• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2004

Objectives: The effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}2\;(PPAR{\gamma}2)$ Pro12Ala (P12A) polymorphism on body mass index (BMI) and type 2 diabetes are well documented; however, until now, only a few studies have evaluated the effects of this polymorphism on body fat distribution. This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of this polymorphism on computed tomography (CT)-measured body fat distribution and other obesity-related parameters in Korean female subjects. Methods & Results: The frequencies of $PPAR{\gamma}2$ genotypes were: PP type, 93.0%; PA type, 6.8%; and AA type, 0.2%. The frequency of the A allele was 0.035. Body weight (P .012), BMI (P .012), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (P .001) were significantly higher in subjects with PA/AA compared with subjects with PP. When body composition was analyzed by bioimpedance analysis, lean body mass and body water content were similar between the 2 groups. However, body fat mass (P .003) and body fat percent (P .025) were significantly higher in subjects with PA/AA compared with subjects with PP. Among overweight subjects with BMI of greater than 25, PA/AA was associated with significantly higher abdominal subcutaneous fat (P .000), abdominal visceral fat (P .031), and subcutaneous upper and lower thigh adipose tissue (P .010 and .013). However, among lean subjects with BMI of less than 25, no significant differences associated with $PPAR{\gamma}2$ genotype were found, suggesting that the fat-accumulating effects of the PA/AA genotype were evident only among overweight subjects, but not among lean subjects. When serum lipid profiles, glucose, and liver function indicators were compared among overweight subjects, no significant difference associated with $PPAR{\gamma}2$ genotype was found. Changes in body weight, BMI, WHR, and body fat mass were measured among overweight subjects who finished a 1-month weight lose program of a hypocaloric diet and exercise; no significant differences associated with $PPAR{\gamma}2$ genotype were found. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the $PPAR{\gamma}2$ PA/AA genotype is associated with increased subcutaneous and visceral fat areas in overweight Korean female subjects, but does not significantly affect serum biochemical parameters and outcomes of weight loss programs.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.83-87
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• 2002

Increasing body weight is closely associated with increasing risk for glucose intolerance and type II diabetes. Especially, abdominal distribution of weight and visceral obesity also seriously increase the morbidity and mortality. Dietary program including very-low-calorie diet(VLCD) is regarded as most effective in the control of obesity and diabetes, which mainly due to calorie restriction rather than weight loss itself. We are reporting a case of diabetes with obesity whose fast glucose was over 220 mg/dl and BMI was $25.1kg/m^2$(fat rate 32.8%, WHR 0.9). She was prescribed VLCD and oriental medical diet program. After 10 days of hospitalization, her glucose level dropped dramatically with 3kg loss of body weight She has further lost her weight until about 53kg, but the glucose level ceased to go down probably due to loosened calorie restriction.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.251-260
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• 2006

To study the correlation between body composition values and practice of the Standard Guideline for Korean Dietary Life, a nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted with 378 female college students living in four Korean cities in December 2005. Among the student subjects, 98 were analyzed for body fat mass, percent body fat, waist-hip ratio(WHR), body mass index(BMI) and obesity degree using Inbody 3.0(Biospace Co, Seoul, Korea). Percent body fat was at a high level of 54.1 %, WHR was at a high level of 58.2% and BMI was at a high level of 41.8%. However, both weight and body fat were below normal at 79.5% and 77.6%, respectively. Percent body fat, WHR, and BMI were slightly negatively correlated with vegetable consumption, but slightly positively correlated with beer intake. WHR > 0.8 was significantly negatively correlated with exercise. Standard Guideline for Korean Dietary Life was practiced to and above normal level by 64.6% of the female college students. However, female college students who are within the normal range of body composition value should notice that obesity will relate to abdominal or visceral fat on their body.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.197-201
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• 2009

This study evaluated the effect of biocellulose and the diet formulation on reducing body weight gain of obese rats induced by high-fat diet for 10 weeks. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to high-fat diet group (OB-CON), high-fat diet group containing 5% biocellulose (OB-BIO), and high-fat diet group containing 5% dietary formulation (OB-DF). After feeding each diet for additional 10 weeks, body weight gains of OB-BIO and OB-DF groups were lower by 3.3 and 4.8%, respectively as compared with that of OB-CON group. Although not significant, measured values of the perirenal and visceral fat pads of OB-BIO and OB-DF groups were lower than those of the OB-CON group. The weight of interscapular brown adipose tissue did not show significant difference in all groups. The size of adipocyte in rats was lower in both OB-BIO and OB-DF groups. Thus, biocelluose and the diet formulation showed the anti-obesity effect.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2015

