• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-143
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• 2010

Objectives : This study examined search on how the obesity indices, that are largely used in clinics such as waist circumference(WC), body mass index(BMI) and waist-hip ratio(WHR), are related to the visceral fat that was measured from abdominal computed tomography(CT) and the ratio of visceral fat/subcutaneous fat. Then, two groups ware compared in order to find out which characteristics of ordinary adults relationship with the abdominal obesity. Two groups are divided as follows; ones who are obese based on the measurement of WC and the others who are obese based on the level of BMI. Methods : A group of 63 test subjects that were gathered in the oriental medical hospital of Kyung-Won university is divided into two groups; ones (n=51, general obesity; group A) who have $BMI{\geq}25$ and $WC{\geq}85$, and the others (n=12, abdominal obesity; group B) who have BMI<25 and $WC{\geq}85$. Then, each group's obesity indices, abdominal CT, lipid level, glucose, adiponectin, leptin and C-reactive protein(CRP) are compared. In addition, subjects are again divided into two to examine the characteristics; ones (n=14, visceral obesity; group C) with visceral obesity based on the ratio between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat measured through abdominal CT, and the others (n=38, non-visceral obesity; group D) who are obese but not viscerally obese. Results & Conclusions : As a measurement that applies abdominal visceral fat and subcutaneous fat, BMI and WC can be considered as an appropriate obesity index while WHR cannot appropriately apply the abdominal fat amount. Moreover, the study indicates that abdominal obesity group based on the ratio of visceral fat/subcutaneous fat has more significant difference than the abdominal obesity group based on the WC in case of blood lipid index.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.279-288
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• 2011

Objectives : Our purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between abdominal adipose tissue and oriental obesity pattern identification. Methods : This study was performed in 78 healthy obese(BMI(body mass index)${\geq}25kg/m^2$) women in Seoul. Subjects underwent abdominal CT(computed tomography) scanning and were asked to complete the oriental obesity pattern identification questionnaire. Subjects were given written consent and this study was performed under permission of institutional review board of Kyung-hee East-west Neo medical center. Results : 1. VFA(visceral fat area) and VSR(visceral/subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio) were significantly correlated with stagnation of the liver qi(肝鬱, gan-yu)(p<0.05). But, other patterns were not significantly correlated with oriental obesity pattern identification(p>0.05). 2. We evaluated a difference of oriental obesity pattern identification score in visceral obesity group(n=34) versus non-visceral obesity group(n=44). Scores of all patterns except food accumulation(食積, shi-ji) were significantly higher in the visceral obesity group than in the non-visceral obesity group(p<0.05). Especially, there was a further significant difference in stagnation of the liver qi(肝鬱, gan-yu)(p<0.01). Conclusions : Generally, the stagnation of the liver qi(肝鬱, gan-yu) has a close relation with stress and depression. This study suggests that stress and depression might be correlated with visceral fat, and the use of oriental obesity pattern identification would be helpful for planning a treatment schedule of visceral obesity in the clinic.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2006

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine what is useful index of abdominal visceral fat area among Korean obese adolescents. Methods : 35 obese adolescents who had visited Kirin Oriental Hospital from August 2004 to May 2006 were included in the study. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Abdominal visceral fat areas at L4-5 level were measured by computed tomography. The subjects were divided into two groups, according to sex. In each group, we investigated the correlation among waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, waist/height ratio, obesity degree and abdominal visceral fat area and evaluated that which one of these kinds of indices is the most useful predictor for visceral fat area in Korean obese adolescents. Results : There were significant correlation between waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, waist/height ratio and obesity index in both group. In boys waist/hip ratio had correlation with abdominal visceral fat area and in girls obesity index had significant correlation with abdominal visceral fat area. Conclusions : Our study suggests that waist/hip ratio in boys, obesity degree in girls can be a relatively good parameter for predicting abdominal visceral fat area.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of oriental medical short term therapy on visceral fat obesity. In present study, we report 20-year-old visceral fat obesity woman who experienced oriental medical therapy program. Methods : The obese patient was treated from the 20th of June to the 3rd July. Herbal medicine, low calorie diet, electrolipolysis, auricular acupuncture, and aerobic exercise were done during the treatment period. Results : Her body weight decreased from 77.30kg to 71.15kg. The BMI decreased from $32.6kg/m^2$ to $29.5kg/m^2$. First of all, visceral fat tissue was effectively decreased after oriental obesity therapy evaluated by CT. Visceral fat tissue decreased from $123.44cm^2$ to $83.06cm^2$, subcutaneous fat tissue from $327.88cm^2$ to $323.09cm^2$. Short term oriental medical treatment could be effective in visceral fat obesity treatment. Conclusions : The patient with visceral fat obesity was improved using short term oriental medical treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.103-111
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• 2016

