• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2017

Many obesity patients were affected by depressed liver function including hepatosteatosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of the obesity therapy with Korean herbal medicine (KHM) on obese patient with abnormal liver function. This is a retrospective observational study performed on obesity patients with abnormal liver function. All subjects have taken serum liver function tests (LFTs) before treatment. Ten patients showed abnormal LFTs. They were treated with KHM at least 15 days. During this treatment, LFTs were evaluated afterwards. Body weight and body mass index of the patients were decreased during treatments. Five of 10 subjects recovered normal levels of LFTs. While other subjects remained at abnormal level but their levels were decreased. This study shows that the obesity therapy including KHM could be effective to improve liver function on obese patient. Additional large scale studies are necessary for more evidences.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1199-1210
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• 2012

This study investigated the influence of obesity on depression and stress by analyzing the results of the national survey on health and nutrition. Relationships between normal, obese, and severely obese groups were investigated. The results of the study are as follows. First, obesity caused by demographic variables showed a relationship to both gender and average monthly income. In the case of the seriously obese group, females had higher rates of depression than males, and the high obesity group had lower average monthly income than the normal and obese groups. Second, obesity caused by health-related variables found that high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes that was not angina-related displayed higher rates of depression in the serious obesity group than in the other groups. As for subjective evaluations of one's own health condition, the serious obesity group showed a high tendency to evaluate their own health conditions negatively. Third, the difference between depression and stress related to obesity level showed no difference between the normal weight group and the obesity group; however, the seriously obese group demonstrated relatively higher occurrences of depression and higher stress scores. Fourth, the result for depression and stress level caused by demographic variables, health-related variables, and obesity demonstrated a direct relationship to gender, subjective level of satisfaction with one's personal finances, average monthly income, subjective perception of one's own health and severely obesity status. More specifically, it was found that the ratio of depression and stress score was higher when the subject was female, among those whose subjective evaluation of their own finances and health condition was negative, and those who suffered from severe obesity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.117-132
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• 2006

비만은 단순한 신체적 원인 뿐 아니라 심리적, 사회적, 문화적 문제가 복합되어 있다. 따라서, 의료적 측면에 있어서도 전인적 접근이 강조되어야 하나 서양의 치료는 주로 신체적인 문제에 집중한다. 한의학은 몸과 마음을 따로 보지 않는 전인적인 의학이며 비만과 같은 질환을 접근하는데 강점을 갖는다. 지금까지 비만환자를 위한 한의학의 전인적 접근, 즉 신체 뿐아니라 체계적으로 심리적인 접근을 하려는 노력은 많았으나 보고된 연구 성과가 드물었다. 양성치료는 동양철학과 한의학에 근거하여 비만환자를 위해 개발된 전인적 상담프로그램이다. 기존에 발표된 양성치료에 관한 두 논문에서는 이론적 배경과 임상적 효과에 대한 보고를 하였다면, 본 논문에서는 실제 환자의 사례를 통해 실제 치료의 전개와 역동을 서술하였다.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.119-136
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• 2019

Objectives: People often fail to maintain their weight even though they have succeeded in weight loss. The purpose of this study was to review previously published study results with regards to the predictive factors associated with weight loss maintenance after successful weight loss. Methods: The authors searched for the articles related to weight loss maintenance after successful weight loss, published up until June 2019 on PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, Research Information Sharing Service (RISS), and Koreanstudies Information Service System (KISS). A total of 76 articles were finally selected. From the study results, changeable and unchangeable predictors were extracted, and these predictors were examined according to detailed categories. Results: The changeable predictors of weight loss maintenance included behavioral factors, psychological factors and treatment process-related factors, whereas the unchangeable predictors included genetic and physiological factors, demographic factors, history of treatment on obesity-related factors. The main factors of weight loss maintenance were changeable predictors such as healthy eating habits, dietary intake control, binge eating control, regular exercise and physical activity, depression and stress control, social supports, self-regulation, self-weighing and initial weight loss and unchangeable predictors such as low initial weight and maximum lifetime weight. Conclusions: The results of our review results suggest that changeable and unchangeable predictors of weight loss maintenance should be carefully examined during treatments of obesity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.84-87
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• 2013

Wild ginseng pharmacopuncture was administered to 2 patients with pseudo-gynecomastia. Each patient received the treatment once a week, total 5 times. Outcome was measured by the comparison of photos which were taken before and after the treatment. One case showed significant difference in the breast shape and size after the treatment and the patient was satisfied with the result. However, the other case did not show noticeable change but subtle one, and satisfaction degree of the patient was also low. From the above cases, to figure out the effect of wild ginseng pharmacopuncture on pseudo-gynecomastia, further studies and reports on other affecting factors should be followed.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.167-176
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• 2014

Objectives : This study investigated the improvement effects of Gangjihwan (DF) and combination of Gangjihwan and Gamisochehwan (GSH) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a high fat diet-induced obese mouse model. Methods : Eight-week-old C57BL/6N mice were divided into five groups: a normal lean group given a standard diet, an obese control group given a high fat diet, and atorvastatin, DF, and DF+GSH groups given a high fat diet with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg), DF (40 mg/kg), and DF+GSH (80 mg/kg), respectively. After 8 weeks of treatment, body weight gain, blood lipid markers, ALT concentrations, liver weight and histology were examined. Results : 1. Body weight gain was significantly decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups compared with control. The extent of decreases was eminent in DF+GSH group. 2. Circulating concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups compared with control. The decreases were significant in DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups. 3. Liver weights were decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups compared with control. In particular, liver weight was significantly reduced only in DF+GSH group. 4. Hepatic lipid accumulation was significantly decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin groups compared with control, and the magnitude of which was more effective in DF+GSH group than in DF-only group. 5. Circulating ALT concentrations were decreased in DF, DF+GSH and atorvastatin compared with control, but ALS levels were significantly reduced only in DF+GSH group. Conclusions : In conclusion, these results suggest that DF decreases body weight gain, improves blood lipid metabolism, and reduces liver weight and hepatic lipid accumulation, contributing to the improvement of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, these effects were more effective in DF+GSH combination group than in DF-only group.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-122
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• 2014

