• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.279-288
• /
• 2000

The study examined BMIs, physical strength, activities, and the attitudes and behavior toward weight control among 7,968 Korean students{2,435 5th graders from elementary schools(ESs), 2,524 2nd graders from middle schools(MSs), 2,739 2nd graders from high schools(HSs)} nationwide. Compared to the 1987 data, there were increases of height(3-6cm) and weight(3-8kg), but decreases of physical strength and exercise. Lack of 'regular exercise' among girls from MSs and HSs and higher proportion of time spent on watching TV and using a computer for elementary schoolers were particularly noticeable. Proportions of students who were satisfied with their body weight were 49% for ESs, 35% for MSs, and 29% for HSs. There was no relationship between subjective and objective evaluations of body weight. Diet rather than exercise was more frequently chosen as a method of weight control. Compared to boys, girls showed stronger association between the amount of exercise and the subjective body weight in MSs and HSs, however this association was not found for the subjects from HSs. Values for the 50th percentile of BMI of boys and girls were 18.4 and 17.7 for ESs, 19.9 and 20.1for MSs, and 21.4 and 20.6 for HSs. In MSs and HSs, boys with BMI between 15th to 85th percentiles were physically stronger than those whose BMIs were lower than 15th kor higher than 85th percentiles. For the other groups, there was a trend of a positive relationship between BMI and physical strength. Based on the analyses of BMI and physical strength, this study suggests 22 and 21 for upper grades in ESs, 24 and 23 for MSs, and 27 and 25 for HSs as the respective cut off points of BMI for weight control n boys and girls. A need for implementing nutrition education program focused on weight control is also suggested.