• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.1037-1044
• /
• 1996

This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of childhood obesity and to figure out the correlation between percentage of body fat and various criteria used for evaluating childhood obesity, and to suggest a new convenient criterion applicable to obesity assessment for large population. subject of 309(male: 153, female: 156) from Uisung elementary school in Kyungbuk, in the age range from 10 to 12 were recruited. The prevalence of obese was evaluated by the methods of Slaughter skinfold equations for children, BMI, and RI. fourteen(4.5%) by Slaughter eq, 39(12.6%) by BMI, 31 (10%) by RI were found to be obese. The results indicate that the evaluation of child obesity is influenced by the methods applied; that is, BMI and RI tend to overpredict the obese while percentage of body fat tend to underestimate. Percentage of body fat by Slaughter equations using triceps and calf skinfold is highly correlated with triceps plus subscapular skinfold thickness(male: r=0.91, female: r=0.88) and with Kim equations for Korean children(male: r=0.93, femlae: r=0.88). The results suggest that, if necessary, practitioners can adequately predict body composition without exposing the upper torso of females.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.344-351
• /
• 2015

Purpose: During the recent decades, the age at menarche continued to decline in Korea and worldwide. Prior studies have suggested that early menarche may increase the risk of various social, psychological, and physical health problems in young adolescent girls, but little is known about the determinants associated with early menarche. The purpose of this study is to evaluate independent determinants of early menarche among 5th~6th female graders in South Korea. Methods: Our analysis was conducted in 95 menarcheal girls and 95 age-matched pre-menarcheal girls residing in Daegu, South Korea. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics were collected using survey questionnaires for children and parents. Dietary information was assessed by 2 day~24 hour food records and survey questionnaires, which were completed by both children and their parents. Anthropometric data were obtained from the student health check-ups at the school. Results: A multiple logistic regression analysis using a conditional likelihood method was performed for simultaneous evaluation of several risk factors. There were significant differences in that higher proportion of obesity (OR, odds ratio = 5.60, 95% CI, confidence interval = 1.34~23.42), shorter sleep duration (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.23~0.87), and younger mother's age at menarche (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.44~0.93) were observed in the menarcheal group compared to the pre-menarcheal group. Conclusion: These findings indicate a possible association of sleep duration, mother's menarcheal age, and obesity with age at menarche. A well-planned, prospective cohort study is warranted to examine causal relationship.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.103-118
• /
• 2007

Housewives' perception on obesity related variables to their family members according to the composition of children in the family was explored. Ninety housewives responded to a questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic informations, body weight perception, eating behaviors perception, and physical activity level for herself as well as her family. They were categorized into three groups based on child composition of the family; boys only (BO), girls only (GO), and boys and girls (BG) families. Boys in BO showed higher value of height, weight, and WHR than girls in GO (p <.05), while no differences were noticed in BMI and the waist girth between the groups. Mothers of BO perceived boys were active while mother of GO did girls were inactive (p <.05). Girls in GO ate meals less regularly than boys in BO and girls in BG. In general, housewives' perception on body weight of family members was relied on BMI and waist girth. As mother's BMI increased, the boy's BMI in BO was also elevated (p <.05), but not in others. Mothers' perception on caloric intake and activity encouragement were not accounted for morphological characteristics. Results suggest that housewives perceived obesity related variables differently based on the composition of children of the family.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.115-123
• /
• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the obesity index, body shape satisfaction and body shape esteem according to weight perception in elementary school students. Method: The data were collected by using a questionnaire and physical examination records. The subjects were comprised of 669 children, all 12-years old, obtained from five (5) different elementary schools located in Jechoen. Data were analyzed with frequency, percentages, Chi-square test, ANOVA using the SPSS program. Results: 12.5% of male students, 11.1% of female students perceived themselves obese. There were significant differences in obesity index according to weight perception in male students ($x^2$=140.47, p= .000), in female students ($x^2$=130.99, p= .000). The percentages corresponding to normal body weight were highest with students who thought themselves thin in male students and self-perceived normal in female students. But in female students, 23.3% of self-perceived thin students, 37.8% of students who thought themselves obese corresponded to normal body weight actually. There were significant differences in body shape satisfaction according to weight perception in male students($x^2$=140.47, p= .000), and in female students($x^2$=130.99, p= .000). The percentages of body shape satisfaction were highest with students who thought themselves normal in male students while and in female students, the students who thought themselves thin were highest. There were significant differences in body shape esteem according to weight perception for male students (F=17.67, p= .000), and in female students (F=13.95, p= .000). The mean scores of body shape esteem were highest with students who thought themselves normal in male students and thin in female students. The students who thought themselves obese were lowest. There were significant differences in weight perception according to father's body shape ($x^2$=13.72, p= .008) in male students and father's educational level ($x^2$=14.90, p= .021), mother's educational level ($x^2$=17.73, p= .007), mother's body shape ($x^2$=13.07, p= .011) in female students.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.214-220
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess hygiene status of meals for poorly-fed children through microbiological quality. Methods: Meals were provided by two social enterprises, one franchise, and one convenience store. There were a total of six meal samples; two samples (social enterprise meal 1; SEM 1, social enterprise meal 2; SEM 2) from two social enterprises, respectively, two samples (franchise meal 1; FM 1, franchise meal 2; FM 2) from one franchise, and two samples (convenience store meal 1; CSM 1, convenience store meal 2; CSM 2) from one convenience store. Microbiological analysis and assessment were performed by Korean food standards codex (KFSC). Results: General bacteria and E. coli in SEM 1 were detected, but the levels were not over KFSC, and Coliform less than $9.2{\times}10$ CFU/g was also detected in seasoned bean sprouts of SEM 1. General bacteria was detected at $1.6{\times}10^6$ CFU/g in cabbage kimchi of SEM 2. Coliform was detected in cabbage kimchi, squid cutlet, stir-fried pork, and fried chicken of FM1 and 2, but the levels were not over KFSC. In addition, S. aureus was detected in cabbage kimchi and seasoned dried white radish of FM 1 and 2 ($9.8{\times}10^2$ CFU/g, $9.4{\times}10^3$ CFU/g respectively), thus was over KFSC. B. cereus was detected in stir-fried pork and fried chicken ($1.2{\times}10^3$ CFU/g, $1.5{\times}10^3$ CFU/g respectively) of FM 1 and 2, thus was over KFSC. Finally, S. aureus was detected in stir-fried dried squid, seasoned spicy chicken, and stir-fried kimchi of CSM 1 and 2, and was over KFSC too ($9.5{\times}10^4$ CFU/g, $2.4{\times}10^2$ CFU/g, $1.3{\times}10^3$ CFU/g respectively). Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that systemic management of hygiene is necessary to safely providing meals to poorly-fed children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.59 no.5
• /
• pp.231-238
• /
• 2016

