• BMB Reports
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2018

Exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) 2a-knockout (KO) mice exhibit accelerated diet-induced obesity and are resistant to leptin-mediated adipostatic signaling from the hypothalamus to adipose tissue, with sustained food intake. However, the impact of Epac2a deficiency on hypothalamic regulation of sympathetic nervous activity (SNA) has not been elucidated. This study was performed to elucidate the response of Epac2a-KO mice to dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy and acute cold stress. Compared to age-matched wild-type mice, Epac2a-KO mice showed higher energy expenditures and expression of myogenin and uncoupling protein-1 in skeletal muscle (SM) and brown adipose tissue (BAT), respectively. Epac2a-KO mice exhibited greater endurance to dexamethasone and cold stress. In wild-type mice, exogenous leptin mimicked the responses observed in Epac2a-KO mice. This suggests that leptin-mediated hypothalamic signaling toward SNA appears to be intact in these mice. Hence, the potentiated responses of SM and BAT may be due to their high plasma leptin levels.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2024

Objectives: This study was aimed to evaluate changes in blood pressure, pulse rate and body weight of overweight or obese patients after two weeks of taking Gamitaeeumjowee-tang. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for patients with auscultatory blood pressure records who visited the clinic after two weeks from the first visit between July 8, 2019 and August 30, 2019. Results: A total of seventy-two patients were included. There were significant differences in systolic blood pressure (121.69±14.3 mmHg to 117.37±12.3 mmHg, P=0.002) and pulse rate (78.56±9.3 bpm to 82.99±9.0 bpm, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in diastolic blood pressure. There were significant differences in body weight (76.28±13.5 kg to 73.41±13.1 kg, P<0.001) and body mass index (28.82±4.4 kg/m² to 27.75±4.3 kg/m², P<0.001). Conclusions: In this study, blood pressure tended to decrease and pulse rate slightly increased after two weeks of taking Gamitaeeumjowee-tang. It is necessary to notice the possibility of pulse rate increase and the plan of action when using Gamitaeeumjowee-tang. Additional well-designed investigations are needed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2024

Pediatric obesity has rapidly increased globally over the past few decades, including in Korea. We aimed to discuss trends in the prevalence of pediatric obesity and effective prevention strategies. Its prevalence has markedly increased in most high-income nations. According to recent reports, this increase has slowed in developed countries, but the levels remain alarmingly high. In Korea, the rate of pediatric obesity has surged notably since the 1990s; however, since the 2000s, this increase has become more gradual. According to recently published 2017 growth charts, the prevalence of pediatric obesity in Korea varies slightly depending on the data source. The National School Health Examination data showed that pediatric obesity gradually increase from 11.5% in 2014 to 15.1% in 2019, and after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, it sharply increased to 19% in 2021. Based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the prevalence of pediatric obesity gradually increased from 10.8% in 2017 to 13.6% in 2019. This trend, which accelerated sharply to 15.9% in 2020 and 19.3% in 2021, was especially severe in boys and older children. Pediatric obesity not only affects health during childhood but also increases the risk of developing obesity and associated health conditions in adulthood. Despite ongoing research on treatment options, obesity prevention and control remain challenging. Hence, prioritizing early intervention and prevention of pediatric obesity through healthy eating habits and lifestyles is crucial. This requires intervention at the individual, family, school, and community levels.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.47-60
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• 2011

