• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.91-103
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• 2009

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 8-week compound exercise and a home-based walking exercise on body composition, perceived health status, and stress of nursing students. Methods: A non-equivalent control group design with pre-post test was employed. Participants, having BMI below 23 and Percent Body Fat above 26%, were assigned to three groups; 21 for the compound exercise(A), 26 for the walking exercise(B), and 23 for the control group. For data analysis, ANOVA in SPSS was used. Results: Body Fat Mass(kg), Visceral Fat Area(cm2), and Percent Body Fat(%) of both group A and B were significantly decreased. Lean Body Mass(kg) and Fitness Score of both group A and B were significantly increased in comparing with the control group. Especially the score of PBF(%) in group A was significantly decreased than the group B. The perceived physical health status in both group A and B was significantly increased. Conclusion: Both 8-week compound exercise and walking exercise were effective in enhancing BFM(kg), VFA($cm^2$), PBF(%), LBM(kg), Fitness Score and perceived physical health status. Especially the Compound exercise program was much more effective in decreasing PBF(%) than the walking exercise program.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.725-731
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• 2008

The principal objective of this study was to assess the effects of low-calorie diets(LCD) for 8 weeks of medical nutrition therapy in individuals with BMI in excess of $23\;kg/m^2$. 41 over-weight or obese individuals (male=14, female=27, age $28.6{\pm}8.9\;yrs$), none of whom were diagnosed with a medical disease, were administered MNT 4 times over the study period. Approximately $1,100{\sim}1,300\;kcal/day$ were prescribed by a dietitian, via individualized counseling. Anthropometric parameters, daily nutrient intake, and blood levels of leptin, insulin, and lipid profiles were measured prior to and after the 8 weeks of the intervention period. We noted significant reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), abdominal skin-fold thickness, and waist circumference in both men and women. The mean body weight losses in men and women were $3.2{\pm}0.6\;kg$/8 weeks and $2.8{\pm}0.6\;kg$/8 weeks, respectively. However, the % of lean body mass (LBM) in men and women was shown to increase significantly (p<0.05). The daily intake of calorie, fat, protein, vitamin E, folate, and iron were significantly reduced during the LCD period. Blood levels of lipids and glucose were in normal range, and evidenced no changes after LCD. However, the serum levels of leptin in female subjects were significantly reduced (p<0.00l) from $8.9{\pm}4.8\;ng/mL$ to $6.9{\pm}4.8\;ng/mL$. In conclusion, 8 weeks of LCD with individualized counseling by a dietitian effectively reduced body fat and visceral fat in both men and women with BMI in excess of $23\;kg/m^2$.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2019