Purpose: Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) is a 65-kDa acute phase protein, derived from the liver, which is present in high concentrations in plasma. Data regarding the association between circulating plasma LBP levels and obesity-related biomarkers in the pediatric population are scarce. We aimed to determine whether there was a difference in plasma LBP levels between overweight/obese and normal-weight adolescents and to assess the correlation of circulating LBP levels with anthropometric measures and obesity-related biomarkers, including insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and lipid profiles. Methods: The study included 87 adolescents aged 12-13 years; 44 were overweight/obese and 43 were of normal-weight. We assessed anthropometric and laboratory measures, including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, insulin resistance, liver enzyme levels, and lipid profiles. Plasma LBP levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean age of the participants was $12.9{\pm}0.3$ years. Circulating plasma LBP levels were significantly increased in overweight/obese participants compared with those in normal-weight participants ($7.8{\pm}1.9{\mu}g/mL$ vs. $6.0{\pm}1.6{\mu}g/mL$, P<0.001). LBP levels were significantly and positively associated with BMI, systolic blood pressure, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, fasting glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance as indicated by the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (all P<0.05). In multivariate linear regression analysis, BMI and HOMA-IR were independently and positively associated with plasma LBP levels. Conclusion: LBP is an inflammatory biomarker associated with BMI and obesity-related insulin resistance in adolescents. The positive correlation between these parameters suggests a potentially relevant pathophysiological mechanism linking LBP to obesity-related insulin resistance in adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.84-91
• /
• 1992

The purpose of this study was to find family characteristics, habit of dietary intake, physical exercise, and mothers' concern related to obesity through questionaires among 5th grade children of 5 emementary schools in Taegu city from May 29th to June 8th, 1989. The data used in this study were collected from 245 obese children and 327 normal children by Body Mass Index with their body weight and height, and measurement of Triceps Skinfold Thickness The findings were as follows: 1. This survey revealed that Triceps Skinfold Thickness was 11.0mm in the obese group and 7.5mm in normal group. Their parents body weight and BMI of the obese group were higher than those of the normal group. 2. Ending of weaning of the obese group had a faster tendency than that of the normal group. 3. It showed that the children of obese group had a hearty appetite during the evening meal and children of the normal group did so in lunch time. 4. The normal group was willing to take exercise but the obese group was not so. 5. Mothers of the obese group showed deeper concern at quantity of dietary intake and physical exercise than mothers of the normal group for their children's health.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.575-586
• /
• 2006

