Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Beodeunaru-ro 7-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07247, Korea.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Anam-dong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Apr 20;15(4):811. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15040811.
Previous studies on obesity status among North Korean refugees (NKRs) have been limited. We investigated mean body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and general and central obesity prevalence among NKRs in South Korea (SK) by duration after defection from North Korea (NK), using cross-sectional data of the North Korean Refugee Health in South Korea (NORNS) study and compared these data with a sample from the general South Korean population (the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). The prevalence of general and central obesity among NKRs with duration after defection from NK of less than five years were lower than among South Koreans, except for central obesity among NKR females (obesity prevalence, 19% (12⁻27%) vs. 39% (34⁻44%) for NK vs. SK males ( < 0.001) and 19% (14⁻24%) vs. 27% (24⁻29%) for NK vs. SK females ( = 0.076); central obesity prevalence, 13% (6⁻19%) vs. 24% (20⁻29%) for NK vs. SK males ( = 0.011) and 22% (17⁻28%) vs. 20% (18⁻22%) for NK vs. SK females ( = 0.382)). The prevalence of general and central obesity among NKRs with duration after defection from NK (≥10 years) were comparable to those of South Koreans in both genders (obesity prevalence, 34% (18⁻50%) vs. 39% (34⁻44%) for NK vs. SK males ( = 0.690) and 23% (18⁻29%) vs. 27% (24⁻29%) for NK vs. SK females (0.794); central obesity prevalence, 21% (7⁻34%) vs. 24% (20⁻29%) for NK vs. SK males ( = 0.642); 22% (17⁻28%) vs. 20% (18⁻22%) for NK vs. SK females ( = 0.382)). Male sex, age and longer duration after defection from NK (≥10 years) were positively associated with obesity. As for central obesity, age was the only independently associated factor. NKR females with duration after defection from NK of less than five years had comparable central obesity prevalence to South Korean females in spite of a lower BMI, which suggests that we need further monitoring for their metabolic health among NKRs in SK.
先前针对朝鲜难民（North Korean refugees，NKRs）肥胖状况的研究较为有限。我们利用朝鲜难民健康与韩国（North Korean Refugee Health in South Korea，NORNS）研究的横断面数据，按叛逃到韩国（South Korea，SK）后的时间长短，调查了 NKRs 的平均体重指数（body mass index，BMI）、腰围（waist circumference，WC）和总体及中心型肥胖的患病率，并与韩国一般人群（第五次韩国全国健康与营养调查）的样本进行了比较。结果显示，叛逃到 NK 后时间不足 5 年的 NKRs 中，总体和中心型肥胖的患病率均低于韩国人，除了女性的中心型肥胖患病率（肥胖率，19%（12⁻27%）vs. 39%（34⁻44%），NK 与 SK 男性（ < 0.001），19%（14⁻24%）vs. 27%（24⁻29%），NK 与 SK 女性（ = 0.076）；中心型肥胖率，13%（6⁻19%）vs. 24%（20⁻29%），NK 与 SK 男性（ = 0.011），22%（17⁻28%）vs. 20%（18⁻22%），NK 与 SK 女性（ = 0.382））。叛逃到 NK 后时间超过 10 年的 NKRs 中，无论男女，总体和中心型肥胖的患病率均与韩国人相当（肥胖率，34%（18⁻50%）vs. 39%（34⁻44%），NK 与 SK 男性（ = 0.690），23%（18⁻29%）vs. 27%（24⁻29%），NK 与 SK 女性（0.794）；中心型肥胖率，21%（7⁻34%）vs. 24%（20⁻29%），NK 与 SK 男性（ = 0.642）；22%（17⁻28%）vs. 20%（18⁻22%），NK 与 SK 女性（ = 0.382））。男性、年龄和叛逃到 NK 后的时间（超过 10 年）与肥胖呈正相关。对于中心型肥胖，年龄是唯一的独立相关因素。叛逃到 NK 后时间不足 5 年的 NKRs 女性，尽管 BMI 较低，但中心型肥胖的患病率与韩国女性相当，这表明我们需要对 SK 中的 NKRs 进行进一步的代谢健康监测。
