Röhrer index, Vervaeck index and Body Mass Index(BMI) are frequently used in order to judge obese subjects in clothing & textiles field. However, there are no certain criteria of judging the degree of obesity. Each researcher utilized these obesity indices according to their own criteria so far. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to suggest a reliable obesity index and new criteria for judging the degree of obesity. The results are as follows; Utilizing frequency analysis, main percentiles, minimums, maximums and ranges were presented by 5 age groups from twenties to sixties. Obesity rates dramatically increased, the subject got older. Especially, obesity rate of the subjects in their fifties and sixties were much higher than other age groups. 1.6 & higher can be used in the Röhrer index, 98 & higher can be used in the Vervaeck index, and 25 & higher can be used in the BMI as the Optimal criteria of the obesity. Total of 24 body measurements and 3 obesity indices were used for analyzing the correlation analysis. All heights measurements showed negative correlation with the 3 obesity indices. It is determined heights measurements have high correlation with Röhrer index compare to other indices. Crotch height, interscye back, neck shoulder point to breast point, bust circumference, waist circumference, upper arm circumference and armscye circumference have high positive correlation with all obesity indices. According to the ANOVAs by each percentile group of the Röhrer and Vervaeck indices, there are big significances in all measurements and obesity indices except arm length. In general, heights decreased significantly by getting bigger, while circumferences and lengths, widths and indices increased rapidly by getting bigger. The results of the analysis by each percentile group in the BMI, it showed the significant differences in the all measurements except cervical height and arm length. There were similar tendency of differences according to the degree of the obesity in BMI percentile groups. It was confirmed that the BMI is the most reliable index for judging the obesity owing to the high correlations and significant differences with other measurements.

To elucidate the effects of an obesity control program on body composition and serum lipid levels, 31 obese elementary students (male: 25, female: 6) residing in the Gyeonggi area were evaluated and their body composition, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TG (triglyceride) were analyzed. The average age, height, weight and BMI (body mass index) were 11.52±1.00 yrs, 151.96±8.04 cm, 68.21±9.03 kg and 29.40±1.79 kg/m2 for the males, respectively, and 11.17±1.17 yrs, 147.83±5.15 cm, 65.05±10.86 kg and 29.62±3.24 kg/m2 for the females, respectively. There was a significant decrease in BMI for males (p〈0.001) and females (p〈0.05). There were also significant changes in all of the biochemical levels evaluated before and after the study. Specifically, the total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TG level decreased after the obesity control program, while the HDL-cholesterol level increased after the program. These results indicate that obesity control programs do change the BMI, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TG levels in obese elementary students. Thus, obesity control programs are urgently needed to prevent degenerative disease and decrease obesity among children in elementary school.

As a preliminary research of body characteristics analysis of Korean obese woman, this study aims to select optimal obesity judgment tools for reliable sampling of obese subjects from 2,425 female measurement data out of 2004 Size Korea project’s raw data. From previous researches related to obesity, 7 obesity judgment tools were chosen. 2007 obesity rate(26.3%) of Korean female adults was refered in selecting optimal obesity judgment criteria in the study. The results are as follows. Firstly, it was verified that BMI was the most suitable in judging and sampling the obese subjects by the percentile analysis. Röhrer index was also reliable in grouping the obese subjects from a population. Secondly, it was concluded that the obesity ratios of relative weight 120 and higher group, Röhrer index 1.6 and higher group and waist girth 80cm and higher group were the most similar to obesity rate of Korean female adults by 2007 National Health & Nutrition Survey. Thirdly, 30 direct measurements, age, 2 drop values and 6 ratios of 7 groups by the obesity judgment tools showed the significance each other at p<0.001 level. On the other hand, “bust point to bust point” and “waist to hip length” measurements didn’t show the significant differences among 7 groups. Conclusively, 4 to 5 satisfactions out of 7 obesity judgment criteria were adequate and sufficient in sampling the obese subjects. If it is needed the strict criteria for judging the obesity, 5 satisfactions and higher group will be the best choice as the obese subjects. However 4 satisfactions and higher group generally, will be adequate for sampling of the obese subjects.

This study was conducted to investigate the change in the anthropometric values, biochemical index, nutritional knowledge, food habits and nutrient intakes in obese children after a weight control program. The subjects of the study were 22 obese children with an obesity index over 120%. The children that participated in this study took nutritional education for weight control along with exercise once a week. The weight control program was conducted for 10 weeks. The BMI, WHR (Waist-Hip ratio), body fat (%) significantly decreased at the end of the weight control program. Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were also significantly decreased. The nutritional knowledge scores and knowledge score about obesity were slightly improved. Energy intake significantly decreased from 1768 to 1421 kcal. Intake of Ca, Na, K, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C and folate increased, while intakes of P, Zn, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin E and niacin decreased. The distribution of energy intake was significantly changed for the better. The percent fat consumed decreased from 26.5 to 19.7%. In addition, the distribution of energy intake in the meals was changed, where the percent calories consumed during lunch significantly increased from 31.4 to 40.1% and the calorie percentage consumed from snacks significantly decreased from 17.6 to 10.7%. In conclusion, the nutritional education in the weight control program, which was conducted for 10 weeks, was effective in improving the anthropometric values, biochemical index and nutrient intake although nutrition knowledge and eating behaviors only changed slightly. Thus, nutritional weight control programs for obese children should be continuously provided under the proper cooperation of a nutritional teacher at elementary schools.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of weight control programs on BMI, serum profiles, nutrition knowledge and eating behaviors of adult obese women. The subjects of this study were 33 adult obese women aged 30- 65 years residing in Seoul. The weight control program for obese women included nutritional education, cognitive behavioral therapy and exercise for 12 weeks. The weight control experience of the subjects was 60.6%. They preferred physical exercise and diet restriction to weight control and 72.7% of subjects answered that the reasons for wanting to control their weight was health. The BMI of test subjects significantly decreased (p<0.001) from 28.3 to 27.1 after the 12 weeks of the weight control program. In addition, the % body fat significantly decreased (p<0.001) from 36.4% to 34.5% after completion of the weight control program. SGPT levels in the serum were also significantly decreased (p<0.05) after the program. Triglyceride levels significantly decreased from 194.9 mg/dL to 98.1 mg/dL (p<0.01) and the HDL cholesterol level significantly increased (p<0.01) from 55.8 mg/dL to 60.0 mg/dL after completion of the weight control program. Nutritional knowledge and eating behavior scores were significantly increased (p<0.001). In addition, the eating self-efficacy of the subjects was significantly increased (p<0.01); however, the food diversity scores were not changed after the program. These results suggest that the weight control program for adult obese women may be effectively used to promote weight reduction and improve nutritional knowledge and eating behavior.

The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental data needed for running overweight management programs at schools through the analysis of the change of students' life habits and psychological status by applying those programs to them co-conducted by