Objectives: The herb of Agastache rugosa (AR) is a traditional herbal medicine used for colds, vomiting and furuncles. However, there are few reports to investigate the inhibitory effects of AR on obesity. In this study, the effects of AR on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and its mechanism of actions were investigated in experimental animals. Methods: The mice were fed HFD for 4 weeks to induce obesity. After randomly divided into normal fat diet, HFD and AR groups, 200 mg/kg of AR was administrated for 4 weeks with continuous HFD feeding while vehicle was orally treated to HFD group. Food intake and body weight were recorded weekly. Results: Increased body weight by HFD was improved by AR treatment. AR administration inhibited an increase of visceral fat weight as well as adipocyte hypertrophy. Hepatic steatosis was ameliorated in AR-treated mice. In addition, treatment of AR attenuated the expression of adipogenic transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma in the epididymal adipose tissue. Also the increased serum leptin level by HFD was maintained in AR group, leading to inhibition of food intake. Conclusions: AR treatment showed inhibitory effects on HFD-induced obesity by inhibition of PPAR-gamma and reduction of food intake. AR could be an alternative treatment for obesity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.823-830
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• 2005

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of bacteria-derived $\beta$-glucan fiber on serum lipids, adiposity and uncoupling protein (UCP) expression in rats. In order to induce obesity, Sprague-Dawley weanling male rats were allowed free access to AIN-76A diet until 4 weeks of age, and fed high-fat diet (beef tallow, $40\%$ of calories as fat) for 6 weeks until 10 weeks of age. Rats were then fed with $0\%$ thigh- fat control group), $1\%$, or $5\%$ bacterial ~-glucan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 6 weeks. For comparison, normal control group was fed with AIN-76 diet $11.7\%$ fat). Supplementation with bacterial $\beta$-glucan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat-induced white fat (i.e., visceral and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy, and development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and free fatty acid levels were greatly reduced, but, HDL-cholesterol concentrations were increased by bacterial $\beta$-glucan supplementation. Serum leptin level was lower in the $\beta$-glucan groups than in the high-fat group. The expression of UCPs (UCP1, UCP2, and UCP3) in brown adipose tissue (BAT) were significantly increased by $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan-containing diet. This study suggests that the anti-obesity effect of $5\%$ bacterial $\beta$-glucan is attributed to upregulation of UCPs and inefficient energy utilization.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.903-911
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• 2002

The effects of dietary levan, high-molecular-weight $\beta$-2,6-linked fructose polymer, on adiposity, serum leptin and UCP expression in rats fed high fat diet were studied. The adipose tissue hormone, leptin has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. Uncoupling protein (UCP), a mitochondrial protein that uncouples the respiratory chain from oxidative phosphorylation, generates heat instead of ATP, thereby increase energy expenditure. To determine whether the dietary levan may have the anti-obesity effect, 4 wk old Sprague Dawley male rats fed high fat diet for 6 wks to induce obesity, and subsequently fed one of three diets for further 6 wks: 1) high fat (40% of calories) diet without levan 2) with 3% (w/w) levan 3) with 5% levan. For the comparison, control group fed AIN-76A diet. Visceral and peritoneal fat masses were lower in high fat diet with levan groups compared to high fat diet group. The effect of levan was dose-dependent. Adipocyte size was significantly reduced in the levan diet groups compared to the no levan diet group. Serum cholesterol level was not affected by levan containing diet, while the serum HDL cholesterol level was higher in leven diet groups. In addition, serum triglyceride level was markedly reduced by levan containing diet, thus lower than that of control group. Serum leptin was reduced by levan containing diet and lower in 5% levan group compared to 3% levan group (p < 0.001), as a result, serum leptin and insulin levels of 5% levan group were reduced to level of control group. Futhermore, the serum leptin level reflected the adiposity. The expression of UCP 1, and UCP 2 in brown adipose tissue was up-regulated by levan containing diet. In conclusions, levan containing diet reduced adiposity and serum triglyceride but increased UCP expression in the obese rats fed high fat diet. (Korean J Nutrition 35(9) : 903~911, 2002)

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2011

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\alpha}$ ($PPAR{\alpha}$) is a nuclear transcription factor that plays a central role in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. To investigate whether swim training improves obesity and lipid metabolism through $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation in female sham-operated (Sham) and ovariectomized (OVX) mice, we measured body weight, visceral adipose tissue mass, serum free fatty acid at 6 weeks as well as the expression of hepatic $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes involved in fatty acid oxidation. Swim-trained mice had decreased body weight, visceral adipose tissue mass and serum free fatty acid levels compared to high fat diet fed control mice in both female Sham and OVX mice. These reductions were more prominent in OVX than in Sham mice. Swim training significantly increased hepatic mRNA levels of $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes responsible for mitochondrial fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation, such as carnitine palmitoyltransgerase-1 (CPT-1), very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD), and medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) in OVX mice. However, swim trained female Sham mice did not increase hepatic mRNA levels of $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes responsible for mitochondrial fatty acid ${\beta}$-oxidation compared to Sham control mice. These results indicate that swim training differentially regulates body weight and adipose tissue mass between OVX and Sham mice, at least in part due to differences in liver $PPAR{\alpha}$ activation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.143-152
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• 2022

