• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 1997

The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors of childhood obesity and the characteristics of the parents of obese children. Methods 110 children of 5years old living in Seoul and Kwangju were surveyed by questionnaire about the children(birth weight, birth order, type of feeding, eating behavior, daily habit) and the parents(weight, height, education). The behaviors of mothers about eating restriction were assessed by three factor eating questionnaire(TFEQ). Children's weight and height were examined and the obesity indeces were calculated. Result: 1) The prevalence rate of obesity among 5 years old children was 20.1%, and male had significantly higher prevalence rate. No significant difference was found in birth weight, birth order, and type of feeding between two groups. 2) The obese group showed significantly more cases of "eat rapidly" 3) fathers of obese children were significantly older and showed higher educational levels. No significant difference was found among parental body mass indeces between two groups. 4) Mothers of obese children showed significantly higher scores of cognitive restriction factor and disinhibition factor in TFEQ. There was no difference in hunger factor, The score of mothers TFEQ was significantly correlated with children's obesity indeces. Conclusion : Children's eating behavior and mother attitude about food restriction have influence on children's obesity among 5 years older children.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.65-75
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sociodemographic factors, BMI, self-esteem, body image, and external factors including parents, peers, and mass media on dieting behavior. The data were collected from 360 high school students in Gyeongbuk region. The respondents who have performed diet in the past or present were classified into the diet group. The students of diet group and non-diet group were 238 and 122, respectively. Frequencies, Cronbach's $\alpha$, t tests, and logistic regression analysis were carried out by SPSS Windows V.17.0. The results of this study were as follows. The diet group had higher level of BMI and concerns about diet than non-diet group. In addition, the diet group showed the more positive attitude about diet, and lower level of self-esteem and body image than the non-diet group. The diet group was more influenced by parents, peers, and mass media on body type than the non-diet group. Finally, according to the result of logistic regression analysis, BMI, attitude about diet, body image, effect of peers on body type, and effect of mass media on body type were significant factors to determine dieting behavior. These results imply that mass media should inform adolescents of proper body image and knowledge about diet. In addition, education for regular exercise also needs for healthy diet.

• Korean journal of health promotion
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2017

Background: Abdominal obesity as measured by waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) may have stronger and inverse associations with cardiovascular (CV) health than overall obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI). However, there was some challenges for controversies. We aimed to examine the associations of WHtR and BMI with CV health among Korean children using data of the 2010-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the sample of 2,363 children by analyzing by gender and two-age groups (10-12 and 13-18 years). Overall obesity was categorized into 3 groups by BMI percentile: non-overweight (<85), overweight (${\geq}85$), and obesity groups (${\geq}95$). Abdominal obesity was categorized into 2 groups by WHtR: normal (<0.5) and abdominal obesity groups (${\geq}0.5$). The CV health score was defined as a z-score by calculating the sum of 7 CV factors. Results: The overweight/obesity groups had significantly lower CV health scores than the normal group (P<0.05) in boys and girls aged either 10-12 years or 13-18 years after adjusting for covariates. The abdominal obesity group also showed significantly lower CV health scores than the normal group (P<0.05) in all the groups; this significant association remained significant in boys aged 13-18 years even after further adjusting for BMI category (P<0.01). Conclusions: Among boys aged 13-18 years, abdominal obesity as measured by WHtR was significantly and inversely associated with CV health, independent of BMI category. Therefore, it should be considered to assess the level of abdominal obesity as a measure of CV health in late adolescent boys.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.223-234
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyze the parent-related factors affecting obesity and overweight in school-aged children. The subjects of this study were 408 students of 4th~6th grade and their parents and examined the degree of obesity, obesity-related characteristics, eating habits and exercise habits of children and their parents. The data were analyzed using $x^2-test$, t-test, ANOVA and multiple logistic regression analysis. The results of this study were as follows: father's BMI OR=1.265(95% CI: 1.133-1.412, p<.001), mother's BMI OR=1.214(95% CI: 1.077-1.368, CI: 1.113-1.725, p= .001), the child's eating habit OR=0.953(95% CI: .909- .998, p= .042), the TV watching time OR=1.385(95% CI: 1.113-1.725, p= .004), the economic state OR=0.132(95% CI: .026- .676, p= .015) were factors related affecting obesity and overweight in school-aged children. Children's obesity was influenced by parent's genetic factors, eating habits and living environment factors. Therefore, it is important to motivate the children as well as the their parents and induce the active participation of the program in order to manage the child's obesity.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.804-811
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• 2008

