Obesity and Cardiopulmonary Function in Urban Adult Females

The purpose of this study is to collect fundamental data for adult female health improvement based on urban adult female obesity and cardiopulmonary function. Surveyed were 859 adult females who visited a health improvement center in D district in Seoul between April, 1999, and December, 1999, and the resulting data are as follows: 1. The adult female mean BMI was 23.97+/-3.11kg/m2, which comes within the range of overweight. Among them, BMI of the females aged 41-60, and over 60, were significantly higher. Mean percentage of body fat was 32.07+/-4.63, and it significantly increased in accordance with age, recording the highest among those aged over 60.2. The systolic blood pressure significantly increased in accordance with age, recording highest among those aged over 60. Those aged 41-60 and over 60 showed significantly higher diastolic blood pressure than those in their 20s and 30s; however, they had a significantly lower heart rate. Vital capacity and maximum oxygen intake significantly decreased in accordance with age, and those aged over 60 were lowest.3. As to health perception, 20.6% of the subjects perceived themselves as healthy, and those who perceived themselves as unhealthy showed significantly higher BMI than those who perceived themselves to be of moderate health.4. There were no significant differences in blood pressure, heart rate and maximum oxygen intake in accordance with health perception, but those who perceived themselves as healthy showed significantly higher vital capacity than those who didn't.5. As to cardiopulmonary function in accordance with obesity, the obese group showed significantly higher systolic blood pressure than those whose weight was normal to overweight. The diastolic blood pressure of the normal weight group was the lowest, while the obese group showed significantly lower vital capacity and maximum oxygen intake. These findings indicate that the womens' health promotion program must include an effective strategy for preventing obesity, and strengthening cardiopulmonary function.