• Contact us
  • E-Submission
ABOUT
BROWSE ARTICLES
JOURNAL POLICIES
FOR CONTRIBUTORS

Page Path

8
results for

"Obesity"

Filter

Article category

Keywords

Publication year

Authors

"Obesity"

Review

[English]
Relationship between periodontitis and systemic health conditions: a narrative review
Min-Young Kim, Eun-Kyoung Pang
Received March 4, 2025  Accepted April 8, 2025  Published online April 14, 2025  
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2025.00101    [Epub ahead of print]
This review examines the bidirectional relationship between periodontitis and systemic health conditions, offering an integrated perspective based on current evidence. It synthesizes epidemiological data, biological mechanisms, and clinical implications to support collaborative care strategies recognizing oral health as a key component of overall wellness. Periodontitis affects 7.4% to 11.2% of adults worldwide, and its prevalence increases with age. Beyond its local effects, including gingival inflammation, periodontal pocket formation, and alveolar bone loss, periodontitis is associated with various systemic conditions. Emerging evidence has established links with obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, certain malignancies, neurodegenerative diseases, psychological disorders, and autoimmune conditions. These associations are mediated by 3 primary mechanisms: dysbiotic oral biofilms, chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, and the dissemination of periodontal pathogens throughout the body. The pathophysiology involves elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (including interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and C-reactive protein), impaired immune function, oxidative stress, and molecular mimicry. Periodontal pathogens, particularly Porphyromonas gingivalis, are crucial in initiating and sustaining systemic inflammatory responses. Treatment of periodontitis has demonstrated measurable improvements in numerous systemic conditions, emphasizing the clinical significance of these interconnections. Periodontitis should be understood as more than just a localized oral disease; it significantly contributes to the overall systemic inflammatory burden, with implications for general health. An integrated, multidisciplinary approach to prevention, early detection, and comprehensive treatment is vital for optimal patient outcomes. Healthcare providers should acknowledge oral health as an essential element of systemic well-being.
  • 140 View
  • 9 Download

Original Article

[English]
Effect of body mass index on gastric cancer risk according to sex in Korea: a nationwide cohort study and literature review
Yonghoon Choi, Jieun Jang, Nayoung Kim
Ewha Med J 2024;47(2):e19.   Published online April 30, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2024.e19

Objectives: Gastric cancer (GC) demonstrates a sex disparity that may also be associated with body mass index (BMI). This study explored whether the effect of BMI on the risk of GC varies by sex.

Methods: The study cohort included 341,999 Koreans aged 40 years or older from the National Health Insurance Service–Health Screening Cohort, with a median follow-up period of 10 years. Participants were categorized into five groups based on their BMI. The effect of BMI was evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression. Additionally, stratification analysis was performed according to waist circumference.

Results: An increased risk of developing GC was observed across the study population among those with obesity (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2; hazard ratio [HR], 1.11; 95% CI , 1.03–1.20) and severe obesity (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2; HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.01–1.47), considering a 2-year latency period. Notably, the rise in GC risk was particularly pronounced among women with obesity and men with severe obesity. In the age-stratified analysis, severe obesity (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2) was associated with an increased risk of GC in men under 50 years old (HR, 1.83; 95% CI, 0.99–3.37). For individuals aged ≥50 years, obesity was linked to a heightened risk of GC in both sexes. Furthermore, normal BMI (18.5–22.9 kg/m2) was associated with an increased GC risk in women.

Conclusion: These findings indicate a positive association between excess body weight and the risk of GC in Koreans, particularly among men with severe obesity.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Gender equity in medicine, artificial intelligence, and other articles in this issue
    Sun Huh
    The Ewha Medical Journal.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • 183 View
  • 4 Download
  • 1 Crossref

Review Articles

[English]
Updates on Obesity in Prader-Willi Syndrome: From Genetics to Management
Young Bae Sohn, Ji Eun Moon, Yeo Jin Jung, Young Ae Yu
Ewha Med J 2023;46(s1):e33.   Published online December 31, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2023.e33
ABSTRACT

