Gender Difference in Health-Related Behaviors associated with Metabolic Status-Obesity Phenotypes among Korean Adults

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of health-related behaviors on metabolically healthy non-obese or obese groups and to analyze gender differences. Methods: This study was a secondary descriptive study. A total of 14,277 adults from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013~2015 were classified as: metabolically healthy non-obese; metabolically unhealthy non-obese; metabolically healthy obese; or metabolically unhealthy obese. Five health-related behaviors (amount of alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical activity, daily energy intake, and sleep duration) were included as independent variables. Results: The health-related behaviors associated with metabolic status in non-obese participants were drinking and smoking, whereas those of obese individuals were associated with physical activity. Subgroup analysis showed that more metabolically healthy non-obese men were light drinkers and former smokers than metabolically unhealthy non-obese men. Metabolically healthy non-obese women were more likely to engage in physical activity than metabolically unhealthy non-obese women. Among the obese men, light drinking and physical activity were associated with metabolic status. Conclusion: Evidence-based interventions promoting health-related behaviors are needed to support metabolic health, considering the metabolic status and obesity phenotypes of the participants and their gender.