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[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate changes in physical activity and energy intake according to abdominal obesity in Korean adult men before and after COVID-19.[Methods] Using data from the 2019 and 2020 KNHANES, the physical activity level measured by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) the physical activity level by GPAQ, number of days of walking and strength training, aerobic exercise, and total energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, and sugar intake for a total of 2,799 participants were analyzed.[Results] There were no changes in energy intake during the pandemic. The number of days of weekly walking was higher (2019, p = 0.006; 2020, p = 0.012) and strength training was significantly higher (2019, p < 0.0001; 2020 p < 0.0001) in the non-abdominal obesity group than in the abdominal obesity group before and after COVID-19. Strength training at least once a week suppressed abdominal obesity (0.628 times in 2019, p < 0.0001; 0.605 times in 2020, p < 0.0001). In addition, even when the total energy intake and age were adjusted for, strength training influenced the suppression of abdominal obesity (0.634 times in 2019, p < 0.0001; 0.614 times in 2020, p < 0.0001).[Conclusion] Even with the change in the physical activity level, such as walking and aerobic exercise, due to the influence of social distancing measures, strength training influenced the suppression of abdominal obesity, regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Obese individuals are considered to have lower energy expenditure (EE) rates than non-obese individuals. We aimed to investigate the effects of various factors related to food intake on diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) in the EE of obese individuals. Using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we reviewed relevant literature from PubMed, Embase, and Medline databases from study inception till the end of July 2019. Studies on dietary factors affecting DIT in obese individuals were included. Fifteen studies were included; these studies assessed macronutrient, single-nutrient, or supplement meal compositions, as well as dietary patterns and behaviors. The effect of obesity on DIT was not constant in each study. Differences in DIT pertained to the protein ratio being higher than the fat ratio or the carbohydrate ratio being higher than the fat ratio. High intake of calcium and vitamin D as well as high-oleic peanut supplements increased DIT in obese people. In addition, ascorbic acid intake, fatty acid saturation, and the chain length of various fatty acids had no effects on DIT. In conclusion, the findings suggest that in obese individuals, DIT is associated with various factors related to meal, nutrient, and dietary habits. However, because of the complexity of the relationship between DIT and obesity, it is difficult to determine the critical element underlying this association.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine whether different types of carbohydrate diets with or without exercise changes energy metabolism at rest and during exercise. [Methods] To minimize differences in food and energy intake between experimental groups, mice were pairfed. After 1 week of adaptation, 40 male ICR mice (6 weeks old) were randomly divided into four groups: Sta. (high fat + high starch), Scu. (high fat + high sucrose), StaEX. (high fat + high starch + exercise), and SucEX. (high fat + high sucrose + exercise). StaEX. and ScuEX. groups underwent training by running on a treadmill five times a week. After 10 weeks of training, energy metabolism was measured for 24 h and during a 1 h exercise period. [Results] The final body weight showed no significant difference between the groups. However, the weight of abdominal tissues (epididymal, perirenal, and mesenteric adipose tissue) in training groups was markedly decreased following 10 weeks of training. Results of all energy metabolism (24 h at rest and during 1 h of exercise) showed no significant interactions between diet and exercise. A brief summary of the results of the energy metabolism is that the metabolism related indicators over 24 h were more affected by the dietary pattern than the exercise but during the 1 h of exercise, training had more effect on energy metabolism than diet. [Conclusion] Our findings confirm that: (a) the type of carbohydrates included in the diet influence the metabolic responses over 24 h, (b) training had more effect on energy metabolism than diet during 1 h of exercise, (c) both results; abdominal adipose tissue weight and fat oxidation during exercise are suggestive for a beneficial effect of moderate physical activity on weight maintenance.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of cold exposure and/or exercise on resting energy metabolism over 24 h and on BAT activity and browning of WAT related gene responses. Forty ICR male mice were divided into four groups: thermoneutrality-untrained (23 ± 1°C in room temperature, n=10), cold-water immersion (24 ± 1°C, n=10), exercise in neutral temperature (34 ± 1°C, n=10), and exercise in cold temperature (24 ± 1°C, n=10). The mice performed swim training (30 min to 60 min, 5 days/week) for 8 weeks. After end of experiment, we confirmed BAT activity and browning of WAT-related gene expression changes in interscapular-BAT and inguinal adipose tissue, and measured resting energy metabolism over 24 h. The results showed that the relative tissue weights of BAT and inguinal fat tissue differed by temperature (p = 0.016, p= 0.001 respectively). The UCP1 mRNA expression in BAT showed a significant effect in the exercised groups (p = 0.038). The sum of the oxygen uptake, only a significant temperature effect (p = 0.040) was observed and the average of the RER showed a significant temperature (p = 0.024) and exercise (p = 0.008) effect. Our data demonstrate that cold exposure and exercise independently induces the gene expression of thermogenic markers and the energy metabolic rate. The relative expression of these markers and the change of the energy metabolism indicators differed across the tissues and experimental treatments. In conclusion, our results suggest that cold exposure and exercise has no synergy effect on thermogenic markers of BAT and beige/brite adipose tissue and energy metabolism over 24h.

