Abstract
Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate and compare the growth, blood pressure, and s-cholesterol of urban and rural students in Korea. Methods: April 1999, We examined the students' health of a boys high school and a girls high school in a urban area - Jeonju, Korea.(boys were 317, girls were 343). And we also examined the students' health of a high school in a rural area - Gimje, Korea.(boys were 33, girls wee 36). Height, body-weight, Body Mass Index(BMI)I, blood pressure, and s-cholesterole were checked and compared between two groups. Results and Conclusion: The mean of height in urban students was $165.25{\pm}7.79cm$, and that in rural students was $163.77{\pm}8.72cm$. There was no significant difference stastically between two groups. The mean of body-weight in urban students $(57.78{\pm}10.51kg)$ was significantly higher than that in rural students $(54.71{\pm}10.11kg)$)(p<0.05). The mean of body mass index(BMI) in urban students $(21.12{\pm}3.27kg/m2)$ was significantly higher than that in rural students $(20.30{\pm}2.69kg/m2)$(p<0.05). Obese students $(BMI{\geq}27)$ were 31(4.70%) in urban students, 3(4.35%) in rural students. The mean of systolic blood pressure in rural students $(114.99{\pm}9.50mmHg)$ was significantly higher than that in urban students $(111.89{\pm}12.42mmHg)$(p<0.05) The mean of diastolic blood pressure in rural students$(75.72{\pm}9.90mmHg)$ was very significantly higher than that of urban students $(68.45{\pm}9.40mmHg)$(p<0.001). Hypertensives (${\geq}138/86mmHg\;in\;boys,\;{\geq}130/83mmHg$ in girls) were 28(4.24%) in urban students, 13(18.84%) in rural students. The mean of s-cholesterol in urban students was $174.95{\pm}32.28mg/dL$, and that in rural students was $176.81{\pm}33.18mg/dL$. There was no significant difference stastically between two groups. Hypercholesterolemias (${\geq}198mg/dL$ in boys, ${\geq}212mg/dL$ in girls) were 130(19.70%) in urban students, 14(20.89%) in rural students. These results suggest that there are differences in body weight, BMI, and diastolic blood pressure between urban and rural students and that it is necessary to consider these differences in health examination.