Objectives The objective of this study was to contribute to the development of pharmacupuncture for obesity treatment by reviewing the studies of pharmacupuncture experimentations and clinical trials. Methods We searched the papers with keywords of 'obesity' and 'pharmacupuncture' in the search site, RISS, Oriental medicine advanced searching integrated system(OASIS), Korean traditional knowledge portal, the society of Korean medicine for obesity research, Korean pharmacupuncture institute, the Korean academy of oriental rehabitation medicine and Korean acupuncture & moxibustion society. Results 1. We reviewed 37 articles searched. 27 articles(73.0%) were animal experimentations, 5 articles(13.5%) were cell experimentations, 4 articles(10.8%) were clinical trials and 1 article(2.7%) was study analysis. 2. The herbs, using for animal experimentations, were atratylodes japonica, coix lachrymajobi, ephedra sinica, crataegus pinnatifida, wild ginseng and etc. Acupucture points were joksamni(ST36), zhongwan(CV12), gansoo(BL18), pungnyung(ST40), umnungchon(SP9), bisu(BL20), gokji (LI11), cheun-chu(ST25) and etc. 3. For cell experimentations, preadipocytes and adipocytes performed on cell cultures with using rats, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and porcine skin including fat tissue were treated with fel ursi, bovis calculus, ephedrae herba, spirodelae herba, wild ginseng. 4. For clinical trials, Sangsik no.1, Bigiheo, ephedra, green tea and sweet bee venom were injected at the region where a lot of fat like zhongwan(CV12), xiawan(CV10), kwanwon(CV4), cheun-chu(ST25) and thigh. Conclusion Through animal and cell experimentations and clinical trials, the treatment of obesity using local acupuncture therapy was effective. For clinical use, however, it is considered that animal and cell experimentation and clinical trial's connection using one kind of herb and studies about more clinical trials and associated side effects are needed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.256-268
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to explore ecological factors and strategies for childhood obesity prevention targeting vulnerable children using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) methodology. Methods: The CBPR was conducted by following basic process steps. Participants were 12 community stakeholders such as community child center directors (n=4), vulnerable children's mothers (n=3), community health center officials (n=2), and lay health advisors (n=4); they were purposively sampled from K municipal county in Seoul, South Korea. The qualitative content analysis was performed to explore main themes of the ecological factors and strategies by using data obtained from 5 times of focus group interview. Results: Twelve ecological factors associated with childhood obesity prevention were identified: Intrapersonal factors including emotional overeating; interpersonal factors including permissive parenting style of children's eating behaviors; organizational factors including social workers' less educational opportunities; and community/policy factors including less government financial support. Four ecological strategies for childhood obesity prevention were addressed: Developing obesity prevention programs targeting vulnerable children' lifestyles; promoting parents' active participation in education; building healthy meal service environments through empowering social workers; and building supportive community environment and securing community resources for child obesity prevention. Conclusion: Our findings may be informative in terms of providing a comprehensive understanding of multi-level ecological barriers against vulnerable children' obesity prevention and, moreover, guiding multi-level strategies for preventing childhood obesity targeting children enrolled in community child centers.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.525-538
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to provide information on obesity assessment for Koreans. Among total of 1012 research papers enlisted in the Korean J Community Nutrition form 1996 to 2011, 248 articles were examined in which subjects were divided into more than 2 groups by obesity rate. About the method of anthropometric data collection, more than half of the research papers examined 52.5% and 28.7% of studies utilized the directly measured data and self-described data, respectively. About the utilization of obesity assessment methods, indirect methods of weight-height index (BMI, BMI percentile, and R$\ddot{o}$hrer index) and PIBW (WLR, Broca index, and KDA) were 62.4% and 23.2%, respectably, and the direct method of percent body fat assessment was only 9.3%. The most frequently utilized methods were WLR in under primary and primary school children, and BMI in the middle and high school students and in adults. For primary school students, WLR was the most frequently utilized method up to 2007, but it changed to BMI percentile afterward. Broca Index was no longer utilized since 2008. There were no articles utilizing BMI percentile and R$\ddot{o}$hrer index for obesity assessment in adults. Criteria for obesity assessment were not consistent among research papers: for example, % body fat, 19~40%; BMI, 20~30; BMI percentile, 85th or 95th. In the case of PIBW, 120% of ideal weight was the most frequently utilized criterion for obesity. Based on these findings, we suggest that proper methods and criteria of obesity assessment for each age group should be determined and proclaimed.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.28-43
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of Boiogito for obesity. We examined the efficacy of Boiogito for obese patients and we expected the reaction of Boiogito would vary according to the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNPs). Methods: 111 subjects(body mass index${\geq}25m/kg^2$) were recruited and randomized to receive Boiogito(n=55) or Placebo(n=56) for 8weeks. Anthropometric factors, serum lipid profile, glucose, blood pressure(BP), pulse rate, resting metabolic rate and Korean version of obesity-related quality of life(KOQOL) scale measured at baseline and 8weeks. SNPs(${\beta}3$-adrenergic receptor(ADRB3), G protein ${\beta}3$(GNB3), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma 2 gene(PPAR-${\gamma}2$), uncoupling protein(UCP2)) were conducted at baseline. Adverse reactions and safety outcome variables were also checked during trials. Results: Both groups showed significant improvement on obesity after treatment. Boiogito group decreased triglyceride than did control group and improved KOQOL. Boiogito showed a significant higher efficacy in C/T and T/T genotype of GNB3 gene / in Trp64 and Arg64 genotype of ADRB3 gene / in D/D genotype of UCP2 gene / in Pro/Pro genotype of PPAR-${\gamma}$ gene. Conclusions: Boiogito promoted obesity indexes without severe adverse reactions and proved its safety. Pharmacogenetical studies of Boiogito on obesity could be a effective method for the individualized treatment and prevention of obesity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2007