[Purpose] The purpose of our study was to determine the effectiveness of carbohydrate loading by additional carbohydrate supplements for 7 days after prolonged interval exercise on exercise performance and energy metabolism during submaximal exercise in team-sports athletes. [Methods] Twenty male team-sports athletes (14 soccer and 6 rugby players) volunteered to participate in the study and were equally divided into the experimental group (EXP, n=10) performing additional carbohydrate supplementation for 7 days after prolonged interval exercise until blood glucose level reaches 50 mg/dL or less and the control group (CON, n=10). Then, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and minute ventilation (VE), oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide excretion (VCO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), blood glucose level, and blood lactate level were measured in all team-sports players during submaximal exercise corresponding to 70% VO2max before and after intervention. [Results] There was no significant interaction in all parameters, but team-sports players in the EXP presented more improved VO2max (CON vs EXP = vs 5.3% vs 6.3%), VE (CON vs EXP = vs 3.8% vs 6.6%), VO2 (CON vs EXP = vs 8.5% vs 9.9%), VCO2 (CON vs EXP = vs 2.8% vs 4.0%), blood glucose level (CON vs EXP = vs -12.9% vs -7.6%), and blood lactate level (CON vs EXP = -18.2% vs -25%) compared to those in the CON. [Conclusion] These findings showed that additional carbohydrate supplementation conducted in our study is not effective in exercise performance and energy metabolism during submaximal exercise.

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of daily physical activity level on health-related factors according to gender and identified age-specific differences among Korean adults. [Methods] Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2014-2015), we selected adults aged 19-64 years who participated in both a health examination and health interview survey. The study included 6,457 participants 19-64 years of age (2,611 men, 3,846 women). [Results] Assessment of the differences in health-related factors according to age and physical activity in men and women by repeated two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant interaction effects on total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in male participants, but there were no significant interaction effects for any health-related factors in female participants. The group of female participants aged 40-64 years with daily physical activity levels over 200 kcal showed a significantly increased prevalence of 46% for dyslipidemia compared to that in female participants with daily physical activity levels below 200 kcal. Physical activity was positively correlated with weight and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in men 19-39 years of age, compared to weight, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and DBP in men 40-64 years of age, and weight, WC, BMI, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and triglyceride (TG) levels in women 19-39 years of age. In women 40- 64 years of age, physical activity was especially significantly positively correlated with weight, BMI, HDL-C and negatively correlated with fasting glucose and TG levels. [Conclusion] In male and female participants, the 40-64-year age group showed negative results for health-related factors compared to those in the 19-39-year age group. The higher the weight, WC, BMI, the higher is the physical activity level. Physical activity levels were significantly positively correlated with health-related variables.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine whether exercise or/and cold exposure regulate mitochondria biogenesis-related gene expression in soleus and inguinal adipose tissue of mice. [Methods] Forty ICR 5-week old male mice were divided into four groups: thermoneutrality-untrained (23 ± 1 °C in room temperature, n=10), cold-water immersion (24 ± 1 °C, n=10), exercise in neutral temperature (34 ± 1 °C, n=10), and exercise in cold temperature (24 ± 1 °C, n=10). The mice performed swimming exercise (30 min to 60 min, 5 times) for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, we confirmed mitochondrial biogenesis-related gene expression changes for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factors 1 (NRF1), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) in soleus muscle and inguinal adipose tissue, and the related protein expression in soleus muscle. [Results] In soleus muscle, PGC-1α expression significantly increased in response to cold exposure (p = 0.006) and exercise (p = 