Abstract

Background and Objective: The study of methods to evaluate obesity is growing to be important between health and disease. The physicians are using BMI(Body Mass Index) to evaluate obesity, but they don't know how much fat the body has by using that method. Even though there are several assessments, there are different scales, so while some are diagnosed as obese, others are not. These studies are limited in evaluating obesity; it is necessary to study based on new knowledge. According to Oriental Medical Theory, obese people are categorized into 3 types, Fei, Kao and Liu Ren. They have different pathology and body shapes than non-obese people. The relationship between Oriental Medical Theory and BMI(Body Mass Index) and assessment of body fat is the fundamental study to easily approach and to treat obesity. Method: At 00 Oriental Medical Center, 145 females subjects who intended to lose weight were given physical tests and clustered with 5 types of causes of obesity. The physical tests were height measurement, BMI(Body Mass Index), body composition(body fat mass and lean body mass), skin elasticity and physical strength tests. One-way analysis of variance was done to compare the means of physical tests between five types of obese women. There was some relationship between characteristics of five types in obese women based on physical tests and Fei, Kao and Liu Ren based on Oriental Medical Theory. Least Significant Difference(LSD) was used in multiple comparisons. Result: 1. According to the skin elasticity test, obesity type 5 placed between obesity types 3 & 4 and obesity types 1 & 2. Obesity type 3 and obesity type 4 were in the low skin elasticity result group; obesity type 1 and obesity type 2 were in the high ones.(p<0.1) Based on Oriental Medical Theory, Fei Ren and Kao Ren can be distinguished by skin elasticity degree. This result should form the basis of obesity diagnosis. 2. According to Oriental Medical Theory, Fei Ren is smaller than others. Based on height measurement, obesity types 3 and 4 were significantly lower than other obesity types.(p<0.1) So there is a relationship between Fei Ren and obesity types 3 & 4. 3. There were significant differences between obesity type 2 and obesity type 4 in the body fat mass result.(p<0.1) About distinguishing Liu Ren, this study did not have enough of a sample size. Conclusion: Further clinical research is necessary to study measurement methods of body shape type and skin elasticity for distinguishing Fei Ren from Kao Ren. The diagnosis and treatment based on the relationship of these types should be further studied.