• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.180-192
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• 2010

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and usefulness of the waist circumference-to-height ratio (WHTR) in screening for obesity in Korean children and adolescents. Methods: Data, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and height, were obtained from the national growth surveys for children and adolescents in 2005. The WHTR was calculated dividing WC by height in subjects 2~18 years of age. Overweight and obese were defined by BMI percentiles for age and gender. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to find out the optimal cutoff values of WHTR that matched BMI-determined overweight and obesity using the STATA program. The area under the curve (AUC), a measure of diagnostic power, of WHTR was compared to WC. The influence of age on WHTR was analyzed by the SAS program. Results: The WHTR significantly decreased with age, and had less correlation with age in the 6~18-year-old age group than the 2~5-year-old age group. Furthermore, the WHTR also had less correlation with age than WC in the 6~18-year-old age group. The AUC of WHTR in identifying overweight and obesity was significantly higher than the AUC of WC in the 6~18-year-old age group. The optimal cutoff values were 0.51 in boys and 0.49 in girls for obesity, and 0.48 in boys and 0.47 in girls for overweight, with all having the AUC>0.9. The optimal cutoff values of WHTR had a higher sensitivity for diagnosing obesity than WC${\geq}$90th percentiles. Conclusion: The WHTR is an easy, accurate, and less age-dependent index with high applicability in screening for obesity in children and adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second ($FEV_1$), $FEV_1$/FVC according to obesity in young adult women. Method: Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and percent body fat (PBF) were obtained by using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC) and spirometric values (FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC) were obtained for 135 women college students who were healthy and non smokers. Results: Mean BMI and PBF were $21.8kg/m^2$ and 30.5%. Obesity prevalence according to BMI and PBF were respectively 13.3%, and 50.9%. Lean body mass (LBM) was positively correlated with FVC, $FEV_1$, and PBF was negatively correlated with FVC, $FEV_1$ and $FEV_1$/FVC. FVC and $FEV_1$ of the underweight or obese group were lower than those of normal weight group. Conclusion: PBF, but not BMI, is negatively associated with pulmonary function in women college students.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.197-213
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• 2010

Objectives : The clinical trial was designed to investigate the safety and effects of Taeeumjowui-tang(Taiyintiaowei-tang) extracts on the change of the weight, body compositions, serum in obese patients. Methods : This was a 12-weeks, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients with a body mass index of either greater than $30kg/m^2$ or between 27 and $30kg/m^2$ with controlled hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia were considered eligible. Participants of 41 obese patients were randomized either to Taeeumjowui-tang(Taiyintiaowei-tang)(23) or placebo(18). After 12 weeks of treatment, we measured anthropometric factors(weight, height, waist circumference, BMI(body mass index) etc.), abdominal fat area by CT(computed tomography)scanning, serum lipid(total cholesterol, tryglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol), blood lever of variety(AST, ALT, BUN, creatinine etc.). Adverse events also evaluated. Results : After 12 weeks of treatment mean weight, waist-circumference, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and score of KEAT-26 were significant changed in Taeeumjowui-tang(Taiyintiaowei-tang). There were no serious adverse events in either groups. Conclusions : There were limited in this study that is conducted within a short period of 12 weeks. but its weight and WC(waist circumference), WHR(waist hip ratio), total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and score of KEAT-26 loss effect was significant and it had few adverse events.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.495-504
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• 2000

Objective : To assess the relationship and prevalence rate among hypertension, dyslipidemia and the four commenest anthropometric measurements for obesity(body mass index(BMI), waist-hip ratio(WHR), waist circumference(WC) and body fat) in Korean adults. Methods : We studied the cross-sectional association of the anthropometric indicies and hypertension, dyslipidemia in 70 Korean adults. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ${\ge}160/95$mmHg and classification of JNC IV, Dyslipidemia were defined as total cholesterol ${\ge}200$ mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol ${le}35$ mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol ${\ge}160$ mg/dl, triglyceride ${\ge}200$ mg/dl. Infromations on life-style factors were obtained from personal interview. Results : BMI and WHR, BMI and WC, BMI and Fat(%), WHR and WC, WC and Fat(%) had high partial correlation coefficients after age adjustment. BMI and Systolic Blood Pressure had r=0.385 coefficients, WHR and HDL-cholesterol had r=-0.360 coefficients. All four anthropomtric indicies and hypertenstion groups by JNC IV classsification had signifiant differences in women, but only fat(%) and hypertension had significant difference in men. In women, in the relationship of four anthropomtric indicies and serum lipids, total cholesterol ${\ge}200$ mg/dl group with fat(%) had a signifiant difference for normal cholesterol group, and also the group of HDL-cholesterol ${\le}$ mg/dl with WC had significance. But in men, there were no significant differences in all anthropomtric indicies and serum lipids groups. Conclusions : Korean women are more significant than Korean men in the relationship between anthropometric indicies and serum lipids, or blood pressure. But this study's samples are small, so the results are some different with results of other studies. We should study more specifically about anthropometric indicies and serum lipids, anthropometric indicies and blood pressure with many samples.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.7
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• pp.631-638
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• 2009