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic problem. The downward trend of an obesity onset age calls for research efforts on how to develop useful nutrition educational programs for children to maintain adequate body weight. Understanding the roles of objective and subjective body status in obesity-related attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors can provide important information. The current study aimed to examine obesity-related attitudes and knowledge and practices of eating behavior guidelines in relation to obesity and body shape satisfaction among children. The gender effect in the relations was also investigated. A self-administered survey was conducted with 260 fifth grade children at 2 public elementary schools in the suburbs of Seoul. Information on demographics, body size, body satisfaction, obesity-related attitudes and knowledge, and eating behaviors was collected. Study findings from one-way analysis of variance tests indicated no differences in mean scores of the attitudes, knowledge, and eating behaviors across the levels of obesity for both gender. The levels of body shape satisfaction was, however, found to be significantly related with the attitudes and eating behaviors in girls, while no such relation was seen in boys. Girls with lower body shape dissatisfaction had significantly more negative attitudes toward obesity which was not translated into practice of healthy eating behaviors. That is, contrary to general expectation, the level of practicing the eating behavior guidelines was significantly lower in those girls. While underlying reasons for this observation is not fully answered, gender-specific, body satisfaction-stratified, and behavior-focused approach in designing obesity prevention programs for elementary school girls is suggested efficient and useful.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2007

Objective : Women's obesity brings prblems not only appearance but also health which men do not have. This study was conducted to investigate the different factors of obesity between men and women. Materials and Methods : We searched papers usin key words (women, gender, and obesity) on pubmed and obesity journal. Result : Women's obesity leads to amenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, poly cystic ovarian syndrome, abortion, and luteal phase inadequacy. Obesity induces metabolic syndrome, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular problems, hypertension, cancer, and psychophysiologic diseases. The difference in body morphology and in particular fat distribution between the sexes leads to gender-specific differences in prevalence of chronic diseases, and unique problems for each sex including infertility, problems during pregnancy, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and endometrial carcinoma in women, and prostate and testicular cancer in men. The influence of gender on obesity is had by genetic view, hormones, pregnancy, delivery, and menopause. Conclusion : Obese women have higher risk factors than men by the influence of gender.

• Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.98-109
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• 2018

Objective: To examine the effects of sodium intake on the correlations between the saltsensitive gene ${\alpha}$-adducin 1 (ADD1) and inflammatory cytokines in Korean childhood obesity. Methods: A total of 2,070 students aged 8-9 years old participated in this study. The anthropometrics, serum biochemistry profile, inflammatory cytokines, and three-day dietary assessment were analyzed according to sex, obesity degree, and ADD1 polymorphism. Results: The obesity prevalence was higher in boys (15.6%) than in girls (11.9%). Boys also showed higher values in anthropometrics; lipid, glucose, and insulin profiles; total calorie intakes, as well as those of sodium and calcium compared with those of the girls. The more obese were boys and girls, the higher were the anthropometrics and the blood levels (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood sugar, and insulin), but the lower was high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The obese boys had significantly higher sodium and Na/K intakes, while the obese girls had higher visfatin level and Na/K intake. In addition, an increase in the risk factors for blood pressure and obesity in ADD1 variants was identified. Serum tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$($TNF-{\alpha}$) significantly increased with increasing sodium intake in the ADD1 W allele carriers, regardless of sex. The presence of obesity with the ADD1 W allele induced inflammatory accelerators such as $TNF-{\alpha}$ or C-reactive protein(CRP) with higher sodium intake. Conclusion: Obese children with an ADD1w allele can experience a more complex form of obesity than non-obese when exposed to an obesity-inducing environment and need to be controlled sodium intake in the diet.