Objectives The waist circumference has been known as an obesity index reflecting the visceral fat. This study was conducted to investigate the obesity index of what can be predicted visceral fat obesity. Methods 121 test subjects who have $BMI{\geq}30$ or BMI 27~29.9 with having more than one high blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were gathered in the Gachon University Korean medical hospital. The relationship between obesity index, the abdominal fat area, and the metabolic syndrome component analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis. The obesity indices, that are largely used in clinics such as waist circumference (WC), HC (hip circumference), body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR). Total fat area (TFA), visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous area (SFA) and visceral fat/subcutaneous fat ratio (VSR) that was measured from CT. Results 1. Total fat area (TFA) was positively correlated WC, BMI, HC. 2. The subcutaneous fat area (SFA) was positively correlated HC, WC, BMI. 3. The visceral fat area (VFA) did not show a strong correlation with obesity indicators. Conclusions It was found indices of obesity and visceral fat area is a high correlation. BMI, WC was the obesity index showed a high correlation as the SFA, TFA.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.125-135
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• 2020

Purpose : Obesity indices are major predictive markers for coronary artery stenosis, but there are few studies about the relationship between obesity indices and coronary artery stenosis in the Korean population. Therefore, we analyzed the association between obesity indices and coronary artery stenosis among health-screen examinees. Methods : This study included 99 males and females who visited a health-examination center. The obesity indices included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), visceral adipose tissue/subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (V/S ratio). All subjects had their degree of coronary artery stenosis measured using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). A multiple logistic regression test was conducted to analyze the association between obesity indices and coronary artery stenosis. Results : This study was taken by multiple logistic regression test adjusted by age, sex, smoking status, frequency of alcohol drinking/week and frequency of exercise/week. The adjusted odds ratio for the presence of coronary artery stenosis for subjects with abdominal obesity (abdominal obesity defined as a waist circumference ≥ 90 cm in males; ≥ 85 cm in females) was 6.263 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.974-19.869), for subjects with visceral obesity by visceral adipose tissue (visceral obesity defined as a visceral adipose tissue ≥ 100) was 11.430 (95 % CI 3.044-42.928). Conclusion : In this study of adults, WC and VAT were independent predictors of coronary artery stenosis. These results suggest that WC and VAT may be useful markers of coronary artery stenosis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.89-99
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• 2008

