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.