• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2023

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing interest in anti-obesity strategies. According to the National Statistical Office, the obesity rate in Korea was 38.3% in 2020 and 37.1% in 2021. Obesity is a risk factor for several severe diseases, including stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Pinus rigida × Pinus taeda is a hybrid of Pinus rigida Mill and Pinus taeda Linn, and its cones are considered a by-product. Although previous studies have investigated their pharmacological effects on antioxidant activity and protection against oxidative DNA damage, few researchers have explored their potential as functional natural materials. Therefore, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of the cone of ethyl acetate fraction of P. rigida × P. taeda (ERT), specifically its ability to inhibit lipid accumulation. Our analysis showed that ERT contains phytochemicals (catechin and caffeic acid) which are known to improve immune function and inhibit cell damage. ERT inhibited lipid droplet accumulation at the cellular levels through Oil Red O staining. Furthermore, ERT suppressed the expression of adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ and CEBP/α) as well as downstream lipogenic target genes (FAS and SREBP-1) thereby inhibiting adipogenesis. ERT also down-regulated key adipogenic markers, including aP2α, while inducing the phosphorylation of AMPK. It has been reported that PPARγ and CEBP/α are expressed in the early stages of adipose differentiation, while SREBP-1 is expressed in the late stage. Therefore, our findings suggest that ERT activates AMPK signaling pathways, which inhibits adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ, C/EBPα, and SREBP1) and lipogenic genes (FAS and aP2α), thereby blocking lipid accumulation and preventing obesity and related disorders. ERT showed potential as a new resource for developing a functional material for anti-obesity agents.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was carried out with 31, 519(16,653 boys, 14,857 girls) of elementary school students to investigate the prevalence of obesity at a district in Gwangju City. It can be applied to develope an educational program of the obesity control as basic data in this local area Methods: The data collected from May, 2004 to July, 2004 were analyzed by SAS PC+ 8.0 program. Children were selected depending on criteria from obesity index (%) by using physical index (height, body weight), and then subjects were classified into one of three groups according to the degree of obesity: mild(20~29.9%), moderate(30~49.9%), and severe($?50%{\cdot}$) obesity. Results: It showed that male elementary school students were higher and heavier than female elementary school students(p< .001) in every grade except the 4th grade(height) and the 6th grade ( body weight). The obesity rates of male students(11.6%) showed higher(p< .001) than those of female students(8.8%). Specially the 4th grade elementary school boys were higher than any other groups in obesity(13.7%). As a whole, the prevalence of obestiy showed mild(5.9%), moderate(3.8%), and severe(0.6%). Male students showed higher rate of obesity than those of female students. The obesity of male students showed higher rate than that of female students except 2-3rd grade elementary school students(p< .001). The obesity of 4~6th grade elementary school students showed higher rate than those of 1~3rd grade students(p< .001). Conclusions: The obesity rates of male students are higher than that of female students, and the obesity rates of 4~6th grade students are higher than those of 1-3rd grade students in the elementary school. Additionally, these results suggest that the program may be needed to prevent obesity of children.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2007

Objective : Obesity has been considered to be associated with numerous physical, mental and psychological diseases. Depression, which is a major psychological factor affecting occurrence and treatment of obesity, can be a cause of obesity as well as can be triggered by obesity. This study aimed to find out the need of positive consideration to the existence of depressive mood in the management of obesity. Methods : A total of 101 subjects were enrolled among those who were 60 years old and over at one local clinic. Obese group (n=49) was defined as BMI${\geqq}$25 and normal weight group (n=52) as 20$5.2{\pm}2.5$) was significantly higher than that of the normal weight group ($3.8{\pm}1.7$)(p<0.05). In male subjects, there was no significant difference in the mean GDSSF-K score between both groups, but in female subjects, the mean GDSSF-K score of the obese group, $6.4{\pm}2.6$ was significantly higher than that of the normal weight group ($4.0{\pm}1.8$)(p<0.05). Conclusion : The elderly obese group showed higher depressive scale score than elderly normal weight group, especially in female elderly. Since the elderly obese female group had a depressive predisposition, comprehensive management including mental and psychological approach is required in obesity control programs.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.803-813
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anthropometric and blood biochemical characteristics, the dietary behaviors and health-related lifestyles of obese children in Incheon. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using anthropometric measurements, biochemical assessments and questionnaire analysis. The subjects included 7,055 obese children residing in the Incheon area (from 106 elementary schools). The degree of obesity was classified using the Obesity Index (OI) as light 20% ＜ OI ＜ 30% ; Medium 30% ＜ OI ＜ 50% ; Severe 50% ＞ OI. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 10.0 program. Most subjects fell within the medium range of obesity. Most subjects had dietary problems such as overeating, unbalanced meals and skipping breakfast. The ratio of boy subjects eating green and yellow vegetables was lowe. when compared to that of the girl subjects. The boy subjects exercised more frequently and longer than the girls. As the Obesity Index increased, hypercholesterolemia significantly increased. The blood cholesterol levels of the subjects were positively correlated with body fat, waist/hip ratio and BMI; HDL cholesterol levels of the subjects were negatively correlated with the anthropometric data and the LDL cholesterol levels of the subjects were positively correlated with body fat. The blood triglycerides levels of the subjects were positively correlated with body weight, body fat, waist/hip ratio and BMI. Therefore, proper nutritional education and intervention are required for an improvement of obese children＇s dietary behavior, heath-related factors and blood lipid profiles.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.224-231
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• 2012