This study was performed to examine the health risks according to the obesity types based upon body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) cutoffs. The subjects were 8,966 adults aged 40-79 years from the 1998, 2001 and 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The subjects were classified into 4 types of obesity groups based on BMI and WC: BMIWC (BMI${\geq}$ 25 kg/$m^2$ and WC${\geq}$ 90 cm for males and ${\geq}$ 85 cm for females), WC (BMI < 25 kg/$m^2$ and ${\geq}$ 90 cm for males and ${\geq}$ 85 cm for females), BMI (BMI ${\geq}$ 25 kg/$m^2$ and < 90 cm for males and < 85 cm for females), normal (BMI < 25 kg/$m^2$ and < 90 cm for males and < 85 cm for females) groups. More than half (n = 5,103) of the subjects fell into the normal group and BMIWC group accounts for 58%, followed by BMI group of 27% and WC group of 16%. Mean ages of subjects were highest in WC group and lowest in BMI group. Blood levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and glucose, and blood pressures were higher and HDL-cholesterol was lower in 3 types of obesity groups (BMIWC, WC, BMI) than in the normal group. Among the 3 obesity groups, energy and fat intake was significantly higher in BMIWC than in normal group in males, however, no differences were found among the 4 groups in females. The three obesity groups had greater odds ratios for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hyper-LDL-cholesterolemia, hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and metabolic syndrome compared to the normal group. Among 3 obesity groups, BMIWC group had the highest odds ratios for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Especially BMIWC and WC groups showed the highest odds ratios for diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome, suggesting the potential role of abdominal obesity in diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Our data indicate that different types of obesity may show different degrees of health risks. The appropriate selection and use of obesity indexes may be effective for management of obesity as well as obesityrelated diseases.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.115-125
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• 2007

Objectives : The limited number of studies to date have mainly focused on the effect of obesity on the characteristics of plantar foot pressures. This study is designed to find the correlation between plantar pressure and obese index. Methods : This study assessed the body composition of 30 obese women using bioelectrical impidence analysis and Gaitview AFA-50. The static and dynamic plantar pressure was determined from electronic footprints captured using a capacitive pressure distribution platform during standing and walking. The data were analysed by independent t-test and Pearson Correlation. Results : Positive correlations were noted between body weight, body mass index(BMI), waist circumference(WC), waist-hip ratio(WHR) and difference of fore and rear plantar pressure. And negative correlations were noted between body weight, BMI, WC, WHR and difference of left and right plantar pressure. Conclusions : The findings of this pilot study suggest that body composition influences the waight distribution in overweight and obese subjects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2014

Purpose: Height-specific blood pressure (BP) is the standard parameter used to diagnose childhood hypertension. However, there has been some argument that weight may be a better variable than height in the reference BP standards. Therefore, before assessing the BP status using the reference BP standards, a basic understanding of the fundamental association of weight and height with BP is required. Methods: In the present study, we analyzed the correlation of BP with height and weight in Korean adolescents (age, 10-19 years), using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2009-2011). Results: Systolic BP (SBP) was more closely correlated with weight than with height in the normal weight (body mass index [BMI], ${\leq}85th$ percentile) and overweight (BMI, >85th percentile) groups and in the normal waist circumference (WC, ${\leq}90th$ percentile) and high WC (>90th percentile) groups in both sexes. Diastolic BP (DBP) had a higher correlation with height than with weight in the normal weight and normal WC groups, whereas weight was more closely associated with DBP than height in the overweight and high WC groups in both boys and girls. Conclusion: In Korean adolescents, weight had a greater effect on SBP than height in both the normal weight and overweight groups. DBP was mainly affected by height in the normal weight group, whereas weight was the major determinant of DBP in the overweight group. Therefore, it may be necessary to consider weight in the establishment of reference BP standards.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.201-216
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• 2013

