Obesity is an undesirable outcome of changing of lifestyle and behaviours. It is also reversible predisposing factor for the development of several debilitating diseases. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence rate of obesity, overweight, central obesity and their associated factors in the north of Iran. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study with a sample of 1800 women and 1800 men with respective mean ages of 37.5 +/- 13.0 and 38.5 +/- 14.2 years of urban population aged 20-70 years living in the north of Iran. The demographic and lifestyle data, in particular, age, gender, marital status, marriage age, family history of obesity, educational level, occupation, occupational and leisure time physical activity, duration of exercise per week, parity and the number of children were collected with a designed questionnaire. Diagnosis of obesity and central obesity were confirmed by the WHO standard recommended method by determining of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval. Over half of the study subjects were at educational levels of high school or higher; 79.4% of population was married and 35.3% had a family history of parental obesity. The majority of subjects in particular women had none or low levels of physical activity. The overall prevalence rates of obesity and overweight were 18.8% and 34.8% respectively. The overall prevalence rate of central obesity was 28.3%. The rate of obesity in women was higher than men (P or =5 were associated with increased risk of obesity (OR = 2.2, P < 0.001 and OR = 2.43, P < 0.0001 and OR = 3.73, P < 0.0001 respectively). The results of this study indicate an increased rate of obesity and overweigh in the north population of Iran. With respect to these findings, low level of activity and education, parity, family history of obesity, marriage at earlier age and ageing are responsible for both obesity and central obesity in the north of Iran. Therefore, a community-based multiple strategies are required to combat with increasing rate of obesity and its subsequent complications such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypertension and osteoarthritis.

Prevalence of obesity, central obesity and the associated factors in urban population aged 20-70 years, in the north of Iran: a population-based study and regression approach.

Objective: Estrogen exerts a wide variety of actions involving many target tissues. We studied the effects of long-term ovariectomy (OVX) and OVX with 17b-estradiol treatment (OVXE2) on the level of estrogen receptor (ER) gene expression in target tissues of female rats. Design: Three groups of Sprague‐Dawley female rats were utilized in this study: sham operated (SO), OVX and OVXE2. Methods: SO and OVX were performed 2 weeks before starting the 17b-estradiol treatment. All groups were maintained on liquid diet for 12 weeks from the time of estradiol treatment. Total RNA was prepared from the tissues of the rats and relative quantitative reverse transcription PCR was utilized to compare the ER a-subtype (ERa) mRNA level in the three groups for each target tissue. Results: Following long-term OVX, the levels of ERa expression showed a significant increase in the uterus, kidney and cerebral cortex and no significant change in the liver, cerebellum, brainstem, heart and thoracic and abdominal aorta compared with their SO levels. On the other hand, a 12-week treatment of OVX rats with 17b-estradiol restored the previously upregulated ERa mRNA to near SO levels except for the liver where the 17b-estradiol treatment resulted in a significant increase in the ERa mRNA level compared with that in SO rats. Conclusions: We conclude that the regulation of ERs by its ligand is tissue specific.

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Effect of long-term ovariectomy and estrogen replacement on the expression of estrogen receptor gene in female rats

Fat mass changes during menopause: a metaanalysis.

Breast cancer ranks second or third to uterine cervix cancer and stomach cancer as a cause of death in women, and as a common site of primary cancer The large difference in its incidence between Westernized and non-Westernized countries is remarkable There is a linear increase with age that is observed in Western countries, which are high-incidence areas, on the contrary to the inverted V shape curve seen in Asian countries Epidemiologic studies conducted in Korea have shown that an older age, a family history of breast cancer, early menarche, late menopause, late full-term pregnancy, and never having had a breast-fed child are primary risk factors in the development of breast cancer The estrogen-augmented-by-progesterone hypothesis explains the roles of these factors to some extent On the other hand, recent molecular studies have revealed the existence of novel gene environmental interactions Epidemiological features suggest that the breast cancer incidence rate in Korea will increase, but the age specific curve would not be changed in keeping with what is observed in Western countries Strategies aimed at controlling breast cancer that include the screening guidelines and the identification of individual predispositions may give us further insights into both the etiology and the prevention of breast cancer

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Epidemiology of Breast Cancer in Korea: Occurrence, High-Risk Groups, and Prevention

China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan constitute North-East Asia. For reasons of largely shared ethnicity and culture, with various degress of mixed Chinese and Altaic elements, as well as geographical contiguity, they can be usefully grouped together for studies of chronic disease prevalence and particularly cancer. The fact of problems shared in common, with increasing disease rates, underlines the necessity for a coordinated approach to research and development of control measures. To provide a knowledge base, the present review of cancer registration and epidemiology data was conducted. The most frequent cancers in males of North-East Asia are in the lung, liver and stomach, with considerable geographical and temporal variation in their respective prevalences. However, colorectal cancer is also of increasing importance. In females the breast, together with the lung in China, the liver in Mongolia and the stomach in Korea and Japan, are most frequent. Variation in risk factors depends to a large extent on the local level of economic development but overall the countries of the region face similar challenges in achieving effective cancer control.

