Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese college students in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the prevalence of metabolic risk factors among overweight and obese college students aged 18 to 29 years in Korea.


METHODS
Baseline data from a healthy lifestyle intervention study for overweight and obese college students in Korea were used. We recruited the sample (N = 73) (84% male; mean [SD] age, 23.77 [2.45] years) from 2 universities in Seoul, Korea, and measured body mass index, waist-hip circumstance, blood pressure, and fasting blood chemistry. Descriptive statistics, Spearman rank order correlations, and analysis of variance were conducted using SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois) for windows.


RESULTS
Three-fourths of the participants were identified as being viscerally obese based on the Asia Pacific criteria. Of the total sample, about 12% and 20% were defined as having metabolic syndrome according to the National Cholesterol Education Program--the Adult Treatment Panel III and International Diabetes Federation, respectively. Concordance between the National Cholesterol Education Program--the Adult Treatment Panel III and International Diabetes Federation definitions was very good in the current study (Cohen kappa coefficient = 0.74, P <.001). Body mass index was significantly correlated with greater triglyceride and systolic and diastolic blood pressure and waist circumference but with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.


CONCLUSIONS
Early screening and targeted interventions to prevent obesity and the metabolic syndrome are urgently needed to promote health for adolescents and young adults in South Korea.
School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
EunSeok
E
Cha
Lora E
LE
Burke
Kevin H
KH
Kim
Yun-A
YA
Shin
Hee Young
HY
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055105:Waist Circumference