• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.381-389
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the relationships among serum ferritin, vitamin D, folate, iron, and vitamin B₁₂ as indicators of obesity. The results provide the basic data for the prevention and treatment of obese and severely obese people. Methods: This study selected 44 people from 18 years of age or older to 59 years. This study used the indicators of the body mass index (BMI) to analyze obesity as the obesity group (BMI of 25.0-29.9 kg/㎡) and as the severe obesity group (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/㎡). Of the 44 subjects, 23 and 21 subjects were in the obesity and severe obesity groups, respectively. Their height, weight, body fat, skeletal muscle mass measured using bioimpedance analysis, and measured serum nutrients and biochemical parameters. Results: The obesity group showed a significantly lower age, body weight, BMI and body composition, body fat mass, and body fat percentage, and the height was significantly lower in the severe obesity group. The results of the biochemical parameters of the subjects showed that the levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, and triglyceride were within the normal range, and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. The levels of folate, vitamin B₁₂, 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃, iron, and ferritin were almost normal, and there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. Conclusion: This study revealed an association with the serum nutrients and obesity, but there was no difference between the obesity group and severe obesity group. Observations of the nutrient levels in not only the blood in obesity and severe obesity but also in red blood cells and tissues will be necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2008

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the obesity rate in elementary school students in Daejeon and the relevant factors such as social-demographical factors, genetic factors, birth factors, diet factors and intelligence factors. Methods: For the research, 443 fourth grade students, 405 fifth grade students and 417 sixth grade students from six elementary schools in Daejeon Metropolitan City Participated in this study and classified into three groups: normal-weight group, mild obesity group, and moderate or severe obesity group. Results: The total obesity rate of the elementary school students in the school district of Daejeon Metropolitan City was 14.2%; the rate of mild obesity was 7.2%; the rate of moderate obesity was 5.5%; and the rate of severe obesity was 1.5%. The obesity rate of surveyed boys was 16.9%, and the obesity rate of girls was 11.1%. The significant factors for girls' obesity were fathers' EMI, mothers' EMI, living standards, constant demand of foods, preference for greasy foods, frequency of eating snacks, and daily walking hours. It was found that students' subjective mind and objective health index were related to obesity. In the case of obese students, they had more concern about their health and more stress from the dissatisfaction of their physical appearance than normal students. Conclusions: From the above evidences, it is apparent that the obesity of elementary school students has strong relations with eating habits rather than physical activities. It is to be hoped that obesity prevention programs such as effective meal guidance. parental guidance for watching TV, and intense physical activities will be included in the curriculums of health education for elementary school students.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.77-85
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• 2022

While the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is gradually turning into an endemic disease, concerns about post COVID-19 conditions (Long COVID) are emerging. Obesity is a major risk factor for severe complications of COVID-19, and COVID-19 has a wide range of effects on obesity and metabolic function. This paper aims to examine the interaction between COVID-19 and obesity, the effects and mechanisms of long COVID on obesity, and the role of Korean medicine on long COVID-related obesity. Obesity may worsen with cardiometabolic damage and psychosocial insecurity during COVID-19 and long COVID-induced neuroinflammation, systemic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and hypoxia also may aggravate obesity. Korean Medicine treatments, which have been widely used to treat obesity, have the potential to improve obesity in the era of long COVID by intervening in these mechanisms.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 2015

Objectives: Obesity is known to influence physical and mental health as well as the general quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of obesity related quality of life on selecting a goal for weight management in overweight and obese female patients. Methods: A total of 140 overweight or obese (Body mass index $23kg/m^2$) female outpatients aged ${\geq}20$ and ${\leq}60$ years from one clinic participated in this study. Patients' desired weight (goal weight, ideal weight, satisfactory weight, acceptable weight and disappointed weight) and obesity related quality of life measures were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to evaluate the effect of obesity related quality of life on goal weight reduction (%) and goal body mass index (BMI). Results: Mean BMI of overweight group, mild obesity group and severe obesity group were $62.0{\pm}4.8kg$, $68.5{\pm}5.5kg$ and $83.5{\pm}9.6kg$, respectively. Mean weight loss expectations of the three groups were $16.4{\pm}4.7%$, $19.5{\pm}5.3%$ and $30.2{\pm}6.8%$, respectively and goal weight was significantly different among the three groups. Severe obesity group had a lower total quality of life score including physical, work-related, daily living domains than overweight or mild obesity groups. In univariate and multivariate regression analysis, psychosocial domain of quality of life had an effect on goal weight reduction (%) and goal BMI. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that the obese patients with poorer quality of life and psychosocial health tended to choose higher goal weight reduction and lower goal BMI.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.205-208
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• 2016

