• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2024

Objectives: We used the Korea Health Panel Annual Data 2019 to analyze factors related to visits to both Korean medicine and Western medicine (WM) outpatient clinics among patients with overweight and obesity. Methods: The inclusion criteria for this study are as follows: 1) adults over 18 years of age, 2) overweight or obese with a body mass index of 25.0 or more, 3) visited WM outpatient clinics at least once during 2019. Total 2,963 individuals were included in WM group or integrative medicine (IM) group. Using the Andersen healthcare utilization model, factors related to healthcare utilization of the participants were classified. Binomial logistic regression analysis was used to analyze factors associated with IM use. Results: Among the participants, 80.49% (n=2,385) were assigned to WM group and 19.51% (n=578) to IM group. As a result of the regression analysis, factors significantly related to the use of IM included the elderly over 65 years of age, sex (men), college or higher education level, residential area (Gwangju/Jeolla/Jeju), presence of cancer, and presence of musculoskeletal disease. The main diagnosis associated with both WM and IM use was most frequently musculoskeletal conditions. Also, IM group received WM treatment for musculoskeletal conditions more frequently compared to WM group. Conclusions: This study is the first to analyze healthcare utilization patterns among overweight or obese patients in Korea. The current findings suggest that the presence of musculoskeletal conditions, especially in this population, may be strongly associated with concurrent use of IM services.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.3820-3825
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of acute exercise on antioxidative enzymes in noramal and obese men. The written informed consent was obtained from 16 participants of eight normally healthy persons and eight obesity ones. The baseline level of obesity was determined at 25 % of the body fat. Any subjects had no experiences in participating in exercise and did not take vitamin or mineral supplement. Blood was sampled at five minutes before exercise, at exhaustion, and after 30 minutes of recovery. All statistical analyses and description methods were computed by SPSS window 14.0. Analysis of Covariance(ANCOVA) was performed to know the differences in values between pre- and post- exercise in each group. We found that after exhaustion, the normal group showed higher erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity compared to the obesity group. At exhaustion, the normal group had lower HSP activity compared to the obesity group. Based on the results, an acute exercise of normally healthy people induced an up-regulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. This plays an important role in the protection of extra-cellular fluid components against peroxide-mediated damage.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.193-198
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• 2000

Objective : To evaluate the relationship between serum leptin concentration and obesity indices in a rural population. Methods : Two hundred and nine subjects were randomly sampled from 1036 residents who had participated in the survey. Their obesity indices were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometry. Serum leptin concentrations were measured by immunoradiometric assay. Results : Serum leptin concentrations were positively correlated with body mass index, percent of body fat, fat mass, waist circumference, and hip circumference. Serum leptin concentrations were higher in obese or overweighted subjects than normal or thin subjects(8.5[0.9-31.4] compared with $2.7[0.1-12.0]{\mu}g/L$, p<0.01). Serum leptin concentrations were higher in women than men, even after an adjustment to body mass index$(\beta=4.183,\;p<0.01)$. According to body composition, serum leptin concentrations were more related with waist circumference in men, hip circumference in women. Conclusions : Serum leptin concentrations are positively correlated with obesity indices. Serum leptin concentrations are higher in obese subjects, in women, and more related with peripheral obesity. These findings support the hypothesis that human obesity is associated with leptin-resistance rather than leptin-deficiency.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relevance of gender, age, and BMI (Body Mass Index) to changes in the urinary creatinine concentration in Korean adults. We recruited and surveyed 2,156 persons $\geq$20 years of age from 98 districts across the country, and collected urine samples for analyzing the creatinine concentration. Participants were 41.6% men and 58.4% women. In terms of age, the percentage of the population in their 20's and $\geq$60 years of age was relatively similar, with 13.6% and 17.8%, respectively, while the percentages in their 30's, 40's and 50's were also relatively similar, with 22.0%, 24.0%, and 22.6%, respectively. The proportion of participants in their 20's and 30's who were underweight (according to the BMI) was 25% and 19.2%, respectively, but only 6.2~6.4% of those $\geq$40 years of age were underweight. This showed that the underweight proportion in elder generations was less than that in younger generations. Meanwhile, the proportion who were overweight was 13.7%, 18.8%, 28.6%, 27.9%, 32.0% when the participants were in their 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's and $\geq$60 years of age, respectively (p<0.000). This showed that the overweight proportion increased along with increasing age. The overall urinary creatinine concentration was 10 mg/dl (arithmetic mean: AM), and 92.2 mg/dl (geometric mean: GM). The urinary creatinine concentration in men (132.6 mg/dl, AM) was significantly higher than that in women (93.3 mg/dl, AM (p<0.000)). Showing a similar trend in men and women, urinary creatinine concentrations were highest when the participants were in their 20's (135.6 mg/dl, AM), and tended to decrease with increasing age. Urinary creatinine concentrations in overweight and obese subjects (AM of 117.9 mg/dl and 118.0 mg/dl, respectively) were significantly higher than in other groups, and this trend was similar in men and women. In conclusion, we found that urinary concentrations were significantly affected by gender, age, and BMI, and that care should therefore be exercised when correcting urinary metabolites according to the urinary creatinine concentration.

