Prevalence of Obesity in Adolescents with History of Pregnancy and Associated Factors in Korea

Background: the pregnancy was a risk factor for excessive weight gain for women. however, there is no information about the prevalence of obesity and its relationship with a history of pregnancy in girls. therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the prevalence of obesity in adolescent females with a history of pregnancy and factors associated with it, in korea. methods: in 2009, 69 of 34,247 female students revealed that they had experienced pregnancy in response to the 5th korea youth risk behavior web-based survey (kyrbws-v) project by the korea centers for disease control and prevention (kcdcp). the body mass index (bmi) and experienced pregnancy categories of the kyrbws-v were assessed, and, for data analysis, the independent t-test, chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression were used. results: the risk of pregnancy was increased by approximately 47% per unit increase in age, and 331% per unit increase in depression, respectively. conversely, the risk decreased by 19% per unit increase in bmi and 33% per unit increase(ranged from 1: very rich to 5: very poor) in the family economic state. conclusion: obesity in adolescent females is minimally affected by a history of pregnancy, if at all, despite the fact thatpregnancy was a risk factor for excessive weight gain in women. however, adolescent females with a history of pregnancy have higher levels of depression than do normal peers in korea.