Cancer epidemiology and control in north-East Asia - past, present and future.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between body mass and serum level of female sex hormones among 153 adolescent girls, and 153 postmenopausal women in Korea. Information on lifestyles, and both menstrual and reproductive factors was collected by personal interview. Serum total estradiol (E2), progesterone (Pg), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine whether the hormonal levels would be affected by the obesity indices. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) were inversely related to SHBG level in both premenopausal (p<0.005) and postmenopausal women (p<0.005) after adjusting for age. E2 levels during any phase in premenopausal girls were not related to BMI, whereas heavier girls had significantly higher levels of late luteal-phase Pg (p<0.05). Taller postmenopausal women had lower E2 levels (p<0.05). Results on the association between SHBG and BMI are consistent with previous results in Caucasian women, and might suggest the potential role of bioavailable estradiol in breast carcinogenesis in pre- and post-menopausal women. The finding that progesterone might be related to body mass in premenopausal women should be pursued in further studies.

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Female sex hormones and body mass in adolescent and postmenopausal Korean women.

Objectives: We attempted to study sleep habits and insomnia-associated factors in Korean rural adult population. Methods : In 1,441 adult subjects of three rural communities selected by cluster sampling, we administered an epidemiologic survey using questionnaire methods from July 14, 1996 to July 28, 1996. Results : 1) Mean sleep latency and mean time to sleep again after awakening during nocturnal sleep were longer in females than in males. Females suffered more frequently from insomnia symptom, awakening during nocturnal sleep. morning headache, dysphoric mood in the morning, and the feeling of 'not refreshed' on waking-up than males. 2) The older age group (defined as those older than 65 years) was found to have earlier bed-time, longer sleep latency, more frequent nocturia, longer time to sleep again after awakening during nocturnal sleep, and more frequent insomnia symptom. 3) The presence of insomnia symptom more than once a week was significantly associated with suffering from physical illness, being divorced-separated-widowed, frequently feeling depressed, nocturia, or low education level. 4) In multiple logistic regression analysis, old age, being female, low education level, frequently feeling depressed, and nocturia were independently associated with the presence of insomnia symptom more than once a week. Conclusion : We conclude that, in a Korean rural adult population, insomnia symptom increases with age and females usually suffer more from insomnia symptom than males. In addition, low education level, feeling depressed mood frequently, and nocturia are found to be significantly associated independently with the presence of insomnia symptom more than once a week.

Sleep Habits and Insomnia-Associated Factors in Korea Adult Population: A Cross-sectional Survey of Three Rural Communities

To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to determine associated risk factors, a population-based seroepidemiologic study was carried out In 1993, a health examination survey of the population was carried out in rural area known to have a high incidence of liver cancer The study population were those who volunteered to participate in a health survey over 10 years of age Examinees were interviewed by specially trained staffs Sera from 1,033 study subjects were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by everse passive hemagglutinin (RPHA) estimation and for hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) by 2nd generation passive hemagglutinin (PHA) estimation The age and sex standardized prevalence of HBsAg was 63% which was similar to national average, but that of anti-HCV was 51% which was 4 to 5 times higher than that of blood donors or other health examinees in Korea In a multivariate analysis, transfusion history, surgical operative history, and acupuncture history were not associated with HBsAg positivity In contrast, acupuncture history (adjusted odds ratio[OR]=22 : 95% Confidence interval[CI] 10-47) and surgical operative history(adjusted OR=20 : 95% CI 10-41) were associated with anti-HCV positivity The present study suggest that there is an highly endemic area of HCV infection in Korea and probably this endemicity is associated with a parenteral source of HCV infection other than blood transfusion

Bu-Ok Lee

Papers

Female sex hormones and body mass in adolescent and postmenopausal Korean women.

Sleep Habits and Insomnia-Associated Factors in Korea Adult Population: A Cross-sectional Survey of Three Rural Communities

Seroepidemiologic Study of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection among Koreans in Rural Area, Korea