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex multisystem genetic disorder characterized by hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. The main clinical features include neonatal hypotonia, distinctive facial features, overall developmental delay, and poor growth in infancy, followed by overeating with severe obesity, short stature, and hypogonadism later in development. This paper reviews recent updates regarding the genetic aspects of this disorder. Three mechanisms (paternal deletion, maternal disomy, and deficient imprinting) are recognized. Maternal disomy can arise because of 4 possible mechanisms: trisomy rescue (TR), gamete complementation (GC), monosomy rescue (MR), and postfertilization mitotic nondisjunction (Mit). Recently, TR/GC caused by nondisjunction at maternal meiosis 1 has been identified increasingly, as a result of advanced maternal childbearing age in Korea. We verified that the d3 allele increases the responsiveness of the growth hormone (GH) receptor to endogenous GH. This paper also provides an overview of endocrine dysfunctions in children with PWS, including GH deficiency, obesity, sexual development, hypothyroidism, and adrenal insufficiency, as well as the effects of GH treatment. GH treatment coupled with a strictly controlled diet during early childhood may help to reduce obesity, improve neurodevelopment, and increase muscle mass. A more active approach to correct these hormone deficiencies would benefit patients with PWS.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.332-338
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• 2011

This study was conducted to find associations of stress with obesity in female college students in Gwangju. 343 subjects were divided into two groups based on BMI(body mass index). BMI of normal group was $19.3{\pm}1.5$ while that of obese group was $26.4{\pm}3.6$. The measured stress level in obese subjects was higher and they were less capable of controlling obese oriented attitude compared to normal subject. Twenty four hour dietary recall revealed that nutrient intakes of obese subjects were higher in energy, lipid, P and cholesterol. However, they were more deficient in Ca, Fe and vitamin A, compared to those of normal ones. This study suggested severe stress might trigger undesirable dietary behavior leading to increase in food consumption which contribute to obesity. Effective nutrition education program targeting obese female students should be developed and implemented to relieve stress and practice desirable dietary behavior and eating pattern.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.561-568
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• 2002

Severe obesity can produce a marked impairment of respiratory function. The obesity hypoventilation or Pickwickian syndrome comprises of extreme obesity, alveolar hypoventilation, somnolence, plethora, pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. It is sometimes associated with obstructive sleep apnea but can be distinguished from obstructive sleep apnea by the presence of awake $CO_2$ retention. Alt hough uncommon, it is important to recognize this syndrome because due to its potential life threatening nature and because can be reversed by appropriate treatment. Here, we report 3 cases of obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2020

Objectives : The objectives of this study is to develop a mouse model similar to Taeeum-type by inducing Lung fibrosis with bleomycin, and to determine adequate concentration of bleomycin. Methods : The subjects were divided into six groups: normal, obesity induced group, and bleomycin administered 0.015U, 0.03U, 0.06U, and 0.09U(U/100g bw) concentrations respectively. Each concentration of bleomycin was dissolved in distilled water, and administered through Intra-Nazal-Trachea injection method. Food intake and body weight were measured at regular time weekly. At the end of the experiment, blood was gathered by cardiac puncture for biochemical examinations, organs were removed for histological examinations, and weigh and mRNA genes was analyzed. Result : Mice administered with bleomycin at 0.015U and 0.03U showed body and fat weight gain, and increased blood total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, glucose, and free fatty acid level. Fat related genes also showed higher level than the control group. Obesity was most strongly induced in the mice administered with 0.03U of bleomycin. On the other hand, when bleomycin was administered at concentrations above 0.06U, a model of obesity mouse was not created due to rapid emphysema inflammation and weakness. Conclusions : Mice were most vulnerable to obesity when bleomycin was administered at a concentration of 0.3 to cause liver damage. Bleomycin concentration over 0.06U did not cause obesity-induced mice, due to severe damage in liver.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2022

A small proportion of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop severe pneumonia. We reported the severe COVID-19 pneumonia in children aged <18 years with COVID-19 treated with remdesivir and dexamethasone from August 2021 to November 2021 by a retrospective review of their medical records. Eight children were included (5 males and 3 females). Their median age was 16 years (range: 9 to 17 years) and their median body mass index was 30.5 kg/m² (range: 22.8-38.5 kg/m²). All patients had fever and dyspnea with hypoxia. Chest radiographic findings were variable and included diffuse or multifocal consolidation, nodules, and ground-glass opacities in the lungs. After receiving intravenous remdesivir and dexamethasone, 7 of the 8 children experienced an improvement in their symptoms within 2 days. In our case series, obesity was present in 6 out of 8 children with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.176-184
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• 2024

Background: Results of studies investigating the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) have been conflicting. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective observational study, conducted between January 2020 and August 2021, evaluated the impact of obesity on outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 in a Korean national cohort. A total of 1,114 patients were enrolled from 22 tertiary referral hospitals or university-affiliated hospitals, of whom 1,099 were included in the analysis, excluding 15 with unavailable height and weight information. The effect(s) of BMI on patients with severe COVID-19 were analyzed. Results: According to the World Health Organization BMI classification, 59 patients were underweight, 541 were normal, 389 were overweight, and 110 were obese. The overall 28-day mortality rate was 15.3%, and there was no significant difference according to BMI. Univariate Cox analysis revealed that BMI was associated with 28-day mortality (hazard ratio, 0.96; p=0.045), but not in the multivariate analysis. Additionally, patients were divided into two groups based on BMI ≥25 kg/m² and underwent propensity score matching analysis, in which the two groups exhibited no significant difference in mortality at 28 days. The median (interquartile range) clinical frailty scale score at discharge was higher in nonobese patients (3 [3 to 5] vs. 4 [3 to 6], p<0.001). The proportion of frail patients at discharge was significantly higher in the nonobese group (28.1% vs. 46.8%, p<0.001). Conclusion: The obesity paradox was not evident in this cohort of patients with severe COVID-19. However, functional outcomes at discharge were better in the obese group.