Aim To compare pancreatic volume and fat amount, and their associations with glucose homeostasis, in a Korean and a white population. Materials and methods In 43 healthy Korean and 43 healthy white people, matched for age (±3 years) and body mass index (BMI;±1 kg/m2), we measured pancreatic volume and fat amount in the pancreas and abdomen using computed tomography. Pancreatic β‐cell function and insulin resistance were estimated according to biochemical characteristics and a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance …

Objectives Very low calorie diets (VLCDs) are effective at clearing hepatic steatosis and improving insulin sensitivity. Whilst long-term weight loss is beneficial to the cardiovascular system, the acute elevation in fatty acids during caloric restriction is potentially detrimental to cardiac metabolism and function. We sought to investigate any cardiovascular changes occurring over the course of a modern VLCD regime, alongside the expected peripheral metabolic improvements. Methods 25 obese volunteers (BMI 36.8±5.8 kg/m 2) underwent …

Background Individual variations of obesity‐related traits can be a consequence of dietary influence on gene variants. Methods This cross‐sectional study aimed to evaluate (i) the effect of FTO rs9930506 on obesity and related parameters and (ii) the influence of diet on the above association in Malaysian adults. In total, 79 obese and 99 nonobese Malaysian adults were recruited. Results In comparison with Chinese and Malays, Indians had significantly higher waist circumference (P≤ 0.001 and P= 0.016), waist–hip ratio (P= 0.001 …

It has been recognized that alternate day calorie restriction (ADCR) or exercise has positive effects on cardio-metabolic risk factors. It is unclear whether the combined effect of ADCR and exercise (aerobic+ resistance training) influences risk. We investigated effects of an 8-week ADCR and exercise program (aerobic+ resistance training) on cardio-metabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults. This study randomized 45 overweight or obese but healthy adults (F= 26, M= 19; aged about 32 to 40 years) into 4 groups: ADCR (n= 13) …

Obesity is related to the increased incidence of hypertension and in healthy individuals, blood pressure changes with age and body mass. The aims of this paper were to evaluate the effectiveness of the weight loss intervention on body composition and blood pressure, and to evaluate the relationship between these factors among housewives in the MyBFF@ home study. MyBFF@ home intervention was a quasi-experimental study which involved 328 overweight and obese housewives aged 18–59 years old (Control group: 159 …

The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations of normal weight obesity (NWO) with physical fitness in Chinese university students. As a secondary aim, we assessed whether possible differences in physical fitness between students classified as NWO and normal weight non-obese (NWNO) were mediated by skeletal muscles mass. A total of 383 students (205 males and 178 females, aged 18–24 years) from two universities volunteered to participate in this study. Body height and weight were measured by standard …

Metabolic syndrome substantially increases risk of cardiovascular events. It is therefore imperative to develop or optimize ways to prevent or attenuate this condition. Exercise training has been long recognized as a corner-stone therapy for reducing individual cardiovascular risk factors constituting the metabolic syndrome. However, the optimal exercise dose and its feasibility in a real world setting has yet to be established. The primary objective of this randomized trial is to investigate the effects of different volumes of aerobic …

A growing amount of evidence suggests that thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is associated with cardiometabolic risk. However, there have been few longitudinal studies. The aim of this study was to explore the causal relationship between TSH and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a large population-based longitudinal study. From 2010 to 2016 at the Health Management Center at Tri-Service General Hospital, 25,121 eligible patients were enrolled in our cross-sectional analyses. Cox proportional hazard models were used to …

Obese adults with asthma are more likely to develop dynamic hyperinflation (DH) and expiratory flow limitation (EFL) than nonobese asthmatics, and weight-loss seems to improve the breathing mechanics during exercise. However, studies evaluating the effect of weight loss on DH in obese adults with asthma have not been performed. We sought to evaluate the effect of a weight loss program on DH in obese adults with asthma. Forty-two asthma patients were enrolled in a weight loss program (diet, psychological support, and …

Background This study evaluated the association between gain in adiposity and renal decline in a large prospective multiethnic South‐east Asian cohort with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Three years after the baseline visit, 2057 T2DM subjects were recalled for reassessment. The final cohort comprised 1014 subjects and was categorized into tertiles based on changes in body weight (ΔWt), body mass index (ΔBMI), visceral fat area (ΔVFA), and BMI‐adjusted VFA (ΔVFABMI). Outcomes included annual and rapid (≥ 3 …