We investigated the serum cholesterol and visceral fat lowering effects of Momordica charanatia (MC) and Withania somnifera (WS) extracts in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Combination of fermented MC and WS extracts (FMCWS) as well as that of non-fermented extracts (MCWS) were orally administered to HFD-induced obese mice along with the HFD supplementation for 8 weeks. During the experiment, body weight, food intake, and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. Body weight and the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly increased in the HFD-fed mice compared with the normal control (NC) group. However, supplementation of the extracts showed a tendency to reduce body weight gain and suppressed the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride with the increment of HDL-cholesterol levels. Abdominal fat weight was significantly increased in the HFD group, and the size of adipocytes within the epididymal adipose tissue was markedly expanded compared with the NC group. However, in the FMCWS and MCWS groups, the abdominal fat weight was significantly reduced and the sizes of the adipocytes were noticeably diminished compared with those of the HFD-fed mice. Moreover, the deposition of giant vesicular fat cells observed in the liver tissue of the HFD group was prominently reduced in these groups. These results indicate that the combination of extracts from MC and WS tends to have potent synergic effects in reducing body weight gain as well as significantly lowering the visceral fat and the serum lipid levels, and thus improving anti-obesity efficacy in HFD-induced obese mice.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.85-123
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• 2004

Back ground : Subcutaneous fat area is the main factor involved in replacement disease and arteriosclerosis. Simple weight control is the appropriate medical treatment. It's understood that weight reduction does not only reduce the fat concentrations in blood but also reduces blood pressure, improves glucose levels in diabetes patients and reduces incidents of heart disease. there are several methods for reducing fat in the abdominal region but their effectiveness is not folly understood. one method is electrical stimulation of the problem areas. Method : From May 1st 2002 to October 31st. The 15 subjects who received medical examination were aged between 25 and 53 and were of mixed gender. The subjects were divided into two groups one to received functional electrical stimulation and the other a control group. Using Broca's criterion for judging fat grades. I analysed the differences between the two groups before and after the treatment. Subjects received functional electrical stimulation on the abdominal muscle intensity 50Hz. They received this treatment 4 days a week for 40 minutes a day. In the case of aerobic exercise, at the Treadmill, we used it with the intensity of $75\%$ maximum heart rate (220-age). Result 1)After functional electrical stimulation in the case of male subjects, the weight was reduced 1.93kg, obesity $2.60\%$, fat mass 2.73kg, Percent body fat $4.40\%$, waist circumference 6.53cm, circumference of hips 5.53cm. On the other side, the quality of muscle was increased at the rate of 1.03kg, but it's not attentional level. The subcutaneous fat area was reduced by $26.63cm^2$, the visceral fat area was reduced by $43.00cm^2$, In the female subjects, we can see the reduction of fat grade by $26.63cm^2$, the quantity of body fat by 1.5kg, percent body fat by $1.77\%$, circumference of waist by 4.02cm, circumference of hips by 3.67cm, weight by 1.40kg but was increased 0.72kg at the quantity of muscles. We can see the reduction also in the subcutaneous fat area $24.03cm^2$, the visceral fat area by $25.36cm^2$. 2)After aerobic exercise, on the male subjects, we can see reduction of weight by 3.36kg, obesity by $4.00\%$, fat mass by 2.83kg and we can see increase at the soft lean mass by 2.96kg, but we can see reduction, the percent body fat by $3.03\%$, fat distribution by $0.023\%$, circumference of waist by 3.10cm, circumference of hips by 2.23cm. The female subjects show a reduction in the weight by 2.48kg, percent body fat by $2.20\%$, show an increase in the soft lean mass by 1.54kg. We can see a reduction in the quantity of fat mass by 2.32kg, the percent body fat by $2.80\%$, the circumference of waist by 2.16cm, the circumference of hips by 2.68cm, the fat distribution by $0.016\%$, the subcutaneous fat area by $15.25cm^2$ the visceral fat area by $11.52cm^2$. After aerobic exercise, we can't see the attentional change at the total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol. 3)After the application of functional electrical stimulation and aerobic exercise, in result of measurement on the body ingredient, we could see the weight reduction and increase the quantity of muscle with the male group who exercised aerobic. We can see the attentional rate on the electrical stimulation about abdominal fat rate, circumference of waist, circumference of hips. The other hand, I couldn't see the attentional differences between the two groups in the rate of fatness and quantity of body fat and the rate of body fat. There isn't any attentional difference in the area of fat under skin, on the contrary, There is attentional difference in the fat in the internal organs area at the electrical stimulation site. We can't see the attentional change of total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol between electrical stimulation and aerobic exercise. 4)After execution of functional electrical stimulation and aerobic exercise, in result of measurement on change of body ingredient among female objects, We could see weight reduction, increase at muscle quantity in the aerobic exercise group. We could see the attentional differences in the rate of fatness, the rate of abdominal region, the circumference which received electrical stimulation. But, we couldn't see the attentional differences between two groups in the quantity of body fatness, the circumference of hips. The subcutaneous fat area doesn't show the attentional differences. On the Contrary, we could see lots of differences in the visceral fat area of the electrical stimulation group. Conclusion The results show that functional electrical stimulation and aerobic exercise have insignificant differences when if comes to total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Though there is affirmative change in body ingredient after both electrical stimulation and aerobic exercise. Functional electrical stimulation is more effective on the subcutaneous fat area and in changing visceral fat area. There fore. It is concluded that the physical therapy is more effective in the treatment of abdominal fatness.