0.05). There was also significant interaction between exercise and cold exposure (p = 0.005). Only exercise had a significant effect on NRF1 relative expression (p=0.001). Neither cold exposure nor the interaction showed significant effects (p = 0.1222 and p = 0.875, respectively). Relative Tfam expression did not show any significant effect from exercise. In inguinal adipose tissue, relative PGC-1α expression did not significantly change in any group. NRF1 expression showed a significant change from exercise (p = 0.01) and cold exposure (p = 0.011). There was also a significant interaction between exercise and cold exposure (p = 0.000). Tfam mRNA expression showed a significant effect from exercise (p=0.000) and an interaction between exercise and cold exposure (p=0.001). Only temperature significantly affected PGC-1α protein levels (p=0.045). Neither exercise nor the interaction were significant (p = 0.397 and p = 0.292, respectively). NRF1 protein levels did not show a significant effect in any experimental treatments. Tfam protein levels showed a significant effect in the exercise group (p=0.012), but effects of neither cold exposure nor the interaction were significant (p = 0.085 and p=0.374, respectively). [Conclusion] Exercise and cold exposure promoted increased expression of mitochondrial biogenesis- related genes in soleus muscle. Only cold exposure had a significant effect on PGC-1α protein expression and only exercise had a significant effect on Tfam protein expression. In inguinal adipose tissue, there was interaction between exercise and cold exposure in expression of mitochondrial biogenesis-related genes.

[Purpose] The purpose of this review is to promote awareness of non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) as a new strategy to increase energy expenditure, and to manage obesity. [Methods] The content of this review is based on a literature search of PubMed and the Google Scholar search engine, using the search terms obesity, energy expenditure, non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), and sitting disease. [Results] Daily energy expenditure is of great interest because most obese individuals have no exercise activity- related thermogenesis (EAT); thus their physical activity-related energy expenditure (PEE) is comprised almost entirely of NEAT. Consequently, NEAT represents the main variable component of daily total energy expenditure (TEE); this varies considerably, both within among individuals. These somewhat unplanned and unstructured low level physical activities are associated with energy expenditure in excess of the resting metabolic rate (RMR). They may therefore have the potential to stimulate greater energy expenditure over time with a higher rate of adherence. [Conclusion] In conclusion, NEAT is a highly variable component of daily TEE and a low level of NEAT is associated with obesity. NEAT enhances lifestyle, and variations in individual and environmental factors can significantly affect daily energy expenditure. Therefore, well designed longitudinal studies that focus on personal behavioral approaches and re-engineered environments to increase NEAT should be conducted in the future.

This study investigates whether regular physical activity (moderate endurance or resistance training twice a week for 3 months) influences the key regulatory molecules of mitochondrial biogenesis (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC1α), nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF1), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM)) in patients suffering from non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (n = 16, years = 62 ± 7, body mass index (BMI) = 30 ± 4 kg/m2). Seven T2DM men took part in endurance training, and 9 men participated in resistance training. BMI-matched non-diabetic male control subjects (CON) (n = 7, years = 53 ± 6, BMI = 30 ± 4 kg/m2) were studied for comparison. The protein contents of PGC1α, NRF1, and TFAM were determined using immunohistochemical staining methods on biopsies taken from the musculus vastus lateralis. At baseline, no differences were observed in NRF1-density between the T2DM men and the CON, while the contents of PGC1α and TFAM were decreased in the T2DM men. PGC1α and TFAM contents were not changed in the T2DM patients after the training period, but NRF1 was decreased. The down-regulation of mitochondrial signaling molecules might explain the patho-physiological reduction in mitochondrial biogenesis found in T2DM. Physical training, as performed in our study, did not reverse the down-regulation of mitochondrial signaling molecules — at least not at 3 months after the training.