• 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 East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.651-661
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• 2008

The mother's obesity-related stress and it's association with obesity, food intake, and physical activity in both mothers and their children were determined. Based on self-reports from 470 mothers, obesity stress of mothers were scored by using a five-point Likert scale; only low and high stress scores were used in this study. The perceptions of mothers' weights and their children's weights, mothers' Body Mass Indices (BMI), and preschoolers' Weight-Length Indices (WLI)(%) were also determined. The obesity stress of mothers was significantly associated with the mothers' BMI (high stress: $23.5{\pm}2.4$ vs. low stress: $19.6{\pm}1.7$, p<0.05), but not with their children's obesity. Mothers with a high obesity stress reported a higher percentage of family history of obesity (62.1% vs. 38.3%, p<0.001) than mothers with low obesity stress. Compared to mothers with low obesity stress, mothers with high stress had lower correct-perceptions about their weights (p<0.05) but higher correct-perceptions for their children's weights. Almost 54.5% of mothers with high stress reported watching television 2 or more extra hours per day, compared with 32.2% of mothers with low stress (p<0.05). More children of mothers with high stress had long hours of daily TV viewing than children of mothers with low stress (36.0% vs. 15.3%, $X^2=10.491$, p<0.05). Mothers with high stress reported lower intake of protein-rich foods (p=0.01) and vegetables (p=0.039), but a higher intake of snacks (p=0.009), compared to mothers with low stress. More children of mothers with high stress reported eating high fat snacks or high sugar snacks everyday, but this was not statistically significant. In conclusion, high obesity stress in mothers were greatly associated with their BMI and their inactive life style, including long TV viewing hours per day and unbalanced food intakes, which can lead their children becoming inactive and obese. Special attention is recommended for overstressed mothers and their children, especially those who enjoy long hours of TV viewing.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.99-109
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• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Auricular acupressure with semen sinapis in obese children over a specific period of time. Methods : The study subjects included 27 obese children who were evaluated as such using Broca's Index at an elementary school located in M city. The data was collected throughout March 2, to May 31, 2005. In order to collect data, as a pre-test, characteristics of obesity and general characteristics were examined. Experimental treatments were used on Shinmun, Kijeom, Wijeom, Bijeom and Naebunbijeom. Among the auricular spots, one pill of semen sinapis was placed and pressed for five seconds at a time with exerted force and the subjects endured pain. This procedure was conducted ten tunes every morning, noon and evening for a period of six weeks. As a post-test, the degree of obesity were examined two weeks, four weeks and six weeks after acupressure had been applied. The data was collected and analysed using the SPSS/WIN 10.0 program by number, percentage, mean standard deviation, and Repeated Measure ANOVA. Result : The first hypothesis that 'The obesity of the children who had auricular acupressure with semen sinapis will show no difference over time' (two weeks, four weeks and six weeks after acupressure had been applied) was rejected(p=.000). A statistically significant difference in the obesity of the children who had auricular acupressure with semen sinapis was shown over time. The children's obesity degree reduced from 35.85% before auricular acupressure with semen sinapis to 28.67% six weeks after acupressure. Thus after six weeks of acupressure the relative degrees of obesity were reduced by 7.18%. Conclusion : Bases on the above results, it can be determined that auricular acupressure with semen sinapis can be used as an effective method of treatment in Korea, for reducing degrees of obesity in 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 the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the differences in environmental and psychological factors in children with obesity and to offer useful information for obesity treatment and prevention. 123 children of 5-6th grade in elementary school and their mothers were included in this study and divided into either the obese group and normal group(obese group: 61, normal group: 62) according to the Weight-Length Index(WLI). Results showed that between the two groups there no significant differences in family income, mother's occupation status, educational level, and anthropometric measurement. Nutritional knowledge in the obese group was significantly higher than that of the normal group(p<0.05). The mothers of children with obesity had a higher level of nutritional knowledge than the mothers of normal children(p<0.05). There were no significant differences in food behavior between the obese and normal groups. There were no significant differences in maternal child-rearing practices and in maternal attitude on flood behavior of children. Considering psychological factors ; 72.1% of the children with obesity appraised their body image as obese(p<0.05), and 54.1% of the mothers in obese group perceived their child's body shape as obese(p<0.05). The level of self-esteem were not significantly different when compared between the obese and normal groups. From these results, it was suggested that effective measures for obesity treatment and prevention should include nutritional monitoring, and such efforts need to be maintained in order to help the obese children and their mothers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare
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• no.40
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• pp.201-228
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• 2012

