The Characteristics of Dietary Habits of Obese, Overweight or Normal Subjects in Seoul

Lee, Mee Sook

Abstract

The dietary habits of middle-aged obese, overweight and normal subjects were evaluated for the purpose of providing the background information of the degenerative disease control. A survey was conducted with 293 subjects (121 males and 172 females) between the ages 40 - 64 and they were divided into three groups of normal (BMI 18.5 - 22.9), overweight (BMI 23 - 24.9) and obese (BMI > or = 25) based on the criteria of Korean Obesity Association (2000). The mean age of the subjects was 52.0 +/- 7.3 (male) and 51.9 +/- 6.9 (female). Socioeconomic levels of subjects belong to the mid-upper class, since 71.9% of the males and 39.5% of the females received above a college education. More than 40% (44.6%) of males and 22.1% of females were obese, and educational background did not affect the obesity rate in males, whereas in females those who received lower education had a higher rate of obesity (p <0.001). The subjects had a similar degree of drinking to the national average value, but had a lower degree of smoking. The obese group had the higher rate of drinking (p <0.01) and smoking (p <0.01). The annual increase in weight, more than 4 kg, was 8.8% for normal group and 30.9% for obese group. However, there were no differences in the mean annual increase in weight among the three groups. In females there were greater tendencies of weight changes in obese group (p <0.05). About 44.9% of subjects responded that they were exercising regularly, and the obese group appeared to put into practice less than the other groups and to use more strenuous exercise. There was the greater rate of skipping dinner in the obese female group (p <0.05). The unbalanced dietary pattern was found more with normal group than the other groups (p <0.01). The food consumption frequency by food groups was not different among the groups. The obese group consumed less frequently meats, vegetables and fruits and had higher frequency in fish, legumes and their products, instant or fast food. In all subjects the higher rate of obesity was found with males than females and with those of heavier smoking and drinking, and in females the higher rate of obesity was found with lower education levels, skipping meals and having an unbalanced diet. In middle-aged subjects of this study with higher educational and socioeconomic background factors contributing to the effects of obesity may include smoking, drinking, educational background, skipping meals or unbalanced dietary pattern. The predictable characteristics for the development of obesity can be defined as sudden fluctuation of weights, exercise regularity and intakes of vegetables and fruits.