title: Obesity, obesity related disease, and disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity increases the risk of many chronic diseases and contributes to functional disabilities. We assessed the relationship among obesity and obesity related chronic disease and disability in Korean adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used data from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 5,462 persons (2,325 men, 3,137 women) aged 20 years and older were included in this analysis. Obesity was measured by body mass index and abdominal obesity was by waist circumference. Information on the presence of chronic diseases was based on the self-report of having been diagnosed by physicians. Functional disability was assessed using the Korean activities of daily living (K-ADL) and the Korean instrumental ADL (K-IADL) scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relationship between obesity and prevalence of obesity-related chronic diseases was higher in the older aged group (>60 years for men, >70 years for women) than in the younger aged group. Waist circumference was more related to a higher prevalence of chronic diseases than body mass index in the younger aged group. Abdominal obesity increased the risk (odds ratio, 2.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.19 to 5.66) of having limitation in activities of daily living for the younger aged men after adjustments for age, smoking status, presence of chronic diseases, and body mass index. Body mass index was not associated with disability in either men or women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between obesity and prevalence of chronic disease differed depending on age and sex. It is important to control abdominal obesity to prevent disability in younger aged men.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Yun Min
authors: YM
authors: Na
authors: Hyun Ah
authors: HA
authors: Park
authors: Jae Heon
authors: JH
authors: Kang
authors: Young Gyu
authors: YG
authors: Cho
authors: Kyoung Woo
authors: KW
authors: Kim
authors: Yang Im
authors: YI
authors: Hur
authors: Yu Na
authors: YN
authors: Kim
authors: Su Hyeon
authors: SH
authors: Lee