title: [Health behavior factors affecting waist circumference as an indicator of abdominal obesity].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to identify the socioeconomic factors, the psychosocial factors and the heath behavior factors that have an influence on abdominal obesity, as measured by using the waist circumference.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was obtained from individuals aged above 20 years who had their waist circumference measured on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001, which was a cross-sectional health survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regression analysis of the factors that affect abdominal obesity showed that the education level, income, smoking, duration of smoking, drinking consumption, frequency of exercises and sleeping were the associated factors for abdominal obesity. For men, the duration of smoking, education level, income and drinking consumption were the associated factors for abdominal obesity. For woman, the education level, income, duration of smoking, drinking consumption and frequency of exercise were the associated factors for abdominal obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominal obesity is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality, and it is associated with chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Based on the findings, it is essential to modify heath behaviors for preventing abdominal obesity, which is a condition associated with the incidence of chronic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine Department of Nursing, Kwandong University.
authors.forename: Kyung-Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Paek
authors.forename: Yoon-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis*