• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of obesity and to examine the eating habits of elementary school students in Iksan dity. The study was carried out on 292 students(male: 151, female : 141)in May of 1997. The average height and weight of the subjects were 141 cm and 37kg in males and 142 cm and 36kg in females, which were similar to the average of Chonbuk. A Weight/Length Index(WLI), Broca Index, Rohrer Index(RI), Body Mass Index(BMI) and Waist Hip Ratio(WHR) were used as an obesity index to classify degree of obesity. WLI, Broca Index and RI were proper for judging child obesity and strict judgments were conducted in the order of RI, WLI and Brcoa Index. The subjects were classified as 30.8% underweight, 43.5% normal, 8.2% overweight and 17.5% obese by WLI and there were significant differences between height(p＜0.05) and weight(p＜0.01) according to obesity degree among the four groups. 50.3% of the boys and 55.3% of the girls are regularly, and the main reason they didn＇t ate regularly, and the maim reason they didn＇t eat breakfast(78.4%) was due to lack of time. The frequency of snacks were 1-2 times a week(40.4%), fruits(40.4%) from market and supermarket(68.2%). According to the survey 84.6%, 77.45, 78.1%, 69.9%, 59.9% and 86.6% of subjects didn＇t eat meat, fish, soysauce, instant food, sugar and seaweed respectively. Seaweed, meat, and soysauce showed low preferences. 69.5% and 74.75 of the subjects drink milk and ate kimchi respectively. By analyzing eating habits according to the degree of obesity, the rate of skipping breakfast(p＜0.01), and eating meat or fish(p＜0.05) were high in the overweight and obese groups of girls. In the boys case, the rate of not eating food in sugar(p＜0.05) was high in the obese group. Obese children need to correct their eating habit. This reasserts the importance of nutrition education in children though teachers, parents, and dietitions. The findings of this study may be applied to nutrition education to ensure better physical fitness for children.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 1998

This survey was conducted to investigate the relation of children's obesity index to their mothers' food habit during the October in 1995. The survey covered a total of 492 mothers whose children were in the fifth grade of elementary schools in Cheju City area. The results are summarized as follows: 1.The surveyed children's average WLI(Weight-Length Index) is 107.08. WLI shows that 16.1% of them are overweight, 16.1% obese and 49.8% ideally weighted. The mothers' average BMI(Body Mass Index) is 22.4. 21.8% of them are underweight and 69.4% normal. The children's obesity index is significantly correlated to their fathers', but not significant to their mothers'. 2.As to the food habit I (balance of nutrients intake), 58.4% of the mothers have 'excellent' or 'good' food habit and the mean score is 14.95 out of maximum possible score 24.0. Concerning to the food habit II (intake of sugar, fat and salt etc.), 87.4% of mothers have 'good' or 'fair' food habit and the mean score of is 13.34 out of maximum (possible score) 20.0. The mothers' food habit I and II, as a whole, have no significant effect on the children's obesity index, but in some items the significant relations are founded. The children's chesty index is significantly related to the intake of eggs (P<0.05) and pan-broiled or fried foods (P<0.05). The amount of mothers' food intake is significantly relevant to their obesity index (P<0.001), but not significantly to their children's. The food habit of mothers who have taken midnight snack almost every day are significantly related to their children's chesty index (P<0.05). The findings of the study emphasize the importance of the nutrition education to ensure health and better physical fitness for children and their mothers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.212-221
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• 2011

