A Study on the Obesity Index and the Physical Activities of Elementary School Children

초등학교 아동의 비만지수와 신체활동에 관한 조사연구

This study researches an obesity index and the realities of physical activity of elementary school children and provide basic data to instruct correct physical activity for low weight and obese children. The subject was 813 Elementary School Children of grade 4-6 in Kyungju and data were collected with a Physical Activity Questionnaire from YHS, USA. The collected data were analyzed with real number, percentage, average and standard deviation techniques. The range was by SPSS WIN. Both of them were in the normal range, between -38.3 and 77.7, between low weight and obesity. The results are as follows : 1. An Obesity index according to grade and sex: the average obesity index of 423 boys was $7.56{\pm}15.7$, for girls it was $2.56{\pm}14.3$. Both of them were in the normal range, between -38.3 and 77.7. There were low weight($-38.85{\pm}0.9$) students as well as obese, including extremely low weight children ($-38.85{\pm}0.9$) and extremely obese children. 2. On the whole, in the Frequency of the 25 item physical activities breakdown, children reported to watch TV 1. ($2.7{\pm}0.6$), or do homework($2.1{\pm}0.9$), more than three-fourths of the week, male children, however, played more football($2.0{\pm}0.9$). As male obese children do less MET5, MET8(highly active activity) than male normal children, it was also discovered that low weight children do more severe activity in MET8(high activity). In female cases, it was revealed that neither do highly intense activity. 3. In physical activity, male children received higher points than female children with $92.94{\pm}37.95$ to $74.46{\pm}29.50$. On the whole, male and female obese children had lower score than normal children. 4. As for attitude toward physical activity, male children($31.96{\pm}4.37$) had a positive attitude than female children ($29.57{\pm}3.89$), but obese male children had a negative attitude regarding activity viewed as normal. Therefore, in preventing obesity in elementary school children the treating of under-weight children should be included in the obesity program so as to prevent mal-nutrition or deficiency. It is needed to instruct obese children to carry out intensive work-outs at least 3 times a week through systematic programs. It is also needed that parents and teachers educate elementary school children from an early age with information on the frequency and intensity of work-outs to prevent obesity. It is also desirable that children be educated to carry out physical activities that address their specific needs. As a result of this study, obesity management must be started from elementary school and children should be instructed to act in high-intensity actirities when they spend leisure time.