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), which is considered the most common genetic form of obesity, results from the absence of imprinted genes in the paternally derived PWS critical region located on chromosome 15q11.2−13. Infants with PWS exhibit poor sucking, neonatal hypotonia, and delayed motor milestones. These patients begin to experience hyperphagia and obesity from 2 to 3 years of age. PWS is a multisystemic disorder, and its clinical manifestations include developmental delay/intellectual disability, behavioral problems, dysmorphic facial features, short stature, scoliosis, and endocrine abnormalities such as hypogonadism, growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and central adrenal insufficiency. Although the underlying mechanism of hyperphagia is not completely understood, hypothalamic and endocrine dysregulation is believed to be responsible for the lack of satiety and abnormal food-seeking behaviors that lead to severe obesity. The management of PWS requires a multidisciplinary team approach. Early diagnosis and comprehensive early intervention are essential to prevent the development of obesity-related morbidities, including metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiovascular complications. Although several clinical trials have been conducted on the pharmacologic treatment of obesity in PWS, no drugs have demonstrated a consistently beneficial effect to date. Nevertheless, ongoing research efforts should be directed toward understanding the mechanism of the unique obesity phenotype of PWS and developing pharmacological therapies.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Emerging Infectious Diseases at the End of the Fourth Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Recent Updates on Colorectal and Pediatric Endocrine Diseases
    Sun Huh
    The Ewha Medical Journal.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • 179 View
  • 2 Download
  • 1 Crossref
[English]
Management of Hyperphagia and Obesity in Prader–Willi Syndrome
JiHoon Hwang, Sung Yoon Cho
Ewha Med J 2023;46(s1):e32.   Published online December 31, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2023.e32
ABSTRACT

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the absence of paternally expressed imprinted genes on chromosome 15q11–13. Individuals with PWS typically experience feeding difficulties and a lack of appetite in infancy, followed by weight gain, uncontrolled appetite, and a lack of satiety. Hyperphagia in PWS is exacerbated by impaired satiety, low energy expenditure, and intellectual difficulties, including obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or autistic behaviors. Without rigorous external management of their eating behaviors, patients with PWS become severely obese and are at a higher risk of obesity-related morbidities, such as type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension. Moreover, the main causes of death for PWS are obesity-related comorbidities, such as renal failure, pulmonary embolism, and respiratory and heart failure. Clinical experiences with different supplements, diets, and other methods have not been encouraging. However, therapeutic options for patients with PWS may be improving, based on recent clinical trials for a number of medications. This report reviews the causes and management of hyperphagia, as well as previous and recent clinical trials aimed at treating hyperplasia in PWS. We are optimistic that the novel treatments currently in development will help alleviate the complex metabolic issues associated with PWS.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Emerging Infectious Diseases at the End of the Fourth Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Recent Updates on Colorectal and Pediatric Endocrine Diseases
    Sun Huh
    The Ewha Medical Journal.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • 254 View
  • 4 Download
  • 1 Crossref
[English]
Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents
Yoojin Lindsey Chung, Young-Jun Rhie
Ewha Med J 2022;45(4):e13.   Published online October 31, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2022.e13
ABSTRACT

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that include hypertension, altered glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, and abdominal obesity and is strongly associated with an increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease onset in obese adults and children. A progressively greater number of children and adolescents are being affected by this syndrome due to the constant increase in the prevalence of obesity. Like obesity, childhood MetS highly tracks to adulthood. The pathogenesis of MetS includes the interaction between obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Early diagnosis and intervention are important in order to conduct lifestyle modification. In this article, we review the definition and pathophysiology of MetS, the importance of screening, and prevention and treatment options for MetS in childhood.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Unraveling Metabolic Syndrome in Youth: The Obesity Epidemic’s Hidden Complication
    Dana-Teodora Anton-Păduraru, Dana Elena Mindru, Raluca Stefania Stănescu, Felicia Trofin, Claudiu Cobuz, Maricela Cobuz, Lucia Maria Sur, Antoneta Petroaie, Ana Maria Slănină, Mihaela Manole, Ana Simona Bocec, Adriana Cosmescu
    Children.2025; 12(4): 482.     CrossRef
  • Serum Leptin level in obese adolescents with metabolic syndrome: An experience of a tertiary care center of Bangladesh
    Sharmin Mahbuba, Taslima Ferdosh, Mst. Umme Kulsum Moni, Samira Humaira Habib
    Paediatric Nephrology Journal of Bangladesh.2024; 9(2): 73.     CrossRef
  • The Role of Paraclinical Investigations in Detecting Inflammation in Children and Adolescents with Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome
    Mihaela-Andreea Podeanu, Ștefănița Bianca Vintilescu, Claudiu Marinel Ionele, Raluca Elena Sandu, Carmen Elena Niculescu, Mirela-Marinela Florescu, Mioara Desdemona Stepan
    Life.2024; 14(9): 1206.     CrossRef
  • 390 View
  • 7 Download
  • 1 Web of Science
  • 3 Crossref
[Korean]
The Role of Bone Marrow Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease
Ewha Med J 2022;45(1):11-16.   Published online January 31, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2022.45.1.11

Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) increases with aging and once disregarded as a passive marrow space filler. However, accumulating evidence suggests that BMAT is an active modulator of bone, hematopoiesis, and metabolism. Characterization of BMAT in molecular and cellular levels identified that it is distinct from white or brown adipose tissue. This review summarizes current knowledge on changes of BMAT under physiological and pathophysiological conditions of bone and marrow. Expansion of BMAT is closely linked with increased fracture risk, therefore regulation of BMAT can be considered as a novel therapeutic approach to enhance bone strength. Regarding hematopoiesis, increase in BMAT is negatively associated with the marrow function, but it is indispensable for maintaining myelopoiesis in acute myeloid leukemia. In addition, BMAT expansion is paradoxically identified in obesity as well as anorexia nervosa. It is considered that BMAT performs a different function in different nutritional states. Future studies would involve more detailed research about regulatory factors of BMAT and its functions in health and diseases. Enhancing our understanding about BMAT would open a new avenue for combating BMAT-related diseases.

  • 99 View
  • 1 Download

Case Report

[English]
A Case of Endoscopic Closure to Postoperative Leak after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Patient with Morbid Obesity
Min Sun Ryu, Ki-Nam Shim, Won Young Cho, Chan Young Kim, Hyeon-Ju Kang, Mi Yeon Kim, So Young Ahn, Yoon Pyo Lee, Hyoung Won Cho, Sung Ae Jung, Joo-Ho Lee
Ewha Med J 2013;36(2):135-138.   Published online September 26, 2013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2013.36.2.135

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy can reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with morbid obesity, but it can cause complications such as a gastrointestinal leak. A 30-year-old morbidly obese female who had type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension with estimated body mass index of 40.2 kg/m2 was admitted. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed. On postoperative day 19, a leak was suspicious on physical examination and radiologic findings. Conservative management was performed, but the patient was hemodynamically unstable and imminently septic. After laparoscopic drainage procedure, esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed and revealed the fistula opening at staple line just below gastroesophageal junction. Fibrin tissue adhesive was injected around the fistula and the esophageal covered stent was inserted to cover the leak. At 14th days after stent insertion, the barium study confirmed no more leak. In this case, we experienced that the esophageal stent insertion with fibrin tissue adhesive injection may reduce recovery time of the fistula developed after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

  • 53 View
  • 0 Download
Original Article
[English]
Relation of Family, Daily Habits with the Development of Obesity in the Obese Children
Young Mi Hong
Ihwa Ŭidae chi 2010;33(2):55-60.   Published online September 30, 2010
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2010.33.2.55
Purpose

Obesity, the most common health problem facing children, is known to have been ascribed to multifactors. Our research is aimed at finding out if there exists any relation of children's obesity with their family and also with their daily habits.

Materials and Methods

The study included 145 obese children and 44 non-obese children, who visited our pediatric clinic from January 2006 to December 2008. The children were divided into three groups according to body mass index(BMI)(group I:non-obese control children, group II:children with BMI between 85 and 94 percentile, group III:children with BMI above 95 percentile). Research was performed in three groups by measuring of body weight, height and questionnaires.

Results

There was no significant difference in sex and age. The parental BMI of the obese children were higher than those of non-obese children. Obesity of children was more highly related to maternal BMI than partenal BMI. Birth weight and birth order in the obese children showed no remarkable difference from those of non-obese children. The sleeping hours of the obese children were much longer than those of non-obese children. Television viewing hours of the obese children showed no remarkable difference from those of non-obese children. Family members with group III children had many complications which developed from obesity.

Conclusion

The development of obesity in children is attributed to the hereditary factors of their parents and daily habits such as sleeping hours. Therefore, family-based weight control is important to treat childhood obesity.

  • 82 View
  • 1 Download
TOP