The purpose of this research was to investigate the mediation effect of bullying on the associations between children's overweight and obesity problem and mental health problems. Data from a subsample of 2,306 adolescents, who participated in the "child-youth synthesize survey" was utilized. The measurement and structural models were estimated using structural equation modeling. Partial and full mediation models were compared, and X2 difference test was conducted between the two models. The study results show that children's overweight and obesity problem have a direct effect on mental health problems. In addition, bullying was found to mediate the association between children's overweight and obesity problem and mental health problems. The analytic results confirmed that the model fit for the full mediation model was better than the partial mediation model when examining the mediating effect of bullying on the relations between children's overweight and obesity problem and mental health problems. Efforts to prevent mental health problems may require interventions for children's with overweight and obesity problems as well as inventions for reducing bullying in general.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.189-203
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the current barriers of obesity management for children using Community Child Care Centers and their caregivers (parents and teachers working in the Centers). Further, this study explored the possibility of utilizing a mobile phone application for tailored obesity prevention and management programs to overcome the current difficulties associated with children's obesity management. Methods: The qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with 20 obese and overweight children or children who wanted to participate in this study using Community Child Care Centers, 12 teachers working at the Centers, and a focus group interview with five parents of children using the Centers. Data were analyzed with a thematic approach categorizing themes and sub-themes based on the transcripts. Results: The current barriers of obesity management of obese and overweight children using Community Child Care Centers were lack of self-directed motivation regarding obesity management (chronic obesity-induced lifestyles and reduced self-confidence due to stigma) and lack of support from households and Community Child Care Centers (latchkey child, inconsistency in dietary guidance between the Center and household, repetitive pressure to eat, and absence of regular nutrition education). Mobile phone applications may have potential to overcome the current barriers by providing handy and interesting obesity management based on visual media (real-time tracking of lifestyles using behavior records and social support using gamification), environmental support (supplementation of parental care and network-based education between the Community Child Care Center and household), and individualized intervention (encouragement of tailored and gradual changes in eating habits and tailored goal setting). It is predicted that the real-time mobile phone program will provide information for improving nutritional knowledge and behavioral skills as well as lead to sustainable children's coping strategies regarding obesity management. In addition, it is expected that environmental factors may be improved by network-based education between the Community Child Care Centers and households using the characteristics of mobile phones, which are free from space and time constraints. Conclusions: The tailored education program for children using Community Child Care Centers based on mobile phones may prevent and reduce childhood obesity by overcoming the current barriers of obesity management for children, providing environmental and individualized support to promote healthy lifestyles and quality of life in the future.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.216-225
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• 2018

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the associations between obesity and the children's Nutrition Quotient (NQ) and to further examine the relationships between NQ and mini dietary assessment (MDA) of their parents. Methods: The subjects were 355 children aged 3 to 5 years and their parents in Dongducheon. We collected parental-reported NQ questionnaires for children and MDA of parents. Anthropometric measurements, height, weight and BMI by BIA were measured in children. Overweight and obesity were determined according to age- and sex-specific BMI percentile from the 2007 Korean national growth chart. Statistical analyses consisted of the chi-squared test, ANOVA, partial correlations and logistic regression analysis adjustments for parents BMI. Results: Approximately 20.8% of preschool children were classified as overweight or obese. Underweight children showed a significantly higher score for balance than overweight children. The NQ of the children was $61.9{\pm}11.6$, and NQ scores and their parents' MDA did not exhibit any significant differences according to degree of obesity. After adjusting for parent's BMI, children's BMI was significantly correlated with balance and moderation among NQ factors. Parent's MDA showed significant correlation with their children's NQ, balance, diversity, moderation, regularity, practice and NQ grade, except for diversity of father. Additionally, NQ grade had a significantly increased (150.1%) odds ratio (OR) of being overweight (95% CI 1.008-2.234). Conclusions: These results show that NQ for children is influenced by their parents' MDA and BMI. Furthermore, our findings support the association between overweight prevention and improvement of NQ grade among preschool children.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 1997

This study was designed to investigate the obesity rate with anthropometric indices, nutritional status and serum lipid levels of 260 school children from 5th grade of elementry school residing in Puchon city. Obesity was defined as fat percentage that exceeds 25$\%$. The prevalence rate of obesity were 15.2$\%$ for male and 14.1$\%$ for female. Mean fat percentage, BMI and Rohrer indice of obese male were 30.3$\%$, 21.0 and 150.2 respectively and 28.0$\%$, 21.5 and 151.9 for obese female. Mean serum TG, apo-B of obese female was significantly lower than that of non-obese. Obese male did not show any difference in serum lipid levels. The proportion of students whose serum cholesterol levels exceed 170mg/dI, which is cutoff point of bordeline for coronary artery disease, was 12.0% for male and 15.6$\%$ for female. The major factors affecting nutritional status were the amount of living expense, existence of mother's job and the regularity of having breakfast. Children who's living expense more than 500 thousants Won showed lower intake of Iron, vitamin A, thiamin, niacin and ascorbic acid(p$\ll$0.05). Children who's mothers are having a job were observed with decreased height(p$\ll$0.05). Children having breakfast regularly showed increased BMI and Rohrer indice than those of children having breakfast often of never.