Changes in weight, waist circumference, prevalence of obesity, and dietary factors associated with weight gain over 8 years in Korean adults: Longitudinal data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

Abstract

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to describe changes in weight, waist circumference (WC), and prevalence of obesity over 8 years as well as investigate demographic and dietary factors associated with weight gain in Korean adults. Methods: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study is an ongoing community-based longitudinal study, which was started in 2001~2002 and repeated every 2 years. Height, weight, and WC were measured, and demographic data and food intake information using the food frequency questionnaire were collected from 10,038 adults aged 40~69 years at baseline. Among those individuals, 3,506 healthy individuals without chronic diseases completed the 4th follow-up survey in 2009~2010.Results: Mean weight decreased by 0.35 kg and 0.65 kg in men and women, respectively, whereas mean WC increased by 1.71 cm and 1.85 cm during the 8-year period. Prevalence of obesity based on body mass index (BMI) decreased from 34.5% to 33.5% in men and from 38.0% to 36.7% in women, whereas abdominal obesity increased from 14.8% to 22.2% in men and from 28.8% to 35.4% in women. Weight change was associated with age and smoking status in men, and residence area, age, education, income, and alcohol drinking in women. Approximately 57.5% maintained their BMI over 8 years (< ±1 kg/m 2 , stable weight group), 19.5% showed a BMI increase of ≥ 1 kg/m 2 (weight gain group), and 23.0% showed a BMI decrease of more than 1 kg/m 2 (weight loss group). There was no significant difference in energy intake calculated as the percentage of estimated energy requirements among the three weight change groups. Intakes of coffee mix and milk were significantly higher in the weight gain group than in the weight loss group in men after controlling for confounding factors. Conclusion: Our results show that higher consumption of coffee mix and milk was associated with weight gain in Korean healthy men.

Gastrointestinal: Weight gain increases the risk of metachronous advanced colorectal neoplasm observed in post‐polypectomy surveillance colonoscopy

“…This differed from Western population characteristics, where 68–79% of participants gained weight of and 8.3–15% lost weight 5,6 . The 8‐year follow‐up results of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study cohort, which included adults aged 40–69 years, showed similar results to our study population: 23% experienced a BMI decrease of ≥1 kg/m 2 , and 19.5% experienced a BMI increase of ≥1 kg/m 2 24 . Additionally, most of our participants underwent corporate health check‐ups every 1–2 years and provided lifestyle modification advice based on the results.…”

“…Furthermore, Korean cohort studies showed that Korean adults tended to lose weight with age during longitudinal follow-up. 24,28 Therefore, there may be a limitation to assess the association between weight loss and development of ACRN in this study.…”

“…5,6 The 8-year follow-up results of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study cohort, which included adults aged 40-69 years, showed similar results to our study population: 23% experienced a BMI decrease of ≥1 kg/m 2 , and 19.5% experienced a BMI increase of ≥1 kg/m 2 . 24 Additionally, most of our participants underwent corporate health check-ups every 1-2 years and provided lifestyle modification advice based on the results. Around 40.6% of obese participants lost weight, and 24.4% gained weight, whereas 25.0% of normal weight participants lost weight, and 41.9% gained weight during the follow-up period.…”

Longitudinal Change in Myocardial Function and Clinical Parameters in Middle-Aged Subjects: A 3-Year Follow-up Study

“…When mean WC and TG were compared between groups with 50 to 54 and 55 to 59 years in the KNHANES population, they were not significantly different [ 24 ]. The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, which is a community-based longitudinal study and included 10,038 adults aged 40 to 69 years, reported that the mean WC increased by 1.71 and 1.85 cm in men and women, respectively, during the 8-year period [ 25 ]. Compared to findings from the general population, the progress of metabolic impairment, especially mean WC and TG, over 3 years was remarkable in middle-aged women with MetS in the present study.…”

Comparison of association between physical activity and resting metabolic rate in young and middle-aged Korean adults

“…A Korean adult is deemed to be obese if the body mass index (BMI) is 25 (kg/m 2 ) or more. Over the past decade, obesity rates in Korean men and women have increased by 4.9% and 1.5%, respectively 6 . The prevalence of obesity varies with age and changes in body composition and resting metabolic rate (RMR), caused by aging 7 .…”