• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.302-312
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• 2015

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of constitutional diets in comparison with general low calorie diets in obese women. The subjects were 52 adult obese women that participated in a calorie restriction diet program (control group, n=16) or a constitutional diet program (experimental group, n=36) for 8 weeks. The subjects in the experimental group were classified as negative (Yin) or positive (Yang) constitution. The obesity management program focused on the calorie restriction diet (300~400 kcal reduction per day) for the control group, whereas, for a constitutional diet without calorie restrictions was allowed for the experimental group. Daily intakes of nutrient and food were assessed using a 24 hr recall method. Body measurements and blood biochemical parameters were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. After the intervention, weight, body fat, BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference decreased significantly in both the control and experimental group. Energy intake increased from 1,679.6 kcal to 1,810.6 kcal along with significant increase in protein, carbohydrate, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin and vitamin C in the experimental group. Calcium intake increased from 54.0% to 72.4% of DRI in the experimental group. Hemoglobin concentrations were significantly decreased in the control group, but were increased in the experimental group. In addition, blood glucose, serum total cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly decreased in the experimental group. In conclusion, consumption of a constitutional diet without calorie restrictions for 8 weeks was effective for weight reduction with improvement of blood glucose, serum cholesterol and triglyceride.