• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.97-108
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• 2000

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.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.393-409
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• 2005

This study examined effects of self-perceived obesity, peer victimization, stress, and maternal child rearing behaviors on self-esteem in an obese group(OG) and a normal weight group(NWG) of elementary school children. Subjects were 1,501 elementary school children in the 4th to the 6th grades in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Andong and their mothers. Major findings were that maternal child rearing behaviors and stress related to parents and home environments influenced children's self esteem only in the NWG; school-related stress was an influential variable on children's self esteem in both the NWG and OG. Peer victimization influenced children's self-esteem in both NWG and OG. Self-perceived obesity influenced some domains of children's self-esteem, especially in girls.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 1998

This study was undertaken to examine relations between obesity and birthweight, parental weight and serum biochemical levels(lipids , glucose, insulin and aminotransferase) in elementary school children aged 10-12 . The weight of obese girls was higher than that of obese boys, while WHR was higher in obese boys than in obese girls. The birth weight of the obese children was significantly higher than that of the non-obese children(p<0.01), and was positively correlated with current weight. The concentrations of serum TG, LDL, VLDL, LDL-cholesterol, glucose, insulin and ALT in obese children were much higher than those in non-obese children . However, the serum HDL -cholesterol concentration of the obese children was significantly lower compared with that of the no-obese children. On the other hand, little differences in these levels were found between genders. The concentrations of PL, TC and AST in the groups showed no significant differences. In the obese children, serum concentrations of TG, LDL-cholesterol , glucose and ALT were more closely associated with GMI than with WHR. No significant correlation was found with serum insulin , glucose and TG levels. These data show that childhood obesity may be related to hyperlipidemia , atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and fatty liver.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.192-203
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare physical self-concept, academic self-concept and depression among obese and over-weight and normal weight children. Methods: The 6th grade children in two elementary schools (n=287) completed self-report questionnaires measuring self-concept and depression. Results: The mean score of depression and self-concept in normal weight children were 9.76 and 92.59. In obese and over-weight children, depression and self-concept were 12.31 and 86.69 respectively. Subjects who were obese and over-weight showed significantly lower scores of physical self-concept (t=-4.621, p<.001) but not significantly low in academic self-concept (t=-1.065, p=.288) than normal weight children. Meanwhile, this study shows that subjects who were obese and over-weight were significantly higher level of depression than subjects in normal weight (t=2.480, p=.014). Conclusion: In conclusion, obese and over-weight children showed negative aspects in the developmental course. This study demonstrates that obese and over-weight children should be treated as a risk group who needs any professional help such as a school mental health program for normal development.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.146-156
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyze characteristics of the obese children in depth and provide basic information for a comprehensive educational program for the obese children. Physical and biochemical characteristics, nutrient intake, and self-esteem, etc. of 16 obese elementary school children (OC) and 14 normal weight elementary school children (NWC) were examined. Self-esteem was measured using Likert-type scales with description. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and glucose of OC were higher than those of NWC. Dietary intake with a lunch provided more energy and vitamin B1 in OC than in NWC. Physical appearance and athletic competence among self-esteem in OC were lower than in NWC. However, there was no significant difference in physical activity between OC and NWC. In OC, atherogenic index was positively related with waist circumference, obesity index and BMI while athletic competence self-esteem was negatively related with them. It is recommended that the children should receive the comprehensive educational program for improving children' dietary behavior and their self-esteem.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.451-461
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• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a obesity management program on BMI, body composition, knowledge, perception and attitudes, mood and exercise habits in obese elementary school children with the goal of developing nursing interventions to promote a healthy lifestyle. Method: The study used a pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-post test. The content of the 8-week obesity management program included obesity education, diet control education, behavioral modification education, counseling, hand-reflexo massage, and exercise. Participants were 36 obese children who were students in elementary schools in K city. Data collection was done from October $4^{th}$ to November $28^{th}$, 2005. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Results: After the students received the obesity management program, their BMI scores were significantly lowered, and scores for mood and excercise habits were significantly improved. Conclusion: The results show this obesity management program is effective in changing the BMI, mood, and behavioral modifications in obese students. The results suggest that this program be utilized to manage obesity in obese children, and that this study be replicated to compare an experimental group with a control group in order to verify the effects of the obesity management program.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.272-280
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• 2006

