During the past decade, obesity has substantially increased in Korea, and this is leading to dramatic increases in complications such as type 2 diabetes. In this review, we discuss the past and the current situation of obesity in Korea based on the national health and nutrition surveys of 1995, 1998, and 2001. Because Korea is geographically isolated with relatively few migrants and has a low level of genetic heterogeneity, this report demonstrates the impact of environmental factors on the development of obesity beyond epidemiological information about one of the Asian countries. The third national health and nutrition survey reported in 2001 announced that the overall prevalence of obesity [body mass index (BMI) > or = 25.0 kg m(-2)] in Korean adults is 30.6% (32.4% in men and 29.4% in women). The prevalence of obesity in adults and children has increased rapidly from 1990s through the beginning of the new millennium and is steadily increasing in parallel with our rapid socio-economic progress. In particular, special attention should be paid to two groups in hormonal transition: first, middle-aged men and women who experience a great increase in body weight, BMI and waist circumference because of andropause or menopause, and second, adolescents in middle to high school who are preparing for qualification or entrance examinations and are prone to overnutrition or nutritional imbalance and physical inactivity.

Purpose To examine the association between waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) on disability among older adults from Latin America and the Caribbean. Methods Cross-sectional, multicenter city study of 5,786 subjects aged 65 years and older from the Health, Well-Being and Aging in Latin America and the Caribbean Study (SABE) (1999-2000). Sociodemographic variables, smoking status, medical conditions, BMI, WC, and activities of daily living (ADL) were obtained. Results Prevalence of high WC (>88 cm) in women ranged from 48.5% (Havana) to 72.7% (Mexico City), while among men (>102 cm) it ranged from 12.5% (Bridgetown) to 32.5% (Santiago). The associations between WC and ADL disability were “J” shaped, with higher risks of ADL disability observed above 110 cm for women in Bridgetown, Santiago, Havana, and Montevideo. The association in Sao Paulo is plateau with higher risk above 100 cm, and the association in Mexico City is closer to linear. Among men the associations were “U” (Bridgetown, Sao Paulo, and Havana), “J” shaped (Montevideo), plateau (Santiago), and closer to linear in Mexico City (Figure 3). When WC and BMI were analyzed together, we found that participants from Sao Paolo, Santiago, Havana, and Montevideo in the overweight or obese category with high WC were significantly more likely to report ADL disability after adjusting for all covariates. Conclusion The findings of this study suggests that both general and abdominal adiposity are associated with disability and support the use of WC in addition to BMI to assess risk of disability in older adults.

ObjectivesObesity is one of the most serious health problems in the world today. Asian Americans are usually less overweight and obese than African Americans and Hispanic Americans, but the rate of obesity in Asian Americans is still increasing, especially in younger generations. This research examines Asian American obesity using existing research, as a means of finding the need for greater emphasis on Asian American obesity intervention research.MethodsIn this research literature review, Asian American obesity using existing research as a means of finding the need for greater emphasis on Asian American obesity intervention research is examined. A systematic review is done in order to find Asian American obesity research, due to the minimal amount of existing studies. In total, there were only nine papers which were not duplicates and which still met the criteria for inclusion, from an initial 106 papers.ResultsThere is very little research on obesity in Asian Americans. Although the rate of obesity among Asian Americans is increasing, there are few related articles, projects, and surveys, and there is little information. There is a need for more specific and in-depth analysis of Asian American obesity. Asian Americans are associated with a lower waist circumference (WC) and BMI, while Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders are associated with a higher WC and BMI. Typically, Asian Americans who were born in the United States (US) tend to be overweight and more obese than those born in foreign countries.ConclusionBased on this literature review, it is concluded that there is a shortage of Asian American obesity research, even though there is an evident need for particular obesity intervention programs that target Asian Americans.

Background/Objectives Although older Mexican Americans are a rapidly growing segment of the U.S population, with high rates of disability, there is presently little research examining nativity and sex differences in activities of daily living (ADL) and mobility limitations in older Mexican Americans compared to general studies of the older population. This study examined the effect of nativity and sex on ADL and mobility limitations in older Mexican Americans. Design, Setting, Participants, Measurements 2,069 non-institutionalized Mexican American aged 75 years and older from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (Hispanic EPESE) (2004-2005). Socio-demographics, self-reported medical conditions (arthritis, cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and hip fracture), ADLs, and gross mobility function were obtained. Results Out of 2069, 56.3% were US-born and 43.7% were Mexico-born. The prevalence of ADL and mobility limitation in both US-born and Mexico-born was 32.9% vs. 33.9% and 56.6% vs. 55.6%, respectively. Compared to US-born subjects, Mexico-born tend to report less ADL limitation (OR=0.79; CI: 0.59- 1.05) after controlling for socio-demographic variables and medical conditions. Similarly, they were less likely to report mobility limitation (OR=0.64; CI: 0.48- 0.86) after controlling for all covariates. There was a significant interaction effect between nativity and sex (OR=0.42; CI=0.24-0.74) on ADL limitation suggesting that Mexico-born men were less disabled than US-born while the opposite was true for women. No significant interaction between nativity and sex was found for mobility limitation. Conclusion We found that Mexico-born men were less disabled than US-born counterparts. However, Mexico-born women were more likely to report disability than Mexico-born men.