Influencing Factors for Cardiometabolic Risk in Korean Adolescents Based on 2010-2015 Data From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background High academic stress and physical inactivity in Korean adolescents increase cardiometabolic risk factors, such as obesity, making it crucial to identify the factors influencing their risk. Objective Our aims were to determine differences in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its 5 components in Korean adolescents according to gender and to identify the influencing factors for cardiometabolic risk (individual risk factor >= 1). Methods Data related to adolescents from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2015) were assessed. Bivariate analyses to compare distribution and logistic regression analyses to examine the influencing factors were performed. Results Cardiometabolic risk (>= 1 risk factor) was found in 33.2% and 32.6% of male and female adolescents, respectively, and metabolic syndrome (>= 3 risk factors) was found in 2.0% and 2.3%, respectively. Among male adolescents, cardiometabolic risk was 1.66 times higher for the group that did not perform strength exercises (P = .007). For female adolescents, the cardiometabolic risk was 2.44 times higher in 16- to 18-year-olds than in 12- to 15-year-olds (P < .001) and 1.50 times higher in the non-aerobic-exercise group (P = .030). Central obesity (waist-to-height ratio >= 0.47) increased cardiometabolic risk by 5.71 and 13.91 times in male and female adolescents, respectively (P < .001). Conclusion To reduce cardiometabolic risk profiles and future cardiovascular risk in Korean adolescents, school-based physical activity programs should be actively provided not only for students with central obesity but also for students who lack aerobic or strength exercises.