• 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 $23\;kg/m^2$.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.604-612
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate the association of waist circumference (WC) with body composition among individuals with a normal body mass index (BMI) to distinguish muscle and fat mass, as both affect health differently. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We analyzed dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry data (derived from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, which includes information on fat and lean mass) of 7,493 adults with a normal BMI. Subjects were categorized into four groups of increasing WC. The fourth group was defined as being centrally obese. Each number of subjects are as follows: 1,870, 695, 231, and 39 among men and 3,054, 1,100, 406, and 98 among women. We conducted a sex-stratified linear regression analysis of body composition according to WC group after adjustments for covariates. RESULTS: We observed a positive association of body fat with increasing WC in both men and women (all P for trend: < 0.001). The adjusted mean values for percent body fat with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to the four WC groups in ascending order were 17.8 (17.5-18.3), 21.0 (20.6-21.5), 22.1 (21.5-22.8), and 25.1 (24.2-26.1) in men and 29.7 (29.4-30.0), 32.0 (31.6-32.3), 32.9 (32.4-33.4), and 34.7 (33.2-36.1) in women. However, there was an inverted J-shaped association between muscle mass and WC. The fourth group had a higher percent body fat and lower muscle mass than other groups. The adjusted mean values for appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (kg/m²) with 95% CIs according to the four WC groups in ascending order were 7.55 (7.51-7.59), 7.62 (7.56-7.68), 7.65 (7.56-7.74), and 7.22 (7.04-7.41) in men and 5.83 (5.80-5.85), 5.96 (5.92-6.00), 6.03 (5.96-6.10), and 5.88 (5.73-6.03). CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive association between body fat and WC among individuals with normal BMI; conversely there was an inverted J-shaped association between lean body mass and WC. Our findings support the WC measurement should be included in obesity evaluations for adults with a normal BMI.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1527-1534
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine the obesity, physical activities, and dietary pattern, and to compare the physical activities and dietary pattern according to the degree of obesity in Korea adults, with data from the 7th Korea National Health Nutrition Examination and Survey VII-1(2016). This study found that compared with the obesity rate of females at 26.3%, the rate of males was very high at 43.7%. In both males and females, the obesity rate increased in proportion to age. In physical activity, the amount of physical activities among females was higher in normal weight group than obese weight group. In dietary pattern, among males, dietary fiber intake was higher in obese weight group, and among females, intake rate of fat was low and intake rate of carbohydrate was high in obese weight group. Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to develop and provide an intervention program consisting of physical activity and dietary pattern considering the recently changed obesity characteristics for the management of obesity in Korean adults.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2019

This study examined the relationship between the serum GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) and uric acid level in obese male adults. A total of 14,283 adult males aged 20 years or more, who visited the health examination center of Gyeonggi Regional General Hospital from January 2017 to August 2018 and underwent a physical examination, were enrolled in this study. The obesity criteria were defined by the Asia-Pacific regional standards. Abdominal obesity was defined as a male waist circumference of more than 90 cm. An increase in the serum uric acid and serum CGT levels of the male subjects was defined as 7.0 mg/dL or more and 56 IU/L or more, respectively. The results showed that the serum GGT and uric acid levels were higher in the overweight and obese groups than in the normal weight group. In the obese group, the serum GGT and uric acid were significantly higher in the patients with abdominal obesity. On the other hand, there was no difference compared to the low body weight group. The overweight and obesity groups showed a higher risk of elevated serum GGT and hyperuricemia than the normal weight group, but a low body weight did not affect the serum GGT elevation and hyperuricemia. Overall, the serum GGT and uric acid levels are useful for evaluating overweight and obesity in adult males.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.924-932
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• 2003

In middle-aged men, abdominal obesity has been an important risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as a predictor of hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Particularly, risks from abdominal obesity increase when adipose tissue accumulates in visceral compartment. Many studies showed that weight reduction by caloric restriction improves abdominal obesity and reduces lots of cardiovascular risk factors. Testosterone treatment also results in a significant decrease in visceral fat area and normalizes endocrine metabolism. However there is no study that compare the effect of caloric restriction with that of testosterone treatment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of caloric restriction and that of testosterone treatment on body fat distribution, serum lipids and glucose metabolism in male patients with CAD. Forty five middle-aged overweight-obese men with CAD participated in 12 weeks' program. They were matched with age, body weight, body mass index (BMI) and divided into three groups : control group (n = 15) , caloric restriction group (-300 kcal/day, n = 15) and testosterone treatment group (testosterone undecanoate tablets, n = 15) . After 12 weeks, control group did not have any changes in anthropometries, lipid profile, body fat distribution, glucose metabolism and hormonal status. Expectedly, caloric restriction group showed decreases in body weight, BMI, waist to hip ratio, ％ body fat. Ten percentage of total cholesterol and 23% of triglyceride in serum were also decreased. In body fat distribution, total fat areas at both L1 and L4 levels were significantly reduced in this group without reduction in muscle of thigh and calf. However, testosterone treatment group did not have any significant changes in body weight, ％ body fat, serum lipid profile and abdominal fat distribution. In conclusion, weight reduction by caloric restriction is more beneficial in body fat distribution and serum lipid level than testosterone treatment in overweight male patients with CAD. This result suggests that modest weight reduction is possible to help decrease risk factors of CAD.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 2009

We have examined the hypothesis that the Gly972Arg variant of the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) gene is associated with the components contributing to overweight (obesity) and metabolic syndrome. We describe IRS1 genotype frequencies in 274 Korean men. The frequencies of Gly972Gly (GIG) and Gly972Arg (G/A variant) of the IRS1 gene were 88.3% and 11.7%, respectively, and the differences in frequencies between the overweight (BMI$\geq$25kg/m$^2$) group and non-overweight (BMI<25kg/m$^2$) group were statistically significant. The subjects with G/A variant of IRS1 gene in non-overweight had significantly higher level of visceral fat thickness and adiponectin/leptin ratio than those with GIG alleles. In overweight group, the subjects with G/A variant of IRS1 gene also showed significantly higher level of insulin than those with GIG alleles. These results suggest that the IRS1 genetic polymorphism is involved in the occurrence of overweight, as well as metabolic syndrome.