This study was conducted to identify differences in growth based on the obesity index in sixth grade. Heights and weights of 141 students from first to sixth grades were collected from school records. Other information was gathered by survey, and the weight length index (WLI) was calculated. Subjects were classified into three groups: underweight (n = 57, UG), normal (n = 53, NG), and obese (n = 31, OG) using the WLI. Differences in weight, height, and growth velocity were compared among the three groups from the first to sixth grades. With regard to growth, the past physical status of the three groups was maintained. More than 50% of the OG was in the overweight range when they were in the third to fifth grades. Approximately 60% of NG was in the normal weight range between the first and fifth grades. More than 70% of UG was in the underweight range when they were in the first to fifth grades (p < 0.001). Growth velocity was faster in OG than that in NG and UG (p < 0.001). The annual growth rate of children was the highest when they moved from the third to the fourth grade (p < 0.001). The results indicate that general balanced diet education should be implemented in lower grades, because physical growth formed in lower grades tended to be maintained in senior grades. It would be better to educate students about diet to prevent obesity before the fifth grade when a major change in body structure has occurred.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.321-327
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the mother's interest in weight control and its association with the preschooler's obesity and weight related concerns. This was a cross-sectional study based on 470 parents' self-reports. To score interests in weight control, mothers rated each of 6 items on a five-point Likert scale ranging from disagree (1) to agree (5). The perceptions of mothers' weights and their children's weights, mothers' Body Mass Index (BMI), preschoolers' Weight-Length Index (WLI) (%), and weight-related concerns were determined. The mothers' BMI was significantly correlated with interest scores of weight control in mothers (r=0.632, p<0.001) while their children's obesity was weakly correlated with the mothers' interest scores (r=0.133, p=0.025). Mothers with a high interest of weight control reported higher percentages of family history of obesity than mothers with lower interests (63.2% vs. 36.8%, p<0.001). Two-thirds of the mothers (65.4%) were accurate in their perceptions about their weights. Similarly, 63.7% of mothers knew exactly their children's weight-statuses. Compared with mothers with low interest in weight controls, mothers with high interest in weight control had lower correct-perceptions about their weights (p<0.05) but higher correct-perceptions about their children's weights. More than two-thirds of mothers (85%) reported not worrying about their children's obesity in the future. Only 14.3% of the mothers were satisfied with their current weight statuses. Three-fourths of mothers preferred exercise as an effective weight-control method for their children, 20% preferred diet therapy and 5.5% preferred behavior modification. More girls were overweight / obese, than boys (overweight: 16.1% (girl) vs. 12.8% (boy), obese: 5.4% (girl) vs. 4.5% (boy)). About 40% of overweight girls' mothers had low interests in their weight controls with low correct-perceptions in their children's weights, which suggests possible elevated risk of obesity, especially in girls, in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 2013

This study was conducted to obtain data and offer advice regarding dietary intake at kindergarten and to recommend dietary habits to prevent childhood obesity. The study was conducted in 85 children aged 4 to 5 years. Body weight and height, dietary intakes of lunch served at Kindergarten and questionnaires for dietary behaviors in Kyeongnam area were studied. All subjects were classified by their weight-length index (WLI). According to the standard WLI values, 41.2% of the children were within the normal value ($90{\leq}$WLI<110), 23.5% of the children were overweight ($110{\leq}$WLI<120), and 35.3% of the children were obese ($WLI{\geq}120$). The mean energy intake at lunch for kindergarteners was $287.1{\pm}13.4$ kcal in the normal group, $307.6{\pm}10.2$ kcal in the overweight group and $323.7{\pm}8.6$ kcal in the obese group. The percent energy of estimated energy requirement (EER) was 21.8%. The intake of protein, iron, zinc, vitamin A, and pyridoxine were significantly different by WLI (P<0.05). A comparison of nutrients in the lunch menu provided with those of 1/3 recommended intake (RI) showed that preschoolers took in fewer calories, calcium, and vitamin $B_2$, and that their deficiency rates were high (81.2%, 76.5% and 70.6% of recommended levels, respectively). There was a significant difference in the preference of fruits and milk and dairy products by WLI. Therefore, a nutritional education program and new guidance in the proper nutrition management for kindergarteners should be developed to enhance nutritional status during childhood.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.587-593
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• 1994

A nutrition survey of 152 children , in the kindergarten attached to a proivate elimentary school of Pusan, was undertaken between Dec. 1 and Dec.14, 1993, to investigate dietary intake and nutrition status. The results are summarized as follows. 1) Compared with the Korean child development standard, their development conditions showed 113.1% , 102.2% , 103.3%, 101.75 in weight, height, head and chest, respectively. 2) By the standard of WLI(Weight Length Index) , proper to the children between age 4 and 6 , there proved to be 25% overweight and 4% obesity, 25% overweight and 19% obesity , 28 overweight and 26% obesity in 4-year-old, 5 year-old, and 6 -year-old children, respectively. 3) The children between age 4 and 6 averaged 37.6% in hematocrit and 12.4-12.8 5 in hemoglobin. these values were higher than those of the Korea child development standard. but the numbers of erythocyte, leucocyte and platelets were normal . Only a single child was considered suffering from aenmia . The 8% of them were over 200mg/이 in cholesterol, dangerously approaching the atherosclerosis. The 31% averaged 120mg/이 in triglyceride . And the 6% proved 100mg/이 in blood glucose when hung교. So it came out that not a few children had some factors dangers to diabetes, atherosclerosis and heart diseases : complications arising from obesity. 4) The intake of nutrients , except the 4-year-old children , ranged 108.4% to 2665 from the recommended value. The rates of carbohydrate, fat and protein to be much correlation among total intake of nutrients, development , results of blood test and WLI. The degree of obesity was proportionate to the intake of nutrients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 1995

The relationship of obesity and related behaviors was analyzed among 361 primary school children, 4th and 5th grade, in one of private school in Seoul in July 1994. Compared to 1985 Korean Children's Growth Standard, the surveyed children have shown remarkable growth, which is the secular trend in growth of Korean children accompanied with rapid economic growth. But the relative incremental weight was far larger than that of height and this trend was more evident among children over 50th percentile, which shows a wide prevalence of obesity of the surveyed children. By WLI index, 15% of the children was overweight and 13% was obese. The higher the WLI, the more frequent and stronger stress they had. The nutrition knowledge score of obese children was higher compared to others. They were especially sensitive to their physical fitness but many normal or underweight-children also experienced stress due to their body weight and have tried to lose weight by incorrect methods. On the other hand many obese children thought they were optimal or underweight. These results reasserts the importance of nutrition education focused on children aheading puberty. They need to know the correct degree of obesity and to get appropriate education through teachers, dietitians, parents and doctors. The findings of this study could be applied to a nutrition implementation policy to ensure better physical fitness of children aheading puberty in the future.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.383-392
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• 2010

This study was conducted to prepare basic materials and offer advice regarding dietary habits to prevent and cure childhood obesity by comparing and analyzing dietary habit, nutritional status, blood factors, and mineral contents of hair. All subjects were stratified by their weight-length index (WLI). According to the standard WLI values, 64.9% of children were within the normal value, 13.5% of children were underweight, and 21.6% of children were overweight and obese (WLI ${\geq}$ 110%). Overall, the score assessed dietary habit for all children was $21.32{\pm}2.55$ point (921 subjects), with 5.1% of children having excellent dietary habits and 3.1% having poor dietary habits. Additionally, 37.9% of underweight children, 37.6% of normal weight children, and 43.2% of overweight and obese children consumed higher amounts of protein than underweight children did (meat, fish, eggs, and soy products) (P < 0.05). Overweight and obese children consumed more fried foods than underweight or normal weight children (P < 0.05). Moreover, 38.0% of the children had hemoglobin levels of 12 g/dl, while 7.6% were anemic (11.1 g/dl). When a hematocrit level of 33% was taken as the standard, 11.0% of children were anemic. The plasma transferrin content was $263.76{\pm}54.52$ mg/dl in overweight and obese children. The mean values of Fe, Cu, Ca, Cr, Mn, Se, Na, K, Li, V, Co, and Mo were within the reference values, but the Zn concentrations of underweight, normal weight, and overweight and obese children were $67.97{\pm}28.51$ ppm, $70.09{\pm}30.81$ ppm, and $73.99{\pm}30.36$ ppm, respectively. The Zn concentration of overweight and obese children ($73.99{\pm}30.36$ ppm) was lower than that of the standard value (180~220 ppm). Therefore, a nutritional education program and new guidance for dietary pattern should be developed to reduce the number of underweight and overweight and obese children.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.168-180
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• 1996

