The purpose of this study was to compare the validity of obesity indices among the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BF%), and to determine which is the most useful index to predict the risk of chronic diseases of elderly people. This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study at welfare centers in Seoul. The total number of subjects was 261 (68 men and 193 women) with age ≥60 years. The distribution of obesity using 3 obesity indices in the subjects with hypertension, diabetes, or arthritis was BF%>WC>BMI in elderly men and WC>BF%>BMI in elderly women. In elderly women, odds ratios (ORs) for hypertension in BMI and WC quartiles were significantly increased in quartile 2 and 3 (p<0.05). The ORs for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and arthritis in BF% quartiles were significantly increased in quartile 3 and 4 (p<0.05). The BF% was sensitive obesity index for predicting the occurrence of chronic disease in men, and the WC was sensitive index in women. Our results suggested maintaining BMI less than 23.5 kg/m2, WC less than 82 cm, and BF less than 35% in order to prevent chronic diseases in elderly women.

본 연구는 인공호의 영양 단계에 따른 피라미 개체군 의 전장-체중 관계 및 비만도 지수 (K)의 차이를 알아보 기 위해 2008년~2010년까지 부안호, 양양호, 진양호, 금 풍지, 예당지 및 마산지 등의 6개 인공호를 대상으로 실 시하였으며, 광범위한 분포 특성과 섭식 특성을 보이는 피라미(Zacco platypus)를 본 연구의 대상 어종으로 선정 하였다. 총인 (TP)과 엽록소-a (Chl-a)를 이용한 영양상태 지수(TSI) 분석 결과 양양호와 부안호는 빈영양(30~40), 진양호와 금풍지는 중영양 (40~50), 예당지와 마산지는 부영양 (50~70)상태로 나타났다. 6개 호수에서 총 47종 26,226개체의 어류가 채집되었으며, 빈영양호 (양양호, 부 안호)에서는 민감종이 우세한 현상을 보였다. 한편, 중영양호 (진양호, 금풍지)와 부영양호 (예당지, 마산지)에서는 내성종이 우세한 것으로 분석되어 호수의 영양 상태에 따 라 우세종의 내성특성에 차이를 보이는 것으로 나타났다. 전장-체중 관계 분석 결과에 따르면, 회귀계수 b값은 중 영양호(3.07~3.17)와 부영양호(3.15~3.21)에 비해 빈영 양호 (2.77~2.79)에서 낮은 값을 보였다. 이러한 결과는 호수의 영양상태가 피라미 개체군의 성장도에 영향을 주 는 것으로 사료된다. 전장에 따른 비만도 지수 (K) 관계 분석 결과 중영양호와 부영양호에서는 양의 기울기를 보 인 반면, 빈영양호에서는 음의 기울기를 나타내 호수의 영양상태에 따라 차이를 보였다. TSI (TP), TSI (Chl-a)와 회귀계수 b값의 상관관계를 분석한 결과 b=0.012*TSI (TP)+2.395 (R2=0.797, p=0.017), b=0.013*TSI (Chl-a)+ 2.367 (R2=0.822, p=0.013)으로 나타나 높은 상관관계를 보였다. 한편, 부영양화가 진행될수록, 비정상개체의 비율 이 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 결론적으로, 전장-체중 관계와 비만도 지수 분석에 의 한 피라미 개체군의 성장도는 영양염류나 식물플랑크톤 의 생체량과 같은 영양상태를 반영하는 것으로 사료되 며, 과도한 부영양화는 수환경의 오염을 초래하여 피라미 개체군의 성장과 건강도에 부정적인 영향을 미치는 것으 로 사료된다.

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.

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.

The difference between self-evaluated obesity and obesity index of RBW and BMI as well as attitude toward weight control were studied among college students in Chungnam area. The subjects of 307 students were randomly selected and asked to categorize their body shape into 5 groups and to record their body weight and height. We found that average RBW and BMI of the students were 95.7% and 20.6, respectively. By RBW, 30.6% of students belonged to underweight and severe-underweight groups whereas 14.0% overweight and obesity ones. The female students showed lower obesity indice than the male. Self-evaluated obesity seemed likely to overestimate their body shapes above RBW and BMI, which lead to high unsatisfactioin toward their body shape. The overestimation was profound in normal weighted female students up to 20%. Misunderstanding about their obesity, especially among female college students, should be corrected necessarily by proper nutrition counseling and nutrition education, unless malnutrition could be serious in college students.