Objectives Obesity is not only a matter of accumulation of adipose tissue but also a projection of self-cognition. This study examined the association between low self-esteem and visceral obesity; visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and visceral adipose tissue /subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR). Methods This cross-sectional study was performed in pre-menopausal obese(BMI $\geq\;25\;kg/m^2$) women in Seoul, from 2007 to 2008 (n=54). Simple anthropometry including BMI and waist circumference and Computed Tomography (CT) including VAT and VSR were done. To measure self-esteem, Rosenberg self-esteem scale (SES) questionnaire was administered. Subjects were given written consent and this study was performed under the permission of institutional review board of Kyung-Hee East-west Neo Medical Center. Results There was a significant relationship self esteem (SES score) with visceral obesity (VAT and VSR). 1. SES was correlated with VAT (r=-0.377, p<0.01) and VSR (r= -0.400, p<0.01) significantly by Pearson Correlation. 2. VAT and VSR could be predicted from SES by Simple linear regression. VAT = -1.701 ${\times}$ (SES score) +161.191 ($R^2$=0.142) VSR = -1.09${\times}$$10^{-2}$ ${\times}$ (SES score) +0.858 ($R^2$=0.160) Conclusions This study proves that low self-esteem might contribute to visceral obesity in Korean pre-menopausal obese women. Self-esteem and psychological factor should be considered in treatment of visceral obesity in adult-women.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was performed to assess the effect onf abdominal obesity treatment on changes in abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat. Methods : The study was conducted on 61 abdominally obese patients (13 men and 48 women). Measures of body weight, waist circumference, abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat area by CT scan, and V/S ratio (Viscero-subcutaneous fat ratio) were acquired before and after Kirindiet therapy. Paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to est the effects of teatment. Results : Following a mean of 68 days of treatment, waist circumference (-15%), abdominal total fat (-40%), subcutaneous fat (-37.9%), visceral fat (-47.8%) and V/S ratio (-11.1%) were significantly reduced (p<0.05). The change in V/S ratio in female patients was not statistically significant (p=0.491) whereas the change in the V/S ratio in male patients was significant indicating a greater loss of visceral fat (p=0.017). Please check that my changes reflect what the study found Conclusions : The reduction in visceral fat was greater than for subcutaneous fat in male patients but not for female patients.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the relationship with abdominal visceral fat area in obese patients identified as phlegm type. Methods : This research were performed in 201 cases, visited Kirin Oriental Hospital from March 2005 to February 2006 for weight loss. We measured body mass index(BMI), abdominal CT, and classified all patients into two groups, normal and obesity group. And then we differentiated patients with phlegm-retention symptom from patients without it through questionnaire made by Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine. Results and Conclusions : Phlegm type was significantly higher than them of no symptom of phlegm in the abdominal visceral areas(P=0.036) and ratio(P=0.007), in obesity group$(BMI{\geq}25)$. On the other hand, there is little difference between abdominal visceral fat areas of phlegm type and no symptom of phlegm in normal group. According to the above results, if obese patients are diagnosed as identification of phlegm type there is good chance of abdominal visceral obesity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.155-167
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• 2009

Objectives : Psychological comorbidities are high in patients with obesity and are associated with a variety of medical and dietary problems. This study aims to examine the association between psychological factors and obesity. Methods : This study was performed in pre-menopausal obese($BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$, waist circumference ${\geq}85cm$) women in Seoul, in 2008 (n=35). Every patient underwent the obesity treatment program. The program included dietary and exercise education, and abdominal mesotherapy for 6 weeks. Simple anthropometry including weight, BMI and Computed Tomography (CT) including Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and Visceral adipose tissue/Subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR) were done. To assess psychological factors, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (SES) questionnaire, Beck depression inventory (BDI) questionnaire and stress response inventory(SRI) questionnaire were administered. Results : 1. All of the obesity indicators (except VSR) decreased significantly after the obesity treatment program. 2. There was a significant relationship between self esteem (SES score) and visceral obesity (VAT and VSR) measured at the end of the program. 3. During the intervention, the more weight, BMI, and subcutaneous adipose tissue decreased, the more self-esteem (SES) increased. There was no relationship between depression (BDI) and obesity. And the change in stress response (SRI) was associated with the change of deep subcutaneous adipose tissue and total abdominal adipose tissue. Conclusions : This study proves that visceral obesity may contribute to low self-esteem, and there is a possibility that the other psychological factors could also be related with obesity in Korean obese women. Individualised antiobesity therapy may be required depending on the patient's psychological characteristics and weight loss could be helpful in order to treat psychological problem in obese patients.