• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 2018

Purpose: The prevalence of obesity has significantly increased among children and adolescents worldwide and is becoming an important health care problem in parallel with the increased prevalence of obesity pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Betatrophin is a newly define hormone that is commonly secreted by liver and plays role in glucose tolerance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum betatrophin levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children. Methods: The study included 40 obese children with a body mass index (BMI) above 95th centile, and 35 non-obese subjects with a BMI 3-85th centile, whose age and gender were similar to those of the patient group. For the evaluation of metabolic parameters fasting serum glucose, insulin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lipid profile and serum betatrophin levels were measured. Total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios were calculated as "atherogenic indices." Results: Serum betatrophin levels of the obese subjects were similar to that of non-obese subjects (p=0.90). Betatrophin levels were not correlated with the metabolic parameters. Conclusion: In the present study, levels of betatrophin are not different between obese and insulin resistant children and non-obese subjects, and they are not correlated with atherogenic indices. To elucidate the exact role of betatrophin in obesity, further studies are required to identify the betatrophin receptor and/or other possible cofactors.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine serum antioxidant nutrients and the relationship between serum antioxidants and risks of chronic diseases in obese Korean children Methods: Normal weight Korean school children (0=170), mean age of 11.5$\pm$1.5, and obese (body fat mass > $28\%$) children (0=176), mean age of 11.0$\pm$1.8, were recruited Fat mass ($\%$) was determnined by Bioelectrical Impedance (BEI), and body mass index (BMI) was calculated Fasting blood was collected to measure serum antioxidant nutrients, vitamin A, vitamin E and zinc. Serum lipid profiles including total cholesterol (TC), high density cholesterol (HDL) and triglyceride (TG), and blood glucose, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPI) were also determined. Differences in serum blood measurements between obese and normal children were assessed by independent t test. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between variables. Results: Blood glucose, GPT, total cholesterol, and triglycerides concentrations were significantly higher among obese boys, compared to normal boys (p<005). Significantly lower concentrations of serum vitamin E, after adjustment for TG and TC, was shown in obese boys (0.26 mg/mg) and obese girls (0.31 mg/mg), compared to normal boys (0.36 mg/mg) and girls (0.38 mg/mg) (p<0.05). Fat mass ($\%$) was negatively con-elated with serum vitamin A and vitamin E. Conclusion: Obese Korean children showed insufficient serum vitamin E concentration and increased risk for diabetes, atherosclerosis, and liver disease. Since lower vitamin E concentration was negatively con-elated with atherogenic index, improved vitamin E status in children may decrease the risk of atherosclerosis later in life.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.264-276
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose and to test a predictive model that could explain and predict the health promotion behavior of obese school-age children in Korea. Methods: Participants for this study were 365 students from 13 elementary schools located in Jeonbuk Province, Korea. The data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 program and Amos 7.0 program. Results: The results verified the factors that influence health promotion behavior of the participants. Important direct factors were prior health-related behavior, perceived self-efficacy, and commitment to a plan of action and indirect factors were perceived barrier and activity-related effect. These factors explained 75.3% of variance in the participants' health promotion behavior. The proposed model was concise and extensive in predicting health promotion behavior of the participants. Conclusion: Findings may provide useful assistance in developing effective nursing interventions for maintaining and promoting health promotion behavior in obese school-age children.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.119-133
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating effects of obesity perception in the relationship between the mother's psychological control and the child's obesity stress. Questionnaires regarding the mother's psychological control, obesity perception and the child's obesity stress were administered to 1200 4th and 6th grade elementary school students in the province of Seoul, South Korea. Finally 1006 questionnaires were collected and statistically analyzed through Cronbach's, t-test, multiple linear regression analysis and stepwise regression. The main results of the study were as follows: 1) There were difference between the effects of the mother's psychological control, obesity perception, and child's obesity stress in terms of the sex, grade and obesity level of the child. 2) The mother's psychological control, obesity perception, and obesity level had an effect on the child's obesity stress. 3) As the result of searching for the mediating effects of obesity perception in the relationship between the mother's psychological control and the child's obesity stress.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.927-938
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• 2008