This study was accomplished to investigate the prevalence of obesity among the 229 elementary school children(boys; 115 persons, girls; 114 persons) during 4 years by retrospective study. The results were as follows; 1. The mean height and weight of 229 subjects were 143.2cm(boys;143.4cm, girls; 142.7cm), 38.8kg(boys;40.4kg, girls;36.9kg), respectively. And other anthropometric body index such as the mean BMI, Rohrer Index, WLI and Obesity Index of subjects were 18.8(boys;19.5, girls; 18.0), 1.31(boys;1.36, girls; 1.26), 115.5(boys;121.4, girls; 108.9) and 110.6(boys;114.5, girls; 106.7), respectively. 2. The mean percentile values of height and weight of subjects were higher than the '85 Korean Children's Growth Standard, respectively. In the case of boys, the 75th percentile value of weights was larger than that's 97th's. And in the case of girls, the 75th percentile value of weights was equalled to the that's 90th's. 3. When the subjects were classified into 4 groups such as obese, overweight, normal, and lean groups according to Obesity Index, their percentages were 28.8%(boys; 38.3%, girls; 19.3%), ll.8%(boys; 9.6%, girls; 14.0%), 50.7%(boys; 47.0%, girls; 54.4%) and 8.7%(boys; 5.2%, girls; 12.3%), respectively. And only I person(3.3%) is classified into normal group and 2 persons(6.7%) are classified into overweight group when they become 5 grade among 30 persons(13.1%) who were classified into obese group when they were I grade. 4. Changes in percentage of subjects differentiated by 3 indices during 4 years(from I grade to 5 grade) were as follows; In the case of BMI were 5.2%, 5.2%, 11.8%, 21.0%, 27.5%. In the case of Roher index were 13.1%, 11.8%, 14.4%, 14.8%, 17.8%. And in the case of WLI were 15.7%, 21.6%, 29.5%, 32.2%, 36.7%. 5. There was no significant difference among 4 groups on the skip rate of breakfast(obese;48.5%, overweight;55. mean meal time of subjects took about 10 minutes which was short, and the eating rate of obese group was significantly shorter than that of other groups(p<0.05). There was a tendency that the rate of the obese or overweight group eating together in breakfast and dinner was lower than that of normal or lean group. The mean T.V. watching time and the rate of eating out of subjects were 1-2 hours/day and 1 or 2 times/week. In conclusion, the subjects have been grown remarkably compared to the '85 Korean Children's Growth Standard, especially boy's weight. In order to the elementary school children to be grew as healthful citizen they should recognize the importance of meals of everyday, the balanced meals, and desirable eating habits. In addition to these, we should educate the ways of meal-life to them. We also are in need to develope the methods of education for the students themselves and their parents so that could prevent the increase rate of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.156-166
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• 2002

The object of this study was done to assert the dietary habits, food intake, and dietary attitudes of 332 middle school students in a small city. The subject were divided into doe groups based on weight length index (WLI). Anthropometric data showed that the mean height and weight were 169.5 $\pm 8.2 cm and 55.1 $\pm 11.5 kg in the male students and 158.9 $\pm 5.9 cm and 48.1 $\pm 7.6 kg in the female students. The mean WLIs for male and female students were 103.0 $\pm 19.7 and 96.3 $\pm 12.8, respectively. Of the male students 27.9% and of the female students 32.1% were underweight, and of the male students 28.9% and of the female students 13.0% were overweight based on WLI index. Lack of good dietary habits in the overweight group tended to be the highest, the normal group was the second highest, and the underweight group was the lowest. The regularity of eating breakfast and flood prejudice scores in the overweight group were significantly higher than those in the normal and underweight group. With respect to flood intake, the normal group tended to consume grains, yellow or green vegetables, vegetables with light color, fruits, milk, yogurt, cheese, seaweeds, fat-floods, instant floods, sweet floods, carbonated drinks, and spicy and salty floods more frequently. The underweight group tended to consume meat-ham, eggs, fish and fried, stir-fried flood more frequently In dietary attitudes, the overweight group tended to have more favorable dietary attitudes, and the normal group tended to have negative dietary attitudes. The underweight group showed more negative responses to trying to eat/drink milk, yogurt, or cheese everyday than the overweight groups. It might be suggested that more effective nutritional programs should be developed and implemented to ensure good dietary habits in middle school students, including the overweight, as well as the underweight group. Further research on the comparison of dietary characteristics is needed, with consideration of the subjects WLI.