Recent studies reported that obesity upregulated the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and regulated particular behavior patterns in animal models. They also reported that ameliorated the increase in nNOS expression and decreased depression and anxiolytic effects. Thus, exercise seems to be an effective strategy for improving brain function by downregulating nNOS. However, the immune response differs greatly, depending on the exercise intensity. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in brain nNOS expression in obese C57BL/6 mice that performed exercise of different intensities. Obesity was induced in 6-wks-old mice (n=35) by feeding a 60%-fat diet for 6-wks. A control (CON) group (n=14) was fed a normal diet. At the end of the induction 6-wks period of obesity, seven animals in the CON group and obesity-induced group were sacrificed to confirm obesity induction (preliminary experiments and confirmation of visceral fat accumulation). The remaining animals were then used in an 8-wks exercise intervention. Other than the CON (n=7), the obesity-induced animals were divided into the following groups: high-fat diet (HFD, n=7), HFD-low intensity (HFD-LI, n=7, 12 m/min for 75 min), HFD-moderate intensity (HFD-MI, n=7, 15 m/min for 60 min), and HFD-high intensity (HFD-HI, n=7, 18 m/min for 50 min). The exercise was performed on an animal treadmill. The expression of the nNOS protein in the hippocampus was significantly higher in the HFD group as compared with that in the CON group (p<0.01). However, there was no difference in the hippocampal expression of the nNOS protein in the other exercise groups as compared with that in the CON group. In contrast, nNOS expression in the HFD-HI group was significantly lower than that in the HFD-LI group (p<0.05). The expression of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt) was significantly higher in all the exercise groups as compared with that in the CON and HFD groups. There was no difference in the expression of pAkt in the cerebral cortex among groups, and the expression of pAkt in the cerebellum was significantly higher in the HFD-HI group as compared with that in the CON group (p<0.05). There were also no between-group differences in pAkt expression in the cerebellum among the various exercise groups. In conclusion, nNOS seems to be overexpressed in response to obesity, and it appears to be downregulated by exercise. Relatively high-intensity exercise may be effective in improving brain function by downregulating nNOS.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.655-661
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and associated mechanisms of arctiin, a lignan compound found in burdock, on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. Also, the effects of arctiin supplementation in obese mice fed a high-fat diet on adiposity were examined. MATERIALS/METHODS: 3T3-L1 cells were treated with arctiin (12.5 to $100{\mu}M$) during differentiation for 8 days. The accumulation of lipid droplets was determined by Oil Red O staining and intracellular triglyceride contents. The expressions of genes related to adipogenesis were measured by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. For in vivo study, C57BL/6J mice were first fed either a control diet (CON) or high-fat diet (HF) to induce obesity, and then fed CON, HF, or HF with 500 mg/kg BW arctiin (HF + AC) for four weeks. RESULTS: Arctiin treatment to 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes markedly decreased adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. The arctiin treatment significantly decreased the protein levels of the key adipogenic regulators $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$, and also significantly inhibited the expression of SREBP-1c, fatty acid synthase, fatty acid-binding protein and lipoprotein lipase. Also, arctiin greatly increased the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its downstream target phosphorylated-acetyl CoA carboxylase. Furthermore, administration of arctiin significantly decreased the body weight in obese mice fed with the high-fat diet. The epididymal, perirenal or total visceral adipose tissue weights of mice were all significantly lower in the HF + AC than in the HF. Arctiin administration also decreased the sizes of lipid droplets in the epididymal adipose tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Arctiin inhibited adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through the inhibition of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and the activation of AMPK signaling pathways. These findings suggest that arctiin has a potential benefit in preventing obesity.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was undertaken to verify the effect of Gangjihwan(Di-fatty, DF) composed with Pakistani Ephedra Herba on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) using high fat diet-fed male mice. Method : Eight-week old C57BL/6N mice were used for all experiments. Standard chow diet-fed mice were used as normal group and high fat diet-fed NAFLD mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: control, atorvastatin, DF(1), DF(2) and DF(3). After 8 weeks, mice were treated with water, atorvastatin(10mg/kg) and DF(40, 80, 160mg/kg) for 8 weeks. And we investigated body weight gain, plasma lipid and glucose metabolism, histological analysis for liver on the mice. Results : Compared with controls, DF-treated mice had very significantly lower body weight gain and lower visceral adipose tissue weight, the magnitudes of which were prominent in DF(3). Consistent with their effects on body weight gain, DF-treated mice had lower blood total cholesterol and triglyceride level compared with controls. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain and blood plasma lipid level, DF-treated mice had lower liver weight and hepatic lipid accumulation of DF-treated groups was significantly decreased than control group. Also Blood plasma AST, ALT and ${\gamma}$-GT concentration were not changed by DF, and these results may indicate DF do not show any toxic effects. Conclusions : These results suggest that DF effectively improves NAFLD. DF reduces liver weight and prevents lipid accumulation of hepatocyte by reducing body weight gain and modulating blood plasma lipid metabolism levels.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.412-422
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigates correlations between circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and obesity-related parameters among young women (aged 20-30 years old) in Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We analyzed TaqMan low density arrays (TLDAs) of circulating miRNAs in 9 lean (body mass index [BMI] < 25 kg/㎡) and 15 obese (BMI > 25 kg/㎡) women. We also performed gene ontology (GO) analyses of the biological functions of predicted miRNA target genes, and clustered the results using the database for annotation, visualization and integrated discovery. RESULTS: The TLDA cards contain 754 human miRNAs; of these, the levels of 8 circulating miRNAs significantly declined (> 2-fold) in obese subjects compared with those in lean subjects, including miR-1227, miR-144-5p, miR-192, miR-320, miR-320b, miR-484, miR-324-3p, and miR-378. Among them, miR-484 and miR-378 displayed the most significant inverse correlations with BMI (miR-484, r = -0.5484, P = 0.0056; miR-378, r = -0.5538, P = 0.0050) and visceral fat content (miR-484, r = -0.6141, P = 0.0014; miR-378, r = -0.6090, P = 0.0017). GO analysis indicated that genes targeted by miR-484 and miR-378 had major roles in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: Our result showed the differentially expressed circulating miRNAs in obese subjects compared to lean subjects. Although the mechanistic study to reveal the causal role of miRNAs remains, these miRNAs may be novel biomarkers for obesity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.184-190
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aims to report the clinical efficacy of Korean medical treatment of a patient with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease accompanied by obesity and dyslipidemia. Methods: A 52-year-old man with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and dyslipidemia was treated with Saenggangunbi-tang extract from November 3, 2021 to January 8, 2022. During the treatment period, the patient also undertook exercise and maintained a hypocaloric diet to reduce body weight. Changes were observed in the patient's symptoms, laboratory findings, such as liver enzymes and lipid profiles, and bioelectrical impedance analyzer results. Results: After taking Saenggangunbi-tang extract for approximately two months, with concomitant adjustments to exercise and diet, the serum levels of liver enzymes and triglyceride were decreased and the patient's body weight, body mass index, hepatic steatosis index, and visceral fat area were also reduced. In addition, symptoms including fatigue and dyspepsia improved. Conclusion: This study suggests that Saenggangunbi-tang extract with exercise and a regulated diet could be a helpful treatment strategy for managing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with metabolic disorders.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2017

