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Background: The prevalence of obesity has been continuously increasing, especially in rural areas of South Korea. Therefore, it is important to examine various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors associated with obesity in these rural areas. The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity commenced a community-based prospective cohort study of the Gangwon area called the Gangwon Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (GOMS) study to investigate longitudinal changes in the status of obesity and its related factors. Methods: A total of 317 adults 40-69 years of age were recruited from Hongcheon and Inje districts, Gangwon province, as part of the first wave of this cohort study. Information on participants' demographic, behavioral, psychological, dietary, and environmental factors and past medical histories were collected by self-administered questionnaires and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements, blood tests, and a hand grip strength test were performed, and skin keratin and stool samples were collected. Among the 317 enrolled subjects, two participants who did not have anthropometric data were excluded from the data analyses, resulting in an inclusion of a total of 315 participants. Results: The mean age of the 315 participants in the GOMS initial baseline survey was 58.5 years old, 87 of them were men, and the mean body mass index was 24.7±3.7 kg/m2. Among all participants, 48.9% had hypertension, 21.4% had diabetes mellitus (DM), 55.6% had dyslipidemia, and 46.0% had metabolic syndrome (MS). Both the prevalence rates of DM and MS were significantly higher in men. Conclusion: The first baseline survey of the GOMS study was initiated, and a more detailed analysis of respondents' data is expected to be continued. Further follow-up and additional recruitment will allow the investigation of risk factors and the etiology of obesity and its comorbidities in rural areas of Gangwon province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many schizophrenic patients are obese. It is thought that schizophrenic patients become addicted to substances in order to self-regulate their depression or anxiety. With the progress in research on food addiction, it is necessary to examine the relationship between psychological factors, food intake, obesity, and food addiction for patients with schizophrenia; however, no studies have been conducted in Korea. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of food addiction among schizophrenic patients attending day hospitals and outpatient clinics at a single mental hospital. Furthermore, we evaluated the correlation of food addiction with depression and stress perceptions among patients with schizophrenia. Methods: The participants were schizophrenic patients who attended day hospitals and outpatient clinics. Their symptom severity was mild with a CGI-S score of 3 or less. We applied the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, Perceived Stress Scale, and Zung Self Depression Scale. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS program. Results: The rate of food addiction was 25.8%. A significant positive correlation was found between depression and food addiction. Moreover, the difference in food addiction between the moderately depressed group and the normal group was significant. Conclusion: Greater clinical attention to food addiction among schizophrenic patients may be required considering its high prevalence. And depression could play a major role in food addiction in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]