The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 155, Issue 4 , Pages 529-534.e1, October 2009

Prevalence and Trends of Metabolic Syndrome Among Korean Adolescents: From the Korean NHANES Survey, 1998-2005

  • Mi Jung Park, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
    • ,
  • Bruce A. Boston, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
    • ,
  • Minkyoung Oh, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Trial Center, Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
    • ,
  • Sun Ha Jee, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Institute for Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Received 12 August 2008; received in revised form 10 March 2009; accepted 31 March 2009. published online 25 June 2009.

Objectives

To evaluate the prevalence and trend of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Korean adolescents.

Study design

Data from 1998, 2001, and 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed (N = 4164; age, 10 to 19 years) for MetS prevalence using the modified International Diabetes Federation criteria.

Results

The combined prevalence of MetS in Korean adolescents was 2.2% in 1998, 3.6% in 2001, and 1.8% in 2005. MetS in Korean boys increased from 1.4% in 1998 to 5.3% in 2001 but decreased to 2.0% in 2005. The prevalence of MetS in girls decreased over the study periods (3.0% in 1998, 1.9% in 2001, and 1.6% in 2005). MetS prevalence declined from 1998 to 2005 despite an increase in overweight or obese individuals among both sexes (1998: boys, 15.1%; girls, 17.8%; 2005: boys, 26.8%; girls, 21.7%). Among individual MetS components, hyperglycemia decreased dramatically in 2005 in both sexes and accounted for the majority of the decline in the prevalence of the MetS in Korean adolescents.

Conclusions

The prevalence of MetS has declined despite an increase in obesity in Korean youth. Recent changes in physical activity in addition to national health care initiatives in Korea may have had a positive impact on the prevalence of MetS.

BMI, Body mass index, MetS, Metabolic syndrome, IDF, International Diabetes Federation, KNHANES, Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NCEP, National Cholesterol Education Panel

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 Supported by a grant (10526) from the Korean Seoul City Research and Business Development Program.

 The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

PII: S0022-3476(09)00351-5

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.03.063

Refers to article:

  • Persistence of the Metabolic Syndrome Over 3 Annual Visits in Overweight Hispanic Children: Association with Progressive Risk for Type 2 Diabetes , 25 June 2009

    Emily E. Ventura, Christianne J. Lane, Marc J. Weigensberg, Claudia M. Toledo-Corral, Jaimie N. Davis, Michael I. Goran
    The Journal of Pediatrics October 2009 (Vol. 155, Issue 4, Pages 535-541.e1)

The Journal of Pediatrics
Volume 155, Issue 4 , Pages 529-534.e1, October 2009

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