Objectives : This study investigated the improvement effects of Pakistani (DF-a) and Chinese Ephedra herba-containing Gangjihwan (DF-b) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a high fat diet-induced obese mouse model. Methods : Eight-week-old C57BL/6N mice were divided into five groups: a normal lean group given a standard diet, an obese control group given a high fat diet, and atorvastatin, DF-a, and DF-b groups given a high fat diet with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg), DF-a (80 mg/kg), and DF-b (80 mg/kg), respectively. After 8 weeks of treatment, body weight gain, blood lipid markers, ALT concentrations, liver weight and histology were examined. Results : 1. Body weight gain was significantly decreased in DF-a, DF-b, and atorvastatin groups compared with control. The extent of decreases was eminent in DF-a group. 2. Circulating concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were significantly decreased in DF-a, DF-b, and atorvastatin groups compared with control. The decreases were most effective in atorvastatin group. 3. Liver weights were decreased in DF-a, DF-b, and atorvastatin groups compared with control. In particular, liver weight was significantly reduced in DF-b group. 4. Hepatic lipid accumulation was significantly decreased in DF-a, DF-b, and atorvastatin groups compared with control, and the magnitude of which was most effective in DF-b group. 5. Circulating ALT concentrations were decreased in DF-a, DF-b, and atorvastatin groups compared with control, but ALS levels were significantly reduced only in DF-b group. Conclusions : In conclusion, these results suggest that DF-a and DF-b decrease body weight gain, improve blood lipid metabolism, and reduce liver weight and hepatic lipid accumulation, contributing to the improvement of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, these effects were similar between Pakistani and Chinese Ephedra herba-containing Gangjihwan.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2005

Objectives : This study is to examine associations between diet and eating behavior with body mass index(BMI) in Korean office ladies. Methods: From OCT 2004 to OCT 2005, we collected obese office ladies who visited to the oriental obesity clinic and control group who were matched by age, occupation, working hours. Weight and height were self-reported. Subjects were divided to obese and non obese group by body mass index(BMI). Diet, eating behavior were determined from 21-item self-administered questionnaire. Independent paired t test was used for analyzing associations between diet, eating behavior and body mass index(BMI) Results: There were 141 participants in obese group and 50 participants in control group. Eating fast, skipping breakfast, night eating habit(p<.001), eating fatty food, drinking alcohol were highly positively associated with body mass index(BMI) values. There was no conclusive evidence that diet except fatty food were related to obesity. Conclusions: Eating behaviors are strongly related in obesity but associations between diet and obesity are not clear.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.61-75
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate correlation between obese degree, result of hair tissue mineral analysis and bony maturation. And we also wanted to compare the differences between early bony maturation group(EBM) and late bony maturation group(LBM). Methods : 146 subjects who visited growth clinic were measured by BMI, PBF(percent body fat), percent BMI, bone age esimation and HTMA(hair tissue mineral analysis). The patients were classified into two groups - EBM, LBM group - according to the gap of bone age and chronological age. It was analysed that the correlation of bony maturation and obese degree, nutritional elements, heavy metals, significant ratio of nutritional elements. Also, analysed the differences between groups. Results : 1. BMI, percent BMI had a correlation with bony maturation, PBF however didn't have a correlation with it. 2. Ca, Mg, Zn and P had a positive correlation with bony maturation, and also K, Cr and Mo had a negative correlation. 3. U, As and Cd had a negative correlation with bony maturation. 4. Ca/P, Na/K, Ca/K and Zn/Cu had a positive correlation with bony maturation, and also Na/Mg, Ca/Mg had a negative correlation. 5. Percent BMI, Ca, Mg, Mn and Ca/p were higher in EBM group. 6. K, Mo and Hg were lower in EBM group. Conclusion : According to this study it could be suggested that maintaining proper percent BMI and accumulation of nutritional elements, heavy metals to prevent early bony maturation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 2004

Background: The VLCD that supplies only 400-800kcal meal per day has a lot of problems and can severely harm the health. Certain herbs are known to the side-effects such as weakness, skin dehydration, and dizziness. If VLCD with meal-replacement containing these hearbs can effectively minimize the side-effects, it make weight management easier and reduce any possible danger the health. Objectives: This prospective, double-blinded study is intended to compare the severity of symptoms induced by VLCD and weight loss between the case group supplied with meal-replacement herbal extracts(n=29) and controlled group supplied with meal-replacement not containing herbal extracts(n=29). This was with 52 volunteers for 4 weeks. The measurements of this experiment were as follows: symptoms caused by patients' subjective judgments, the result of blood test illustratingerol level, total protein etc., and changes in overall weight, fat mass and lean body mass. Result: we concluded that there are no significant differences in weight change between case group and controlled group, and that the total protein at the end of trial was significantly higher in case group than in controlled group, and triglyceride level at the end of trial was lower in case group than in controlled group. As expected, the side-effects such as hair loss and dehydration in skin are also lessin case group than in controlled group.