바쁜 일상 속에서 신체 활동량의 감소와 식생활의 서구화 등으로 인한 복부 비만의 발생률이 높아지고 있다. 따라서 체형 관리에 대한 욕구를 충족시키기 위해 시간 대비 고 효율의 관리 프로그램이 필요하다. 본 연구에서는 전기근육자극요법 (electric muscle stimulation therapy)을 활용하여 다이어트젤 (슬리밍 화장품)과의 복합사용에 의하여 허리둘레 및 체지방량 (또는 복부의 지방)를 감소 효과를 촉진시켰다. 연구 대상자는 20대 성인 남녀로 다이어트젤을 허리 부위에 단순 도포를 한 후, 그 위에 EMS를 착용 하여 기상 후와 취침 전에 1일 2회 20분간 마사지를 실시하였다. 실험 기간은 2주 동안 실시되었다. 지방 분해 촉진 효과는 비 조영 CT를 활용하여 피하지방의 감소에 대한 관찰이 되었으며, 이와 함께 허리둘레와 체지방량 측정으로 확인되었다. 결론적으로 개발된 EMS와 다이어트젤의 동시 사용 프로그램은 약 3 cm (p<.001)의 허리둘레 감소와 약 1 kg (p<.01)의 체지방량 감소를 나타내어 허리라인 관리에 탁월한 효과가 있음을 입증하였다. 이는 EMS의 활용이 근육 자극에 의한 마사지 효과를 나타내며 다이어트젤의 흡수를 도와 지방 분해를 촉진시키는 역할을 하는 것으로 사료된다.

We investigated coffee consumption in relation to the abdominal obesity as defined by waist circumference in Korean women aged 19~64 years, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012~2016. The participants to the study were classified according to 3-in-1 coffee consumption level (none-coffee, ≤1 time/day of 3-in-1 coffee, >1 time/day of 3-in-1 coffee) by a food frequency questionnaire. The analysis was conducted by the following age groups: <50 years and 50≤ years. The 3-in-1 coffee consumption group had significantly more smokers and more alcohol consumption frequency as compared to the none-coffee group. The energy intake from the participants in the 3-in-1 coffee consumption of ≤1 time/day of 3-in-1 coffee group, and >1 time/day of 3-in-1 coffee group were 131.2 kcal/day and 123.1 kcal/day. In the 50 years or over age group, >1 time/day of 3-in-1 coffee group was at a lower risk of abdominal obesity as defined by waist circumference, compared with the non-coffee group multivariable adjustment (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.25~0.77). Our findings suggest that the 3-in-1 coffee consumption may be related to abdominal obesity as defined by waist circumference in Korean females aged 50 years or over.

Background: The continuous co-contraction of the trunk muscles through trunk stabilization exercises is important to patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). However, intentional abdominal muscle contraction (IAMC) for trunk stabilization has been used only for specific training in the treatment room. Objects: The purpose of this study was to provide feedback to adults with LSS to enable IAMC during activities of daily living (ADLs). Methods: The participants with spinal stenosis were divided into an experimental group of 15 adults and a control group of 16 adults. Electromyographic signals were measured while the subjects kept their both hands held up at 90°. The measured muscles were the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES). Pelvic tilt was measured using a digital pelvic inclinometer. The degree of pain was measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and functional capacity was measured using the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (KODI). Results: While the experimental group showed statistically significantly higher activities in the RA, EO, and IO after the intervention compared with the control group. Pelvic tilt was significantly decreased only in the experimental group. Both the experimental and control groups exhibited statistically significant declines in the VAS and KODI (p<.01). In terms of the levels of changes, the experimental group exhibited a statistically significant larger decline only in the VAS and the pelvic tilt when compared with the control group (p<.05). Conclusions: The subjects could stabilize their trunks, and relieve their pain and dysfunctions and reduce pelvic tilt by learning abdominal muscle contraction during ADLs.

The purpose of this study was to compare the validity of obesity indices among the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BF%), and to determine which is the most useful index to predict the risk of chronic diseases of elderly people. This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study at welfare centers in Seoul. The total number of subjects was 261 (68 men and 193 women) with age ≥60 years. The distribution of obesity using 3 obesity indices in the subjects with hypertension, diabetes, or arthritis was BF%>WC>BMI in elderly men and WC>BF%>BMI in elderly women. In elderly women, odds ratios (ORs) for hypertension in BMI and WC quartiles were significantly increased in quartile 2 and 3 (p<0.05). The ORs for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and arthritis in BF% quartiles were significantly increased in quartile 3 and 4 (p<0.05). The BF% was sensitive obesity index for predicting the occurrence of chronic disease in men, and the WC was sensitive index in women. Our results suggested maintaining BMI less than 23.5 kg/m2, WC less than 82 cm, and BF less than 35% in order to prevent chronic diseases in elderly women.