The aims of this study were to assess the diagnostic value of the weight-to-height ratio (WHtR) for the detection of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) in Korean children and adolescents, and to determine the advantages of WHtR as a population-based screening tool in comparison with other obesity indicators, such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from 3057 children and adolescents (1625 boys, 1332 girls) aged 10–19 years who were included in the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2010–2012) up to the second year of the sixth KNHANES (2013–2014). Receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to determine the optimal cutoff value and accuracy of WHtR for predicting individual obesity indicators or more than two non-WC components of MS. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) is a measure of the diagnostic power of a test. A perfect test will have an AUC of 1.0, and an AUC equal to 0.5 means that the test performs no better than chance. The optimal WHtR cutoff for the evaluation of general obesity and central obesity was 0.50 in boys and 0.47–0.48 in girls, and the AUC was 0.9. Regarding the assessment of each MS risk factor, the optimal WHtR cutoff was 0.43–0.50 in boys and 0.43–0.49 in girls, and these cutoffs were statistically significant only for the detection of high triglyceride and low High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. When a pairwise comparison of the AUCs was conducted between WHtR and BMI/WC percentiles to quantify the differences in power for MS screening, the WHtR AUC values (boys, 0.691; girls, 0.684) were higher than those of other indices; however, these differences were not statistically significant (boys, p = 0.467; girls, p = 0.51). The WHtR cutoff value was 0.44 (sensitivity, 67.7%; specificity, 64.6%) for boys and 0.43 (sensitivity, 66.4%; specificity, 66.9%) for girls. There was no significant difference between the diagnostic power of WHtR and that of BMI/WC when screening for MS. Although the use of WHtR was not superior, WHtR is still useful as a screening tool for metabolic problems related to obesity because of its convenience.

Controversy exists on whether animal and plant proteins influence obesity differently. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between total, animal, and plant protein intake with the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and renal function in the Korean elderly. Study participants included Korean adults aged 60 years or older from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2013–2014. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured and the body mass index was calculated. One-day 24-hour recall data were used to estimate daily total, animal, and plant protein intake. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated by using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. General linear modellings were used to assess the relationships between protein intake, BMI and WC. The mean age was 69.2 ± 0.2 years and 44.2% were male. The total daily protein intake was 1.1 ± 0.02 g/kg/day and 0.9 ± 0.02 g/kg/day for males and females, respectively. Only one third of protein intake was from animal sources. In males, BMI (regression coefficient (95% CI); −1.30 (−1.55, −1.06), p < 0.001; −0.29 (−0.52, −0.05), p = 0.016; −1.30 (−1.8, −1.02), p < 0.001, respectively) and WC (−3.87 (−4.58, −3.16), p < 0.001; −0.90 (−1.58, −0.22), p = 0.010; −3.88 (−4.68, −3.08), p < 0.001, respectively) decreased as daily intake of plant protein (g/kg/day), animal protein (g/kg/day) and total protein (g/kg/day) increased. Similar associations were shown in Korean females. GFR was not associated with protein intake regardless of protein source in both sexes. In Korean adults aged 60 years or older, the protein intake was associated with a favorable obesity index without decrease in renal function. The effect was similar in both males and females, with both animal and plant proteins.

YY-312 is a herbal extract powder from Imperata cylindrica Beauvois, Citrus unshiu Markovich, and Evodia officinalis Dode, which have health promoting effects, including body fat reduction. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of YY-312 for body fat reduction in overweight adults. This was a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial performed in overweight Korean adults aged 19–60 years with a body mass index of 25.0–29.9 kg/m2. The daily dose of YY-312 was 2400 mg (containing 1800 mg of active herbal extract and 600 mg of cyclodextrin). Primary outcomes were reductions in body fat mass (BFM) and body fat percentage (BF%) after 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included reductions in body weight and waist circumference (WC) after 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, BFM (1.6 kg vs. 0.1 kg; P = 0.023) and BF% (1.5% vs. -0.2%; P = 0.018) decreased significantly more in the YY-312 group than in the placebo group, as did body weight (2.7 kg vs. 1.0 kg; P = 0.014) and WC (2.2 cm vs. 0.8 cm; P = 0.049). All safety parameters were within normal limits; no serious adverse events occurred in either group. In a 12-week clinical trial in overweight adults, YY-312 resulted in significantly greater reduction in body fat vs. placebo, while being safe and well tolerated. cris.nih.go.kr: ( KCT0001225 ).

Socioeconomic status affects food choices. This study examined the relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and animal and plant protein intake in the Korean elderly population whose protein intake is insufficient. We used cross-sectional data from 3512 Koreans aged 60 years or older, who had participated in the Nutrition Survey of the 2013–14 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). One day 24-h recall data was used to estimate the daily total, animal, and plant protein intake. Household income and educational attainment were assessed by trained interviewers. After making adjustment, household income was positively associated with animal protein intake with a statistical significance in females (p = 0.030) and with a marginal significance in males (p = 0.069). However, plant protein intake did not show any significant association. In both sexes, educational attainment was positively associated with animal protein intake (p = 0.007 for males, p = 0.001 for females). Association of educational attainment with plant protein intake was negative in males (p = 0.037) and non-significant in females. (p = 0.945). High SES was associated with higher total protein intake and animal protein intake in the Korean elderly. Health policies and nutrition education are needed to improve protein intake of the vulnerable Korean elderly with low SES.

MED-02 is a complex supplement containing two probiotic strains, Limosilactobacillus fermentum MG4231 and MG4244, isolated from humans. The anti-obesity effects and safety profile of MED-02 were assessed in overweight and obese subjects. In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 100 healthy obese and overweight subjects aged 19–65 years with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 31.9 kg/m² were recruited and randomized to receive a placebo or MED-02 (5 × 10⁹ CFU/day). After 12 weeks of consumption, body fat mass (−1166.82 g vs. −382.08 g; p = 0.024) and body fat percentage (−0.85% vs. −0.11%; p = 0.030), as evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and body weight (−2.06 kg vs. −1.22 kg; p = 0.041), were significantly reduced in the MED-02 group compared to the placebo group. The safety profile did not differ among the groups. No serious adverse effects were observed in either group. These results suggest that MED-02 is a safe and beneficial probiotics that reduces body fat and body weight in overweight or obese individuals.

Choi OJ, et al. Korean J Fam Med. 2013 Nov;34(6):393-402. http://dx.doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2013.34.6.393