This study examined the weight control and food habits in 160 obese children and 191 normal-weight children in 4th, 5th and 6th graders of some elementary schools in Gumi city. Regarding the subjects' self-recognition of their body shape, 27.8% of the normal weight group and 92.5% of the obese group acknowledged themselves to be obese. 58.9% of the normal weight group and 61.0% of the obese group were not satisfied with their own body shape and the difference between two groups was very small, 23.6% of the normal weight group and 87.5% of the obese group have tried to reduce weight. The main causative factor of weight gain that children themselves recognized was a sedentary life style. All the students showed a high rate of irregular and unbalanced diet. The obese children showed a significantly higher rate of skipping meals and eating meals faster than the normal weight children. More obese children disliked exercise, and did less excercise than the normal weight children. There was a negative correlation between the obesity index and the food habit score. In other words, they frequently skip a meals, eat in a hurry and dislike vegetables and dairy products. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the student's BMI and the parents' BMI. Overall, many normal weight children showed a high level of self-consciousness of being obese or underweight. Both groups showed a low degree of satisfaction with their own body shape. Therefore education for the distorted perception of body shape is needed because, even normal weight children have tried to reduce their weight. Obese children should be encouraged to exercise, not skip a meals and eat slowly. They also need a systematic education program on weight reduction and weight maintenance. Moreover, education on a healthy diet, healthy food habits, and healthy body shape are necessary for elementary school children.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.482-491
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• 2007

This study was carried out to find out differences about meal conditions and food preference between non-obese and obese elementary school children. Ten children(non-obese 5 and obese 5) from each of the nationwide 192 schools were surveyed by self-developed questionnaire. Total of 1,767 questionnaires(815 from non-obese and 952 from obese children) were collected and data were analyzed using SPSS 12.0 program. The results of the comparative analysis were summarized as follows. There was not significantly different in height between non-obese $group(151.0{\pm}12.5cm)$ and obese $group(151.2{\pm}12.3cm)$. But BMI was significant difference between non-obese $group(18.0{\pm}2.2cm)$ and obese $group(27.3{\pm}3.2cm)$. Economical status was not significantly different between 2 groups. But educational level of parents and mother’ job were significant differences between 2 groups. Only 2/3 of the subjects reported to have breakfast at regular basas, regularity of having breakfast was not significantly different between 2 groups. Also regularity of having lunch during vacation was not significantly different between 2 groups. But Reasons of skipping breakfast and lunch were significantly different between 2 groups. Regularity of having dinner, reasons of skipping dinner, intake amount in dinner, and frequency of having snacks were significantly different between 2 groups. But the time required for lunch and dinner were under 20 minutes of 60-80% of the subjects, and were not significantly different between 2 groups. Non-obese group have liked fast foods, fruits & juices, sweets, and cakes & cookies than obese group. Obese group have liked meat & meat products and ramyeon, but they have not eaten those foods frequently because of anxiety about being more fatty. These findings suggested that nutrition education programs include different strategy according to obesity and obese prevention program is needed for non-obese school children.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.133-148
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• 1995

Recently, childhood obesity is increasing in Korea mainly due to westernized dietary pattern. The purpose of this study is to investigate diet pattern(habit and behavior), nutritional knowledge and taste favor in normal and obese children. We carried out anthropometries and self questionaire about life style among the 5th-grader in elementary school(88 boys, 102 girls) in Seoul. The results are as follows : Physical conditions are boys’average hight and weight 142.0cm, 37.5kg ; and girls’143.7cm, 35.6kg. BMI are normal group 38.7% and abnormal group 61.3%(obese 24.2% underweight 16.1% overweight 14.0% very underweight 7.0%) A great part of obese children live in apartment house(79.5% of obese children in southern Seoul; 60.2% in northern Seoul). Obese parents have obese children. Diet behavior, diet pattern, food habit and food preferance of children are similar to their parents, especially their mothers. Preferance in taste of children follows in order of hot, sweet and mild. Especially obese children favor sweet taste more than others. The 61% of them are interested in weight control. Their nutritional knowledges are poor(4.9/10). They like more westernized food(hamberger) than korean food(In-jul-me).

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2000

Two hundred sixty six children were retrospectively surveyed from first to fifth grade to find out the status of obesity during four years. The obesity index was gained by height and weight data from student's health file and the data about eating behaviors and weight control behaviors, etc. were collected by questionnaires. Children assigned to one of the following groups : underweight, normal, overweight and obese. The results were as follows ; 1. Obese children were 18.6%(n=27) of boys and 10.8%(n=13) of girls at fifth grade. 2. Twenty eight children among forty obese children at fifth grade were also overweight or obese at first grade, and the other twelve was normal. 3. Breakfast skipping rate was significantly high among underweight and obese group of boys(p<0.01).The most children(87.6%) had prejudice for special foods. 4. The rate of agreement between obesity index and self recognition of body image was 60.7% in boys and 63.6% in girls. 5. Forty two point five percent of children have ever tried weight control as exercise(35.7%), reducing sugars and snacks(27%), fasting(23.8%), avoiding fatty foods(12.7%), taking diet food or drug(0.8%). In conclusion, the prevalence of children obesity is gradually increasing and children tried weight control without right guidances. In order to prevent progress into adulthood obesity, nutrition education should be followed with school foodservice including the right perception for obesity, proper weight control and eating behavior modification.