Purpose : Childhood obesity is a problem that places a child at great risk for becoming an obese adult. To prevent obesity, it is important to focus on early life risk factors that may contribute to childhood obesity. The aim of this study is to find obesity-causing infantile risk factors in preschool children. Methods : A total of 223 children aged 3 to 5 years old from Busan were the subjects of this study. We calculated their body mass index (BMI) and classified them into two groups (normal weight and overweight/obese children). Information regarding parental weight and height, mother's educational level and employment status, birth weight, feeding patterns, start time of weaning, duration of night feeding, and fosterer was obtained by using questionnaires. Results : There were 68 (30.5%) overweight/obese children and 155 (69.5%) normal weight children. Overweight/obese children were significantly associated with formula milk feeding, rapid weight gain during the first 6 months, and maternal obesity (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in paternal obesity, mothers educational level and employment status, birth weight, start time of weaning, duration of night feeding, and fosterer between the normal and overweight/obese children. Conclusion : Although healthy diet and regular exercise will remain the cornerstones of weight management in obese children, our data supports the view that education about maintaining a normal weight could be introduced much earlier in families with high-risk children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1061-1066
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• 2003

Purpose : The rising prevalence of childhood obesity may be due to an energy imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure. Recently, consumption of beverages in children has increased. The aim of this study is to provide useful information for the prevention and the control of childhood obesity by assessment of variable beverage consumption. Methods : Fight hundred seventy seven children(M : F=1 : 1.02, mean age; 9.7 years) from two primary schools in Seoul in May 2003 were enrolled. Body mass index(BMI) was calculated and the degree of obesity was classified into normal, overweight and obese groups by BMI percentile. Parental BMI, socio-economic factor, 3-day dietary intake, calory intake and beverage intake were examined by questionnaires. We researched beverages and classified them into six categories, milk, other milk products, soda, sports beverage, other beverage. Results : The prevalence of obesity was 7.2%. The parental BMI of the obese group were higher than those of the other groups. There was no significant difference in birth weight, or parents' intellectual and economic levels between the obese group and the other groups. There was no significant difference in daily total calory intake between the obese group and the other groups. The obese group of 7-9 year-old-males was higher than the other groups in sodas, and sports beverages intake. The obese group of 10-12 year-old-males was higher than the other groups in total beverage intake and other beverage intakes. The obese group of 10-12 year-old-females was higher than the other groups in other milk products. Conclusion : Excessive intake of beverages is associated with childhood obesity. Efforts to decrease intake of beverages may be important approaches to counter the rise in the prevalence of obesity.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.315-322
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• 2008

Purpose : Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disorder, caused by the deletion of the paternally derived 15q11-13 region or the maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 15 (mUPD(15)). In this study, we compared phenotypic differences between those patients whose disease was caused by microdeletion and those caused by mUPD(15). In addition, a comparison of the efficacy of growth hormone (GH) therapy between these two PWS genotypes was analyzed. Methods : Fifty-three patients were diagnosed as having PWS based on molecular and cytogenetic analyses and clinical features. Data that included maternal age, birth weight, a feeding problem in the neonatal period, cryptorchidism, developmental delay or mental retardation, short stature, hypopigmentation, changes in height, weight, and body mass indexes (BMI) before and after GH treatment were obtained by a retrospective review of medical records. The data from the patients with microdeletion were compared with those from the patients with mUPD(15). Results : Of the 53 patients with genetically confirmed PWS, 39 cases had microdeletion and 14 mUPD(15). Maternal ages were significantly higher in the mUPD(15) group, and hypopigmentation and a feeding problem in the neonatal period were more frequent in the microdeletion group. Growth hormone was administered to 20 patients [14 with microdeletion, 6 with mUPD(15)]. There were no differences between the two groups in height velocity, weight and height SDS, and BMI after GH therapy. Conclusion : Phenotype and genotype correlations were observed in Korean PWS patients, such as more advanced maternal ages in the mUPD(15) group and more feeding problems and hypopigmentations in the microdeletion group. Further long-term prospective studies are needed to correlate other aspects of the phenotypes.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.213-225
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• 1999

