Kang In, Changwon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine

[Korean Medicine in Our Everyday Lives]

People are gaining weight rapidly due to the covid19 outbreak, which has been going on for more than a year. In February, a job portal site surveyed 981 adult men and women on "weight changes after COVID19," and about one-third (32.7%) of the respondents said they gained weight. Their average weight gain reached 5.8 kilograms.

The rapid decrease in physical activity due to prolonged social distancing seems to be the main reason for weight gain. In addition, the popularity of high-calorie foods such as delivery food and simple meals also adversely affected weight management. This weight gain is expected to fuel the increase in the obese population, leading to a surge in obesity rates. According to the National Health Insurance Corporation's 2019 Statistical Yearbook of Health Examinations, the obesity rate of Koreans (body mass index of 25 or higher) is already 36.2%. One out of every three Korean adults is obese.

The bigger problem is that the time is near to worry about obesity beyond obesity. The number of highly obese people in Korea is increasing rapidly. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warns that the number of highly obese people in Korea will double by 2030.

Obese people have a 15% higher chance to suffer from back pain

This increase in the number of obese people is also linked to the increase in the number of patients with "lumbar disc herniation" (lumbar herniated intervertebral disc). In 2005, University of Teesside presented at “European Society for Obesity” finding that obese people are about 15 percent more likely to develop back pain than lighter people. The spine supports 60% of the body weight. Therefore, as weight increases, the burden on the waist increases. In particular, when fat builds up in the abdomen, the center of the body is tilted forward, causing deformation of the spine. Eventually, the spine bends forward and the risk of developing into the lumbar disc increases by pushing the disc to protrude.

The number of lumbar disc patients in Korea is also steadily increasing due to the same trend as highly obese people. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of lumbar patients increased from 1896,688 in 2015 to 2,063,806 in 2019. The number of patients increased by about 200,000 in four years. If the number of highly obese people more than doubles in 10 years, as OECD warned, the number of patients with lumbar discs is feared to surge as well.

The increase in lumbar disc patients due to obesity has also been shown in academic research. In 2014, Dr. Samartzis’s research team at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) measured the Odds Ratio values for 2,596 adult Chinese men and women to find the effect of BMI on spinal disc and sciatic neuralgia. The Odds ratio value is used to verify whether or not the difference in the likelihood of a particular event is significant in comparison between groups. According to the measurement, when normal weight is 1.00, the higher the body mass index, the higher the risk of degenerative disc disease, with 0.71 low body weight, 1.26 overweight, and 1.78 obese.

High obesity not only affects the lumbar disc, but also causes musculoskeletal pain, making it difficult to engage in physical activities for weight management. Korean medicine and exercise can effectively treat lumbar disc herniation due to weight, by reducing the physical burden of highly obese people and relieve pain.

In Korean medicine, lumbar discs due to high obesity is treated mainly by Chuna manual therapy integrated with acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and herbal medicine. First of all, Chuna manual therapy resolves body imbalances by correcting the twisted spine due to overweight. Acupuncture relaxes muscles and ligaments around the spine to facilitate qi and blood circulation. Pharmacopuncture, which refines pure medicinal ingredients, eliminates inflammation, reduces pain and strengthens the regeneration of damaged discs and cartilage. After these treatments, herbal medicine will strengthen muscles and ligaments around the spine, which have weakened from obesity.

The effectiveness and satisfaction of the lumbar disc treatment of this integrated Korean medicine therapy has been proven through research. The Jaseng Spine and Joint research Institute of Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine analyzed data of 524 hospitalized patients with lumbar disc herniation, who received integrated Korean medicine treatment at Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine from June 2012 to May 2013. During the averge three weeks of hospitalization, most patients received more than one Korean medicine integrated treatment of the following: Chuna manual therapy, acupuncture/pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine.

As a result, patients' 'back pain index' improved from 6.00 before hospitalization to 2.82 after treatment according to the NRS (Numeral Rating Scale), which shows pain levels from 0 to 10. The "Radiating leg pain index," which indicates leg numbness or pain, also dropped from 5.15 to 2.54. It was improved from moderate pain to mild pain. 89.5 percent of those who received treatment showed positive answers beyond satisfaction in hospitalization at Korean medicine hospitals.

Increased intake of vitamins, fibers and protein is needed

In order to prevent lumbar disc herniation due to high obesity, weight management should be done through constant exercise and dietary control. Constant aerobic exercise more than 3 times a week such as light walking and indoor biking, can increase the amount of muscle around the spine, which is effective for low back health. However, individual patients have different constitution and symptoms, so they should consult with a doctor to choose appropriate exercise routines. In particular, highly-obese people may harm not only their spine but also their knee joints due to their weight during exercise. Therefore, stretch before and after exercise to prevent injury and stop immediately if pain occurs during exercise.

Also a change in lifestyle is necessary to lose weight. It is recommended to supplement vitamins and fiber with seasonal fruits and vegetables while controlling the overall diet. Foods with high protein content, such as tofu and milk, not only help produce bones and muscles, but also help with digestion. For smooth metabolism, quitting drinking and smoking are a must.

Our daily lives have changed a lot due to the COVID-19. Even after COVID-19, we should adapt to the newly adapted "New Normal" era. Health should be preceded at the time of change. Don't forget that you have to check your body on your own and take care of it constantly for a healthy life.

This article is from JoongAng SUNDAY newspaper published on March 13, 2021

Original post: https://news.joins.com/article/24010901