Purpose
Middle-aged women often experience weight gain, particularly as visceral fat, due to hormonal changes associated with menopause. Visceral fat, which accumulates in the abdomen, poses significant risks to cardiometabolic health. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the cardiometabolic risks associated with Visceral Fat Obesity (VFO) and Subcutaneous Fat Obesity (SFO) in middle-aged Korean women and to identify factors that influence VFO.
Methods
Women aged 40 to 64 with overweight or obesity were recruited from March to April 2019. The study involved anthropometric measurements, fasting blood tests, and low-volume abdominal computed tomography. Additionally, participants provided self-reported sociodemographic, health-related, and lifestyle information, including Physical Activity (PA) and dietary intake.
Results
Of all participants, 70.8% were post-menopausal, and 55.1% had VFO. Those with VFO exhibited significantly higher mean values for waist circumference, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and the Framingham risk score compared to those with SFO. The factors influencing VFO were age (odds ratio (OR)=1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.032~1.247), body mass index (OR=1.47; 95% CI, 1.151 ~1.875), days of vigorous PA per week (OR=0.42; 95% CI, 0.244~0.735), and intake of animal calcium (OR=0.99; 95% CI, 0.988~0.997).
Conclusion
The findings indicate that middle-aged women with VFO face increased cardiometabolic risks. Since menopause is inevitable in women, targeting modifiable behaviors to reduce weight, particularly visceral fat, is crucial for lowering cardiometabolic risk.

PURPOSE
This study aimed to examine the effect of multidisciplinary lifestyle modification program in overweight or obese middle-aged women.
METHODS
This study was conducted from January 2 to June 5, 2018 at Jeonju city in South Korea. A non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design was used. A total of 46 women were assigned to the experiment group (n=22) or the control group (n=24). The multidisciplinary lifestyle modification program for this study consisted of physical activity, nutritional management, stress management, health counseling, lifestyle monitoring, and affective support based on King's goal attainment theory, which was implemented for eight weeks.
RESULTS
Significant group differences were found in health- promoting behavior (p<.001), depression (p<.001), anxiety (p=.018), stress (p=.001), weight loss (p=.002) and reproductive symptoms (p=.020) among over-weight and obese middle-aged women.
CONCLUSION
Multidisciplinary lifestyle modification program is effective in improving health-promoting behavior, depression, anxiety, stress, weight loss and reproductive symptoms. Therefore, healthcare providers should develop strategies to expand and provide multidisciplinary lifestyle modification program through interaction and transaction for overweight or obese middle-aged women.

Citations

• The effects of a lifestyle intervention for men in infertile couples in South Korea: a non-randomized controlled trial
  Yun Mi Kim, Ju-Hee Nho
  Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing.2025; 55(2): 191.     CrossRef
• Research Trends of Lifestyle Intervention for Women With Obesity: A Text Network Analysis
  Sook Kyoung Park, Ju-Hee Nho
  Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.2023; 13(1): 44.     CrossRef
• Factors affecting unmet healthcare needs of low-income overweight and obese women in Korea: analysis of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017
  Ju-Hee Nho, Sook Kyoung Park
  Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing.2021; 27(2): 93.     CrossRef
• The development of a lifestyle modification mobile application, “Health for You” for overweight and obese breast cancer survivors in Korea
  Su-Jin Seo, Ju-Hee Nho, Youngsam Park
  Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing.2021; 27(3): 243.     CrossRef
• Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention on Health-Promoting Behavior, Psychological Distress and Reproductive Health of Overweight and Obese Female College Students
  Ju-Hee Nho, Soo-Wan Chae
  Healthcare.2021; 9(3): 309.     CrossRef
• The Effects of Lifestyle Interventions on the Health-Promoting Behavior, Type D Personality, Cognitive Function and Body Composition of Low-Income Middle-Aged Korean Women
  Eun-Jin Kim, Ju-Hee Nho, Hye-Young Kim, Sook-Kyoung Park
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(11): 5637.     CrossRef
• Effects of Nurse-Led Intervention Programs Based on Goal Attainment Theory: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  Bom-Mi Park
  Healthcare.2021; 9(6): 699.     CrossRef
• Development and Evaluation of an Antiviral Agent Medication Adherence Education Program for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C
  Hoo Jeung Cho, Euna Park
  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(18): 6518.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
This study investigated Korean women in between age 30 to 60 who were obese or overweight in order to explore their self-perception based on lifetime phase.
METHODS
Focus group interviews were performed four times with six to eight participants in each group (a total of 27). Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
RESULTS
The data analysis from the interviews revealed recurring common themes: heavy heart, heavy body, resigned acceptance of their own condition, and compromise. The study also found that each age group had different concerns: concerning others' gaze on their obese appearances (30s), realizing their aging obese appearances (40s), recognizing red flags of their health with obesity (50s), and becoming ambivalent about their obese appearances (60s). Overall, their perceptions of being overweight were negative and stressful. Women in their 30s and 40s were more interested in their appearances, and thus were more obsessive about weight gain. In contrast, women in their 50s and 60s were more accepting of their physical appearances, and thus were more concerned about living healthy than losing weight.
CONCLUSION
These results may be useful to consider when developing tailored weight-control programs for obese and overweight Korean women. Additionally, strategic approaches for successful and effective programs targeting healthy weight should be based on better understanding about women's self-perceptions and motivations.

Citations

• Exploring Barriers to and Facilitators of Physical Activity among Korean American Women
  JiWon Choi, Juhyun Cho, Nah-Mee Shin, Janice Tsoh
  Western Journal of Nursing Research.2021; 43(9): 817.     CrossRef
• Factors Affecting Body Image Discordance Amongst Korean Adults Aged 19–39 Years
  Hye-Young Jang, Jung-Won Ahn, Mi-Kyeong Jeon
  Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2018; 9(4): 197.     CrossRef

PURPOSE
To examine the effects of power walking exercise on fatigue and overweight in college students with Taeumin constitution. METHODS: According to results of the constitution diagnosis (QSCC II), 58 students who were identified as Taeumin, whose BMI was over 23 were assigned to one of three groups. The power walking group walked fast at a speed of 7,000 steps per hour using a pedometer, and the walking group walked at a speed of 5,000 steps per hour. There was no treatment with control group. Each group's fatigue level, blood lipids and body composition before and after the experiment were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: Total fatigue and total cholesterol decreased significantly in the power walking group compared to the walking group and the control group. Weight decreased significantly in the power walking group compared to the control group, and percentage of body fat decreased significantly in both the power walking group and the walking group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: When power walking exercise was used with overweight Taeumin students, fatigue, blood lipid, weight and percentage of body fat decreased significantly.