The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential influence of obesity as a factor in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration in myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) dogs. Fifty-five client-owned dogs were enrolled in a randomized trial. Dogs were classified by echocardiography into healthy (control), mild, and moderate to severe MMVD groups. Each group was subclassified by using a 9-point body condition score (BCS); lean (BCS 5-6/9) and obese groups (BCS 7.5-9/9). Dogs with moderate to severe MMVD had lower serotonin (5-HT) concentrations than the control group (p = 0.03). Dogs with moderate to severe MMVD (p = 0.017) had lower serum 5-HT concentrations than the control group in the obese group (BCS 7.5-9/9). Significant difference was found between the lean and obese groups (p = 0.015) which are not consider severe in the MMVD group. These results suggested that 5-HT concentration was decreased with the increasing severity of MMVD, and obesity might be taken into consideration when interpreting the serotonin concentration in MMVD dogs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.10
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• pp.511-518
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• 2021

The prevalence of childhood obesity is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate. While obesity is known to increase a variety of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, it also acts as a risk factor for the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). During childhood and adolescence, severe obesity is associated with an increased prevalence and incidence of the early stages of kidney disease. Importantly, children born to obese mothers are also at increased risk of developing obesity and CKD later in life. The potential mechanisms underlying the association between obesity and CKD include hemodynamic factors, metabolic effects, and lipid nephrotoxicity. Weight reduction via increased physical activity, caloric restriction, treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and judicious bariatric surgery can be used to control obesity and obesity-related kidney disease. Preventive strategies to halt the obesity epidemic in the healthcare community are needed to reduce the widespread deleterious consequences of obesity including CKD development and progression.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.285-293
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• 2022

Background: This study was conducted to analyze the effects of low skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and obesity on aging-related osteoarthritis (OA) in the Korean population. Methods: A total of 16,601 participants who underwent a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and 3,976 subjects with knee X-rays according to the modified Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) system were enrolled. Knees of ≥KL grade 2 were classified as radiologic OA. The severity of joint space narrowing (JSN) was classified by X-rays as normal, mild-to-moderate, and severe JSN in radiologic OA. The subjects were grouped as normal SMI (SMI of ≥-1 standard deviation [SD] of the mean), low SMI class I (SMI of ≥-2 SDs and <-1 SD), and low SMI class II (SMI of <-2 SDs). Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥27.5 kg/m². Results: The modified KL grade and JSN severity were negatively correlated with the SMI and positively correlated with BMI and age. The SMI was negatively correlated with age. JSN severity was significantly associated with a low SMI class compared to a normal SMI, which was more prominent in low SMI class II than class I. Obesity was significantly associated with more severe JSN, only for obesity with a low SMI class. Furthermore, patients with a low SMI class, regardless of obesity, were prone to having more severe JSN. Conclusion: This study suggested that a low SMI class was associated with aging and that an age-related low SMI was more critically related to the severity of JSN in OA.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.268-276
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• 2018

Background: Although a variety of instruments implement body maps for the precise identification of pain symptoms, no instrument has been validated for use in people with obesity. This study reports the adaptation and validation of body maps for musculoskeletal pain location in people with obesity. Methods: Nine key anatomical regions were highlighted based on the original images of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire body maps. Adult silhouettes were generated from photographs of men and women with obesity. The body dimensions were adjusted to take into account the different body fat distribution patterns of people with obesity. The validity of the images was assessed by 12 experts. Subsequently, a data collection stage was performed with 58 patients with severe obesity from both sexes. The reproducibility of the images was tested by comparison with the original images. Results: The results of the validation pilot study indicated that the adapted images facilitated the location of musculoskeletal pain in men and women with obesity. The reproducibility of the original and adapted versions of the body maps indicated good agreement for pain over the last 12 months and 7 days (80% vs. 79.7%). Pain scores in the last 12 months indicated good and high sensitivity and specificity for all body areas (60.9% vs. 89.1%). Considering pain in the last 7 days, high sensitivity and specificity for all areas of the body (85.1% vs. 70.1%). Conclusions: The body maps developed in this study are reliable and valid to identify the location of pain in people with obesity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2021

This study is reporting the clinical effect of herbal medicine for Class III obesity. A 34-year-old man with body mass index (BMI) 44.1 kg/m² was diagnosed to Class III obesity. We prescribed herbal medicine (Gambi-hwan) for 60 days. Self controlled low calorie diet and slight aerobic exercise were concomitantly performed during the treatment period. Body weight decreased from 152.4 kg to 128.1 kg. BMI decreased from 44.1 kg/m² to 37.0 kg/m². Visceral fat area decreased from 276 cm² to 195 cm². Percent of excess weight loss was 58.40% after treatment. A Class III obesity patient showed significant weight loss with herbal medicine as single Korean medicine treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.622-634
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• 2013

The multi-origin of obesity and its associated diseases made it's a complex area of biomedical science research and severe health disorder. From the 1970s to onwards this health problem turned to an epidemic without having any report of declining yet and it created a red alert to the health sector. Meanwhile, many animal models have been developed to study the lethal effect of obesity. In consequence, many drugs, therapies and strategies have already been adopted based on the findings of those animal models. However, many complicated things based on molecular and generic mechanism has not been clarified to the date. Thus, it is important to develop a need based animal model for the better understanding and strategic planning to eliminate/avoid the obesity disorder. Therefore, the present review would unveil the pros and cons of presently established animal models for obesity research. In addition, it would indicate the required turning direction for further obesity and obesity based disease research.