The purpose of this case-control study was to show the relationship between risk factor(Sex, Age, Martial Status, Educational Periods, Family history, Variables of Obesity, Smoking Status, Drinking Status, Past History, Blood Test) and the incidence of stroke. Methods: 788 stroke patients were enrolled as the case group and 450 non-stroke patients as control group from Sep.2006 to Dec.2010. Patients were hospitalized within 30 days after the onset of stroke. Risk factors and warning signs were obtained from personal interview by oriental medicine doctors who used CRF. Results: 1. Age was found to have significant relation with stroke(p<.0001). 2. Martial status(p<.0001, OR=0.44) and educational periods(p<.0001) were both significant risk factor for stroke. 3. As a result of reviewing the influence of family history, it was found to have no significant relation with stroke. Stroke was found to have significant relation with stroke(OR=1.50). 4. Female waist circumference(WC, p<.0001) and female waist-hip circumference ratio(WHR, p<.0001) were risk factors for stroke. On the other hand, male WC and male WHR showed no significant influence on stroke occurrence as an independent risk factor. 5. Both smoking status(p<.0001, current smoker OR=8.95) and drinking status(p<.0001, current drinker OR=2.50, former drinker OR=2.82) were significant risk factors for stroke. 6. As a result of reviewing the influence of past history, transient ischemic attack(p<.0001, OR=8.46), hypertension(p<.0001, OR=4.72), hyperlipidemia(0.0064), diabetes mellitus(p<.0001, OR=3.34), stroke(p<.0001, OR=50.26) were significant risk factors. On the other hand, ischemic heart disease(p=0.2332) was found to have no significant relation with stroke. 7. Increase of WBC, RBC, Platelet, TG, FBS and Cl- level were significant risk factor of stroke, On the other hand, decrease of Hgb, Hct, AST, HDL-chol, LDH, Na+ and K+ level were significant risk factor of stroke. T-chol and ALT level showed no significant influence on stroke occurrence.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.43-57
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• 2010

Objectives : To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on parameters related to obesity in adults with abdominal obesity. Methods : A three arm randomized single blind pilot study was conducted from Jan 4 to March 25, 2010 in Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Hospital. The subjects were 39 adults with abdominal obesity and were randomly divided by computer generated random table into 3 groups; EA(electroacupuncture), sham EA(sham electroacupuncture) and waitlist groups. Acupuncture points located at abdomen($CV_{12}$, $CV_6$, $ST_{25}$, $SP_{15}$, $SP_{14}$) and extremities($LI_4$, $LI_{11}$, $ST_{36}$, $ST_{44}$) were inserted by disposable stainless steel needles and were stimulated 30 minutes with 24Hz, 0.27~1.3mA(tolerable strength), asymmetric biphasic continuous pulse wave form by STN-111 Stratek device in EA group. Two treatment sessions per week for 5 weeks(10 sessions in total) were done in EA and sham EA groups. The primary outcome measurement was WC(waist circumference), and the secondary outcome measurements included WHR(waist hip ratio), ASF(thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat), and inbody measurements of BW(body weight), BMI(body mass index), BFR(body fat ratio) and VFA(visceral fat area), and also scores of BULIT-R(bulimia test revised), KoQoL(Korean obesity of QoL) and BSQ(body shape questionnaire). Results : All of 39 subjects were included in ITT(intention-to-treat) analysis. There were significant reductions in WC, WHR and ASF after 5-week electroacupuncture treatments and the percentage reductions were significantly greater than sham EA or waitlist group. There were no significant differences between groups in percentage reductions of other parameters(BW, BMI, BFR, VFA, BULIT-R, KoQoL and BSQ). But, there were continuous reductions in BW, BMI, BFR and VFA at 3 weeks after the end of treatment and there was significant reduction in BW compared with the baseline value in EA group. No seriously adverse effects were reported during the period. Conclusions : Electroacupuncture was more effective than sham electroacupuncture or no intervention on the reduction of WC, WHR and ASF in adults with abdominal obesity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.85-96
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• 2016

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the effects of acupuncture treatment and heart rate variability (HRV) in pre-menopausal obese women. Methods Thirty-seven obese women who met the inclusion criteria were recruited. To estimate the effects of acupuncture, obesity indices, such as body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), and the waist-hip ratio (WHR), were measured before and after the treatment. The HRV test was conducted before treatment and analyzed using the frequency domain method. Results The lnLF/HF ratio (natural logarithm of low frequency power/high frequency power ratio of the HRV value) before treatments was negatively correlated with differences in WC, HC, and WHR during treatment. The correlation coefficients between the lnLF/HF ratio and the differences in WC, HC, and WHR were r=-0.459 (p<0.01), r=-0.327 (p<0.05), and r=-0.339 (p<0.05) respectively. Conclusions As the baseline ratio of sympathetic activity to parasympathetic activity decreases, WC, HC, and WHR reduction significantly increased during treatment. Further study is needed to uncover the relationship between obesity-related variables and the autonomic nervous system to predict the effect of acupuncture.