This study was performed to compare nutrient intakes, diet quality and serum indices (TG, Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, RBC, Hb, Hct, Serum iron, ferritin, MCV) of obese and normal weight children. The subjects were 149 children living in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas. Each subject was assigned to one of such as normal weight group ($15th{\le}BMI$ percentile < 85th, n = 82) or obese children ($85th{\le}BMI$ percentile, n = 67) according to their percentile of BMI by The Korean Pediatric Society. Data on dietary intakes, body composition and serum indices were obtained. Differences of all the above variables were assessed. Energy, carbohydrate, fat, cholesterol, total fatty acid, SFA, MUFA, PUFA, phosphate, potassium, zinc, vitamin $B_1$ and vitamin $B_6$ intakes of girls in the obese group were higher than those of the normal weight group (p<0.05). The intake of fiber was as insufficient as below 50% of KDRIs in both groups. Nutrient adequacy ratio of calcium, iron, phosphate, zinc and folate in obese boys were lower than those of normal weight boys (p<0.05). Energy intakes of grain and milk and dairy food in the obese girl group ($905.9{\pm}344.5kcal,\;210.9{\pm}166.4kcal$) were higher than those of normal weight girls ($671.2{\pm}360.7kcal,\;184.0{\pm}103.5kcal$) (p<0.05). HDL-cholesterol level of obese boys ($52.7{\pm}6.3mg/dL$) was significantly lower than that of normal weight boys ($65.3{\pm}15.6mg/dL$). Serum iron level of obese boys and girls (boys: $79.4{\pm}32.6mg/dL$, girls: $98.3{\pm}16.2mg/dL$) was significantly lower than those of normal weight children (boys: $104.8{\pm}38.6mg/dL$, girls: $106.7{\pm}28.9mg/dL$) (p<0.05). These results suggest that there should be sensible food selection and more intakes of fruit and vegetable are needed to improve the nutritional status in obese children.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.539-551
• /
• 2017

This study investigated the current status and needs for nutrition education to help reduce children's sugars intake at the Center for Children's Foodservice Management (CCFM, n=115), and Child Care Facilities (CCF, n=646) through an online survey conducted from October $5^{th}$ to $30^{th}$ 2015. A total of 14.8% of CCFM respondents and 31.9% of CCF respondents provided nutrition education on sugars intake to young children as a main topic (p<0.001). A higher percentage (CCFM 47.8%: CCF 42.4%) delivered nutrition education on sugars intake to young children as a sub-component (p<0.001). Over 90% of the CCFM and CCF participants agreed on the necessity of providing nutrition education on sugars intake to children. The most common reasons given for delivering nutrition education on children's sugar intake were "there are many more urgent nutrition education topics" for CCFM, and "insufficient nutrition education information and materials" for CCF. The percentage of nutrition education on children's sugar intake provided to the children's parents was low showing about 20% in the both groups. The percentage of CCFM participants providing nutrition, education on children's sugar intake to the teachers in CCF was also low, showing about 14.8%; however, 68.0% of the CCF participants wanted to received teacher's education on guiding children's sugar intake. Regarding ideas about a nutrition education program on children's sugar intake for young children, most respondents in both groups answered "sugar intake and dental cavities or obesity" for appropriate education contents, "story telling or puppet show" for appropriate education methods, and "dietitian from CCFM and class teacher together" for appropriate educator. For appropriate education time, there was a significantl difference between the CCFM responses (average 2.7 times) and the CCF responses (average 4 times). Based on the above results, we found that implementing nutrition education on children's sugar intake at the CCFM and CCF, was low; however, awareness of the need for nutrition education on children's sugar intake and the program development and supply was very high. Also, the opinions of CCFM and CCF participants about a nutrition education program on children's sugar intake for young children can provide foundation data to develop and implement the CCFM-based nutrition education program.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.97-112
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to develop a nutrition education curriculum with teacher's guide which includes discretionary activities for obese children. A survey was carried out to investigate the recognition of body image and food behaviors according to the obesity index (mild, moderate, severe) in school children (4~6th grade, 158 boys and 60 girls) who were selected based on a physical examination in May, 2006 in the Gyeongnam province. Next, a nutrition education curriculum with teacher's guide was developed on the basis of the findings from the survey and from preceding researches. The results are summarized as follow. The results of this study showed the existence of some nutritional problems such as overeating, prejudice, skipping meals, snacking patterns, etc, which indicate the need for nutritional management for obese children. Most overweight children (80.3%) showed the most interest in the nutrition education program, particularly with regards to dieting for weight control (64.7%). The developed nutrition education curriculum consisted of 8 main subjects and 13 subtitles. The curriculum was prepared for 13 lessons and included songs and singing, making-up lyrics, games about nutrition, discussions of the experience of eating (satiety, thirst, hunger), debates on dietary habits, writing and others to promote the interest for learning. We aimed to develop this program in an attempt to improve the dietary habits of obese school children. This is very important because once a dietary habit is formed in adults, it is difficult to change and the best adjustable stage is during childhood. Therefore, early nutrition education during elementary school can change and build-up the awareness of health in young elementary school children.