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate how the play habits, temperament, and environmental factors might affect childhood obesity. Methods : Two hundred sixty children, aged 4 through 6 years living in Seoul & Cheonan were surveyed by a questionnaire about the children's play habit and the parent's related factors such as weight, height, education, income. In addition the Korean version of the Parent Temperament Questionnaire for Children and the Korean version of the Family Environment Scale were also administered to parents of those children. The height and weight of those children were measured and the percentage of body fat was measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Fatness Analyzer. Result : 1) Among 260 children, 25 children were considered to be obese on the basis of both obesity index and percentage of body fat. 2) Parents of obese children showed a significantly higher educational level(p<0.05) and mothers of obese children had significantly more jobs(p<0.05) and showed higher body mass index(p<0.05) than those of nonobese children. 3) By observing play habits of children, obese children spent significantly longer time in watching TV and video(p<0.05), while nonobese children showed a trend to play outside(p<0.1). 4) On the Korean version of the Parent Temperament Questionnaire for Children, obese children showed significantly less activity than nonobese ones(p <0.05). 5) Family of obese children had significantly higher point on subscale of Achievement orientation, Intellectual-cultural orientation and Moral-religious emphasis of the Korean version of the Family Environment Scale(p<0.05). 6) Percentage of body fat of obese children was correlated with children's watching TV time, activity level, scores of Achievement orientation, Intellectual-cultural orientation of the Korean version of the Family Environment Scale and the both parent's education levels(p<0.05). Conclusion : Obese children showed hypoactivity and more watching TV time. And obese children's both parent had higher educational level and their mother had higher Body Mass Index and more jobs. Family of obese children had higher point on items of Achievement orientation, Intellectual-cultural orientation and Moral-religious emphasis. Family environmental factors influence on children's obesity through interaction of genetic and behavioral-psychological factors concomittently.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.429-440
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• 2015

This study was to investigate factors influencing the school adjustment according to gender and body mass index (BMI) of middle school students who participated in the 2nd-wave Korea Children and Youth Panel Study (KCYPS). This study used a crosssectional design with secondary analysis with KCYPS. The variables were parental interest, behavioral problem, aggression, attention problem, somatic symptom, social withdrawal, depression, and academic achievement. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regressions. School adjustment was significantly associated with academic achievement high, explaining 11.3~19.1% of the variance in boys. School adjustment was significantly associated with attention problem, explaining 14.9~42.4% of the variance in girls. Factors influencing school adjustment were significantly different according to gender and BMI. To improve the school adjustment, it is necessary to develop gender-specific school adjustment promotion programs according to BMI.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.378-394
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• 2016

Purpose: Screening of preschool-age children for nutrition programs to improve dietary intake and behaviors requires cost-effective and easily administered validated assessment tools. The purpose of this study was to develop a parent/caregiver-administered instrument for measuring diet quality and behaviors of preschoolers as a nutrition quotient for preschoolers (NQ-P). Methods: Development of NQ-P was carried out in three steps: item generation, item reduction, and validation. The 24-h dietary record was selected as the gold standard reference tool. The 38 items of the NQ-P checklist were derived from a systematic literature review, expert in-depth interviews, statistical analysis of the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, and national nutrition policies and recommendations. Self-administered questionnaires were delivered to parents who recorded 24-h dietary intakes of 100 responders aged 3~5 yr. Pearson's correlation was used to measure the level of agreement between questionnaires. Item reduction was performed, and 20 items were selected based on survey results, expert reviews, and priorities of national nutrition policy and recommendations. The 412 nationwide subjects sampled through daycare centers completed the 20-item checklist questionnaire. The construct validity of the NQ-P was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, LISREL. Results: After analyses of exploratory factors, NQ-P items identified three dimensions of diet (balance, moderation, and environment). The three-factor structure accounted for 49.28% of the total variance. Standardized path coefficients were used as weights of the items. The NQ-P and three-factor scores of the subjects were calculated by the obtained weights of the questionnaire items. Conclusion: A food behavior checklist for preschoolers' NQ would be a useful and suitable instrument for evaluating nutrition adequacy and dietary quality of Korean preschoolers.