Background: Obesity is often associated with social discrimination and stigma, underscoring the critical role of language in shaping public perceptions, influencing communication, and promoting treatment adherence. While extensive research in English-speaking context recommends person-first language, comparable studies in Korean language remain exceptionally rare. This study aimed to identify the Korean terminology that may help reduce weight-related stigma and bias. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving 321 adult women (aged 20-59, body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m²) and 171 physicians affiliated with the HiDoc medical platform. Participants rated nine obesity-related terms and 14 expressions referring to individuals with obesity using a 5-point Likert scale. Open-ended responses were analyzed to understand the reasoning behind term preferences. Results: "Above healthy weight" was the most preferred term for obesity, and "person with a high BMI" was the most preferred term for individuals with obesity in both groups. Conversely, "obesity disease" and "patient with obesity disease" were consistently the least preferred terms for obesity and individuals with obesity, respectively, in both cohorts. Notably, person-first language recommended in English contexts (e.g., "person with obesity" and "person diagnosed with obesity") received midrange preference scores. Although the overall term preferences were similar across the groups, distinct perceptual differences emerged in their specific rankings and in the reasoning behind the evaluations. Conclusion: This study identified distinct preference hierarchies for Korean terms referring to obesity and individuals with obesity. While both groups generally agreed on the most and least preferred terms, notable differences existed in their precise preference rankings and detailed rationales for guiding their evaluations.

Background: Obesity can lead to hepatic steatosis and inflammation, resulting in elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Although a previous study reported a high prevalence of elevated ALT in obese individuals, few studies have examined its relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors in Korean adolescents. This study investigated the association between elevated ALT levels and cardiometabolic risk in Korean adolescents. Methods: Data were analyzed from 1,660 adolescents (905 boys and 755 girls; aged 10-18 years) who participated in KNHANES VIII (2019-2021). Cardiometabolic risk factors-including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, fasting glucose, and lipid profile-were measured. Elevated ALT was defined as ≥24.1 U/L for boys and ≥17.7 U/L for girls. Overweight and obesity were defined as BMI ≥85th and ≥95th percentiles, respectively, according to the 2017 Korean National Growth Charts. Statistical analyses accounted for sampling weights and complex sample design. Results: Among participants, 164 (9.1%) were classified as overweight and 266 (16.6%) as obese. Systolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels were higher in both boys and girls with elevated ALT levels. After adjusting for age, residential area, household income, alcohol consumption and BMI, boys with elevated ALT had higher odd of diastolic blood pressure (OR 1.89; 95% CI, 1.11 to 3.23, P = 0.017) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.65; 95% CI, 1.00 to 2.73, P = 0.048). In girls, elevated ALT was associated with elevated systolic blood pressure (OR 2.94; 95% CI, 1.44 to 6.01, P = 0.003) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.92; 95% CI, 1.04 to 3.54, P = 0.037). Conclusion: Elevated ALT levels were associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides in boys, and with elevated systolic blood pressure and triglyceride in girls.

Background: This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of hormonal contraceptives on body weight using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that included non-hormonal control groups such as copper intrauterine devices (IUDs), condoms, placebo, or no contraception. Methods: We systematically searched electronic databases for RCTs involving premenopausal women that reported at least one primary outcome (body weight or body mass index [BMI]). Secondary outcomes included waist circumference, body composition, blood pressure, and glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles. Results: Seven RCTs involving 9,331 premenopausal women were included. Interventions included oral contraceptives, depot injections, subdermal implants, and hormonal IUDs, with follow-up durations ranging from 6 to 18 months. Hormonal contraceptives were associated with a small but statistically significant increase in weight (weighted mean difference [WMD], 0.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02 to 0.12). Greater weight gain was observed with non-oral methods (WMD, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.12) and at time points >12 months (WMD, 0.08 kg; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.14). The BMI also increased slightly (WMD: 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.14). In observations >12 months, a significant increase in BMI was noted (WMD, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.16), although no significant difference was found by route of administration. No significant changes were observed in waist circumference, body fat, blood pressure, glucose or insulin levels. A small reduction in total cholesterol was observed (WMD, -0.36; 95% CI, -0.70 to -0.02), while other lipid markers remained stable. Conclusion: Hormonal contraceptives may cause slight increases in body weight and BMI, particularly with long-term or non-oral use. These findings should be interpreted with cautiously due to limited data quality.

Obesity plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology, development, and progression of respiratory diseases. Adipose tissue accumulation contributes to upper airway narrowing, decreased lung volume, and systemic inflammation, which, in turn, affect respiratory mechanics and immune responses. This review examines the effects of obesity on pulmonary function and six major respiratory conditions: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, pneumonia, COVID-19, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Obesity is consistently associated with reduced pulmonary function parameters, such as forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), and this decline correlates with markers of general and central obesity, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and neck circumference (NC). In obstructive airway diseases like asthma and COPD, both obesity and underweight contribute to disease risk, with sex- and menopause-specific differences. While BMI is inversely associated with lung cancer risk, abdominal obesity shows a positive correlation. In infectious diseases such as pneumonia and COVID-19, obesity is linked to increased disease severity and poorer outcomes. Notably, obesity directly contributes to the onset and progression of OSA. Evidence strongly supports weight loss through lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy (e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists and tirzepatide), and bariatric surgery as a central therapeutic strategy in managing OSA. These findings suggest that obesity management is not only beneficial in OSA, but may also serve as a shared therapeutic approach for multiple respiratory diseases. Clinicians should consider obesity treatment a fundamental component of comprehensive respiratory care.

Obesity is widely recognized as a chronic disease characterized by excessive adipose tissue accumulation, which poses significant risks for metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Although the body mass index (BMI) has long been a standard diagnostic tool owing to its simplicity and utility in epidemiological studies, growing evidence highlights substantial limitations in its accuracy when assessing individual health status. BMI does not accurately reflect body composition, adipose tissue distribution, functional limitations, mental health conditions, or overall quality of life. To overcome these shortcomings, alternative and complementary metrics-such as waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)-have been proposed. Moreover, several comprehensive obesity assessment frameworks have emerged, including the Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS), the 2020 Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines, the 2024 European Association for the Study of Obesity diagnostic framework, and the 2025 Lancet Commission's clinical obesity diagnostic criteria. These systems emphasize multidimensional evaluation, integrating medical, functional, and psychosocial factors, enabling personalized treatment strategies based on a patient's actual health risks rather than simply focusing on weight reduction. This comprehensive approach has significant clinical implications, as it enhances patient-centered care, optimizes resource allocation in healthcare, reduces obesity-related stigma, and improves treatment adherence and outcomes. This review highlights the need to shift the obesity paradigm from weight-centered to health-centered assessments and underscores the clinical and policy implications of adopting a comprehensive obesity evaluation framework.

Pharmacological treatment for obesity has advanced significantly in recent years, particularly with the introduction of GLP-1 receptor agonists and other novel agents. However, an increasing number of patients fail to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss, highlighting the challenge of drug non-responsiveness. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the definition and evaluation of non-responders in obesity pharmacotherapy, explores the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, and discusses clinical and therapeutic strategies to address this challenge. Potential contributors to non-response include inadequate medication adherence, genetic variability, gut microbiota dysbiosis, disordered eating behavior, and mental health conditions. Early identification of non-responders and the application of individualized treatment approaches are essential. Strategies such as behavioral interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy, drug switching, combination therapy, and consideration of bariatric surgery may improve treatment outcomes. Future research should focus on the development of predictive biomarkers and the integration of precision medicine approaches to enhance the effectiveness of obesity care.