.04∼16.21) more likely to maintain persistent overweight over 2 years after adjustment for age and frequency of alcohol use. However no particular lifestyle was shown to predict the risk of persistent overweight for women.

Conclusion : Regular exercise of moderate intensity and modest alcohol consumption seemed to prevent weight gain and persistent overweight. Such lifestyle may be encouraged to maintain healthy weight.

Background
: Childhood and adolescent obesity, not only increases the risk of obesity into adulthood but also is a significant culprit affecting health in general. The purpose of this study was to examine the trend in body mass index (BMI) and to investigate the prediction of adolescence overweight from childhood weight status by retrospectively tracking for seven years.

Methods : The subjects, 520 adolescents aged 14 and 15 years, were recruited from a junior high school that is located in Guri-city. The subjects' height and weight measurements were extracted from the school records of annual physical examination. We assessed their BMI over a period of seven years starting at age seven. Other baseline data were obtained by questionnaires which were completed by both the subjects and their parents in 2001.

Results : The prevalence of overweight, according to the Korean Pediatric Society guideline, increased at age 7 through 14. The overweight adolescents of age 14 were more likely to have an obese mother. The results showed that 84% of males and 47% of females who were overweight in childhood continued to remain overweight in adolescence. Compared to the non-overweights, the relative risk of becoming an overweight adolescent among overweight boys was 5.7 (95% CI: 4.1∼8.1) and among overweight girls was 6.3 (95% CI: 3.4∼11.4).

Conclusion : Approximately 70% of the overweight children continued to remain overweight as adolescents. Therefore, prevention and effective management of obesity during childhood and adolescence are essential.

Background
: The relationship between abnormal body fat distribution and increased risks of morbidity and mortality is well established. Less is known about the impact on functional health status and subjective well-being. This study quantified the association between body fatness and health-related quality of life.

Methods : Health-related quality of life was measured by Catholic Medical Center Health Survey(CMCHS) V 1.0. Tertiles of body was index(BMI) and waist circumference in 484 adult persons visiting a university hospital-based Health Screening Center were compared. To estimate the relative risks of poor health in those with high BMI and large waist circumference, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined by logistic regression analysis.

Results : Compared with the reference group (subjects with waist circumference in the lowest tertile), the odds ratios for men with waist circumference in tertile 3 were 2.24 (95% CI:1.15-4.36) for social function, and 2.5(95% CI:1.05-9.97) for bodily pain. Statistical significance was not shown in other domains. The odds ratios of subjects with the largest BMI, compared with those in the lowest tertile, were not statistically significant in 10 domains.

Conclusion : Large waist circumferences affects quality of life in the domains of social function and change in health for men, and bodily pain for women.