The principal objective of this study was to identify the dietary and physical activity patterns of obese preschoolers, and to determine the association between child obesity and mother's' dietary habits or thoughts regarding dieting/weight. This is a cross-sectional, community based study, and 305 preschoolers who attended kindergarten in Seoul and its surrounding area were selected. The measurements of dietary habits both in preschoolers and their mothers, physical activities of preschoolers, and daily servings of foods were based on parents' self report. Weight and height were used to calculate WLI (weight length index) in preschoolers and BMI (body mass index) in their mothers. The subjects were divided into two groups 245 normal weight preschoolers (including underweight 15.1% and normal weight 65.6%) and 59 obese subjects (overweight 14.4% and obese 4.9%). With regard to dietary habits in normal and obese preschoolers, we noted significant differences in 5 questions, such as mostly eating heavy meals, one serving size, eating speed, overeating, and obsession about eating. No differences in daily servings of major foods and snacks, except fruits and potatoes, were noted between normal and obese children. Among 13 questions regarding mothers' dietary habits, only 3 questions-"preferred to instant foods", "finish meals within 15 minutes", "use nutritional information for selecting foods" were significantly different between normal and obese subjects. The total scores of mothers' dietary habits was significantly and negatively correlated with number of mother's dieting experiences or mother's BMI, but was not correlated with preschooler's obesity.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.460-469
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• 2019

Purpose: The ${\beta}3-adrenergic$ receptor (ADRB3) is expressed in visceral adipose tissue and has been speculated to contribute to lipolysis, energy metabolism, and regulation of the metabolic rate. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of polymorphism of the ADRB3 gene with the sex of children with obesity and related pathologies. Methods: ADRB3 gene trp64arg genotyping was conducted in 441 children aged 6-18 years. Among these subjects, 264 were obese (103 boys; 161 girls) and 179 were of normal weight (81 boys; 98 girls). In the obese group, fasting lipids, glucose and insulin levels, and blood pressure were measured. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined according to the modified World Health Organization criteria adapted for children. Results: The frequency of trp64arg genotype was similar in obese and normal weight children. In obese children, serum lipid, glucose, and insulin levels; homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) scores; and MS were not different between arg allele carriers (trp64arg) and noncarriers (trp64trp). In 264 obese children, genetic analysis results revealed that the arg allele carriers were significantly higher in girls than in boys (p=0.001). In the normal weight group, no statistically significant difference was found between genotypes of boys and girls (p=0.771). Conclusion: Trp64arg polymorphism of the ADRB3 gene was not associated with obesity and MS in Turkish children and adolescents. Although no relationships were observed between the genotypes and lipids, glucose/insulin levels, or HOMA-IR, the presence of trp64arg variant was frequent in obese girls, which can lead to weight gain as well as difficulty in losing weight in women.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.344-349
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• 2012

