Ann Rehabil Med.  2013 Jun;37(3):336-346. 10.5535/arm.2013.37.3.336.

Characteristics of Abdominal Obesity in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury

• Kim KD
• Nam HS
• Shin HI

• KMID: 2219530
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2013.37.3.336

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the characteristics of community-dwelling spinal cord injury (SCI) persons with obesity, including diet, socioeconomic factors, weight reduction method, and frequency of body weight and abdominal circumference measurements.
METHODS
We developed a questionnaire based on 'the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009'. A total of 371 community-dwelling SCI persons were enrolled in this study. Inclusion criteria were SCI persons older than 20 years with more than 1 year elapsed since the injury. Trained investigators visited SCI persons' home to complete the questionnaire and measure abdominal obesity (AO) as defined by the waist circumference.
RESULTS
Prevalence of AO was 29.2% in SCI persons and 27.4% in the general population (GP), showing no significant difference. Education showed correlation with AO in both SCI persons and the GP. The injury level, type of injury and income did not show any correlation with AO in SCI persons. Only 28.8% and 48.8% of SCI persons measured their waist circumference and body weight within the past year, respectively. Also, SCI persons with AO thought that their body was less obese compared to persons with AO in the GP (p<0.001). The method of weight reduction was diet modification in 53.6% of SCI persons with AO, which was higher than 37.1% of persons with AO in the GP.
CONCLUSION
In SCI persons, obesity perception as well as socioeconomic factors correlated with AO, but these were not relevant factors in the GP. Therefore, development of a specific and intensive weight control program for SCI persons is necessary.

Keyword

Spinal cord injuries; Abdominal obesity; Exercise; Health behavior; Socioeconomic factors

MeSH Terms

Body Weight
Diet
Food Habits
Health Behavior
Humans
Korea
Nutrition Surveys
Obesity
Obesity, Abdominal
Prevalence
Research Personnel
Socioeconomic Factors
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Waist Circumference
Weight Loss

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