Associations between several occupational characteristics and obesity are not fully elucidated in Korean working populations, especially in females. This study investigated associations between occupational characteristics and overweight/obesity among Korean women. Data on 2090 female workers (the mean age was 38.8 ± 0.2 years), extracted from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys in 2010–2015, were analyzed and showed that 6.8% of subjects were underweight, 50.8% had normal weight, 20.1% were overweight, and 22.2% were individuals with obesity. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine associations between occupational characteristics and overweight/obesity, after controlling for demographic, behavioral, and health-related characteristics. The reference group was normal weight. Working hours were strongly associated with overweight/obesity. The odds ratio (OR) of obesity in women who worked for ≥60 h per week was 2.68 (95% confidence interval: [CI] 2.13–3.36) compared with those who worked for <40 h. Night/shift workers were 1.21 times (95% confidence interval: [CI] 1.01–1.45) more likely to experience obesity than day or evening workers. In conclusion, obesity rates increase among female workers with longer working hours and those who work at night or in shifts. Occupational characteristics should be considered in the prevention of obesity among working women.

With the increase in the aging population worldwide, social interest in having a vibrant and valuable old age has been increasing with changes in the perspectives on old age. This study aimed to determine the relationship between active aging and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in middle-aged and older Korean using national data. The subjects were 14,117 adults aged ≥55 years. HRQOL was evaluated using the EuroQol–5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, and active aging was defined based on the health factors, participation factors, and security factors. The average EQ-5D score was 91.04 ± 0.143. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis sequentially inputting the health, participation, and security factors showed that health factors had the strongest influence on HRQOL (F = 216.656, p < 0.001). In the final model, which included all variables, activity limit (B = −10.477, p < 0.001) and subjective health status (B = −7.282, p < 0.001) were closely related to the HRQOL. In addition, economic activity, income level, home ownership, private health insurance, and unmet healthcare needs were associated with HRQOL. The R² of the model was 38.2%. To improve the HRQOL of middle-aged and older people, it is necessary to consider active aging factors. Furthermore, follow-up studies using various indicators reflecting active aging should be conducted.

This study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to alcohol’s harm to others (AHTO) and health-related quality of life HRQoL using a nationally representative sample. Data from 2016–2018 of 17,346 South Korean individuals aged ≥19 years were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. HRQoL was evaluated using the European Quality of Life–5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) index. A significant positive association was found between exposure to AHTO and lower EQ-5D scores (p = 0.022). In the final model of multiple regression analysis, participants’ HRQoL decreased by 0.932 points when exposed to AHTO (R² = 36.5%, p < 0.001). In addition, the exposure to AHTO group had significantly higher odds ratios (OR) for pain/discomfort (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.15–1.75) and anxiety/depression (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.68–2.80) compared to the non-AHTO group. Further studies are required for intervention when exposed to reduce the pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression in AHTO victims as well as to reduce the incidence of AHTO.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between sleep duration on weekdays and weekends and depression among Korean adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: South Korea, utilizing data from 2016 and 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Participants: A total of 7669 South Korean adults aged 19−64 years. Measures: Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Sleep duration was classified separately for weekdays and weekends and categorized into three groups: <7, 7–9, and ≥9 h. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed, adjusting for socioeconomic, lifestyle, and health-related variables. Results: Among the participants, 3.6% were identified as having depression. On weekdays, 40.5% of respondents reported an average sleep duration of less than 7 h per day, whereas only 20.3% did so on weekends. Compared to those who averaged 7 to less than 9 h of sleep per day, individuals with short sleep duration (<7 h) on weekdays had significantly higher odds of depression (OR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.16–2.35), as did those with short sleep on weekends (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.10–2.38). Notably, participants who consistently averaged less than 7 h of sleep per day across both weekdays and weekends demonstrated the highest odds of depression (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.13–2.75). Conclusions: Short sleep duration on both weekdays and weekends was found to be associated with depression. These findings suggest that sleep duration should be considered an important factor in the prevention of depression.