Purpose: Short sleep duration is associated with obesity. Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-OHMS), the principal metabolite of melatonin, is closely related with sleep. We evaluated the difference in urinary 6-OHMS levels between obese girls and normal weight girls, and the relationship of urinary 6-OHMS with other hormones regulating body weight and metabolism. Methods: A total of 79 girls (6.3 to 12.4 years) were included in this study, of whom 34 were obese; 15, overweight; and 30, normal-weight. We examined their pubertal status and bone age. Fasting serum levels of total ghrelin, leptin, insulin, and first morning urinary 6-OHMS were measured. Homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated from the fasting insulin and glucose levels. Results: There was no significant difference in the creatinine adjusted 6-OHMS levels between the obese girls and the control group. Urinary 6-OHMS did not show any correlations with body mass index (BMI), BMI percentile, total ghrelin, leptin, and HOMA-IR. Negative correlations were found between urinary 6-OHMS levels and chronological and bone ages. Conclusion: Our results suggest that melatonin production is not reduced consistently in obese girls.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.11-26
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the recent tendency of clinical researches of obese children for finding better oriental medicine treatments. Methods : This study was focused on diagnoses, treatments, prognoses and cures of obese children based on 37 of other papers which are J Korean Oriental Med, J Korean Oriental Pediatrics, J Korean Acd Fam Med, J Korean society for the study of obesity, Korea Sport Research, J Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease, J Korean Society for Health Education and Promotion, Korean J Pediatric, and Korean J Oriental Physiology and Pathology. Results : The rate of obese children has been increased continuously. There are several reasons for increased rate : For example, inadequate eating habit, lack of exercise, and genetic factors such as inherited diseases, and the disorder of the endocrine system. The obesity in childhood or adolescent can cause not only the physical problems but also the mental problems. It is necessary for children to diet, change life style, exercise continuously, and being active in order to prevent child obesity and keep healthy. Obesity can be treated through therapy diet, exercise, behavior modification, drug therapy and operation. Conclusion : It is important to recognize the children obesity, and make better treatments for that in the way of oriental cure. Moreover, additional reports should be keeping up based on continuing clinical researches.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.189-203
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the current barriers of obesity management for children using Community Child Care Centers and their caregivers (parents and teachers working in the Centers). Further, this study explored the possibility of utilizing a mobile phone application for tailored obesity prevention and management programs to overcome the current difficulties associated with children's obesity management. Methods: The qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with 20 obese and overweight children or children who wanted to participate in this study using Community Child Care Centers, 12 teachers working at the Centers, and a focus group interview with five parents of children using the Centers. Data were analyzed with a thematic approach categorizing themes and sub-themes based on the transcripts. Results: The current barriers of obesity management of obese and overweight children using Community Child Care Centers were lack of self-directed motivation regarding obesity management (chronic obesity-induced lifestyles and reduced self-confidence due to stigma) and lack of support from households and Community Child Care Centers (latchkey child, inconsistency in dietary guidance between the Center and household, repetitive pressure to eat, and absence of regular nutrition education). Mobile phone applications may have potential to overcome the current barriers by providing handy and interesting obesity management based on visual media (real-time tracking of lifestyles using behavior records and social support using gamification), environmental support (supplementation of parental care and network-based education between the Community Child Care Center and household), and individualized intervention (encouragement of tailored and gradual changes in eating habits and tailored goal setting). It is predicted that the real-time mobile phone program will provide information for improving nutritional knowledge and behavioral skills as well as lead to sustainable children's coping strategies regarding obesity management. In addition, it is expected that environmental factors may be improved by network-based education between the Community Child Care Centers and households using the characteristics of mobile phones, which are free from space and time constraints. Conclusions: The tailored education program for children using Community Child Care Centers based on mobile phones may prevent and reduce childhood obesity by overcoming the current barriers of obesity management for children, providing environmental and individualized support to promote healthy lifestyles and quality of life in the future.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2012

Purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) polymorphism has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese adults, and known to be a mediator of insulin resistance. In this study, we evaluated the role of TNF-${\alpha}$ promoter polymorphisms and insulin resistance in the development of NAFLD in obese children. Methods: A total of 111 obese children (M:F=74:37; mean age, $11.1{\pm}2.0$ yrs) were included. The children were divided into 3 groups: controls (group I, n=61), children with simple steatosis (group II, n=17), and children with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (group III, n=33). Serum TNF-${\alpha}$ levels, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and TNF-${\alpha}$ -308 and -238 polymorphisms were evaluated. Results: There were no differences in TNF-${\alpha}$ polymorphism at the -308 or the -238 loci between group I and group II + III ($p$=0.134 and $p$=0.133). The medians of HOMA-IR were significantly different between group I and group II + III ($p$=0.001), with significant difference between group II and group III ($p$=0.007). No difference was observed in the HOMA-IR among the genotypes at the -308 locus ($p$=0.061) or the -238 locus ($p$=0.207) in obese children. Conclusion: TNF-${\alpha}$ promoter polymorphisms at the -308 and -238 loci were not significantly associated with the development of NAFLD in children; nevertheless, insulin resistance remains a likely essential factor in the pathogenesis of NAFLD in obese children, especially in the progression to NASH.