Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese college students in Korea.

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the prevalence of metabolic risk factors among overweight and obese college students aged 18 to 29 years in Korea.

METHODS

Baseline data from a healthy lifestyle intervention study for overweight and obese college students in Korea were used. We recruited the sample (N = 73) (84% male; mean [SD] age, 23.77 [2.45] years) from 2 universities in Seoul, Korea, and measured body mass index, waist-hip circumstance, blood pressure, and fasting blood chemistry. Descriptive statistics, Spearman rank order correlations, and analysis of variance were conducted using SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Illinois) for windows.

RESULTS

Three-fourths of the participants were identified as being viscerally obese based on the Asia Pacific criteria. Of the total sample, about 12% and 20% were defined as having metabolic syndrome according to the National Cholesterol Education Program--the Adult Treatment Panel III and International Diabetes Federation, respectively. Concordance between the National Cholesterol Education Program--the Adult Treatment Panel III and International Diabetes Federation definitions was very good in the current study (Cohen kappa coefficient = 0.74, P <.001). Body mass index was significantly correlated with greater triglyceride and systolic and diastolic blood pressure and waist circumference but with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

CONCLUSIONS

Early screening and targeted interventions to prevent obesity and the metabolic syndrome are urgently needed to promote health for adolescents and young adults in South Korea.