In the current study, the relationships between abdominal adipose tissue depots and skinfold thickness, body circumference and composition, and blood lipids and pressure were investigated in adolescent obese man. Total abdominal adipose tissue (TAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were correlated with skinfold thickness. Especially subscapular skinfold was highly correlated with TAT and SAT, and it was found that chest skinfold was the only predictor for estimating visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Body circumference and body composition were associated with TAT and SAT, not VAT, and correlation coefficient of waist circumference was highest. On the other hand, body fat mass was highly correlated with TAT and SAT than %body fat and fat free mass. It was also shown that blood triglyceride concentration and systolic blood pressure were the only predictor for estimating VAT and SAT respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1100-1106
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of Hatha Yoga exercise on serum leptin and metabolic syndrome factors in obese and menopausal middle-aged women. The subjects were 26 obese women divided into the Hatha Yoga exercise group (n=13), which trained for 16 weeks, and the Control group (n=13). Variables of body composition, serum leptin and metabolic syndrome factors were measured in all the subjects before and after the 16-week Hatha Yoga training. The results of the study in the Hatha Yoga group were as follows: body weight, % fat, BMI, WC, WHR and VFA had significantly decreased, but SMM had increased. HDL-C had significantly increased, but leptin, TC, TG, LDL-C, insulin, glucose and HOMA-IR had decreased. The main variables affecting changes in VFA were % body fat, BMI, WHR, TC, LDL-C, glucose, and HOMA-IR. Therefore, regular and continuous Hatha Yoga exercise was effective in improving body composition, visceral fat and serum lipids. Consequently, Hatha Yoga exercise will be effective in preventing cardiovascular disease caused by obesity in obesew and menopausal middle-age women.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.74-87
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• 2017

Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival in locally advanced gastric cancer, but it is associated with significant toxicity. Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity have been studied in several types of cancers and have been reported to be associated with higher chemotherapy toxicity and morbi-mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of sarcopenia/sarcopenic obesity in patients with gastric cancer, as well as its association with chemotherapy toxicity and long-term outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed using an academic cancer center patient cohort diagnosed with locally advanced gastric cancer between January 2012 and December 2014 and treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We analyzed body composition (skeletal muscle and visceral fat index) in axial computed tomography images. Results: A total of 48 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was $68{\pm}10years$, and 33 patients (69%) were men. Dose-limiting toxicity was observed in 22 patients (46%), and treatment was terminated early owing to toxicity in 17 patients (35%). Median follow-up was 17 months. Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were found at diagnosis in 23% and 10% of patients, respectively. We observed an association between termination of chemotherapy and both sarcopenia (P=0.069) and sarcopenic obesity (P=0.004). On multivariate analysis, the odds of treatment termination were higher in patients with sarcopenia (odds ratio=4.23; P=0.050). Patients with sarcopenic obesity showed lower overall survival (median survival of 6 months [95% confidence interval {CI}=3.9-8.5] vs. 25 months [95% CI=20.2-38.2]; log-rank test P=0.000). Conclusions: Sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were associated with early termination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer; additionally, sarcopenic obesity was associated with poor survival.