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KMID : 0388120020110040349
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Journal of Korean Society for the Study of Obesity
2002 Volume.11 No. 4 p.349 ~ p.355
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The Self-Assessment of Obesity in Korean Adults
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Hwang Jae-Kyung
Lee Ki-Young
Kim Hong-Kyu
Kong Hee-Sang
Yoon Hyo-Joong
Whang Yong-Ha
Jung Yon-Sil
Lee Sung-Kwang
Park Hye-Young
Kim Kab-Whan
Choi Won-Chul
Kang Moon-Ho
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Abstract
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Background : Obesity has become a matter of great public concern in Korea with its increasing prevalence in recent years. People should properly recognize themselves whether to be obese or not before seeking medical attention. However self assessment of obesity may be erroneously subjective and misleading. This study is to investigate the possible discrepancy between self-assessment of obesity and obesity defined by BMI in Korean adults.
Materials And Methods : Five hundred sixty one adult subjects (341 men and 220 women) who took a routine health examination in Gachon Health Center were included in this study. We analyzed the data obtained from health examination and a questionnaire including self-assessment of obesity categorized as underweight, normal, obese and severely obese. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/㎡ is defined as obese, BMI ≥ 30 kg/㎡ as very obese and BMI <20 kg/㎡ as underweight.
Results : The age of the subjects was 37±13 years, male to female ratio 1.5:1, the BMI 22.7±3.2 kg/㎡, and the WHR 0.85±0.07. The concordance rates between self-assessment of obesity and obesity defined by BMI were 56%, 52%, 49% and 89% (kappa=0.26) respectively in underweight, normal, obese and very obese. 44% of men with obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/㎡) assessed themselves to be non-obese, whereas 43% of non-obese women (BMI ≥25 kg/㎡) assessed themselves to be obese. There were no differences in age, education level, and residential area between the groups who correctly assessed their obesity and did not.
Conclusions : There were significant discrepancies between self-assessment of obesity and obesity defined by BMI in Korean adults. Significant proportion of men with obesity underestimated their obesity, while significant proportion of non-obese women overestimated their fatness. These results suggest that public education be required to provide the proper definition of obesity and avoid the misleading in its management.
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KEYWORD
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Obesity, Self-assessment, Body Mass Index, BMI
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