• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2019

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the current difficulties surrounding children's obesity management and evaluate the application of a mobile phone as a tool to overcome such difficulties of obesity management from the perspective of main caregivers of elementary school students. Methods: The qualitative data were collected through 3 focus group interviews including 6 full-time housewives, 7 mothers with overweight children, and 4 working mothers. Data were analyzed using a thematic approach. Results: The limitations of current children's obesity management included difficulty in diet management and exercise as well as challenges of setting goals and lack of support at the household and school levels. Mobile technology may be useful to overcome the current problems by providing real-time knowledge on diet management and physical activity, online compensation scheme according to goal setting, and interactive environmental supports at both household and school levels for promoting overall health. Conclusions: The mobile-based multiple support program may assist in overcoming the current limitations of child obesity management by providing tailored information and by creating a more supportive environment.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.229-240
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to investigate the impact of dietary habits and obesity on level of oral health in the elementary school children and to characterize the relationship among dietary habits, obesity and level of oral health by DMFT index and perceived oral health. Methods : Participants were 314 total students from one elementary school who lived Yeosan. Self-administered questionnaires were given to the subjects from March 25 through May 12, 2008, to identify their the degree of dietary habits, perceived oral health. A trained investigator made an oral examination of them in natural light using a mirror and explorer to determine their DMFT index. We classified the subjects into Data were analyzed with T-test, one-way ANOVA, and Duncan's multiple range test, pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression using the SPSS WIN 12.0 program. Results : Regarding dietary habit, the subjects achieved a mean of 10.52${\pm}$3.80 out of a maximum 20 points. The DMFT index in the subject was 0.60${\pm}$2.03. The group of obesity by gender were 19.2% and 22.5%. Moreover, those who were children and had more severe level of obesity felt that their perceived oral health and DMFT index were higher. There was a significant assocciation of oral health among elementary school children with obesity. Conclusion : These results suggest that oral health behavioral and attitude, dietary habits and obesity influenced the level of oral health. Thus further research targeting to positive attitude toward effective management of childhood obesity combined with significant dietary habits, may lead to promotion of oral health.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.194-207
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the trends regarding diet and exercise intervention studies for Korean obese children between 2010 and 2017. Methods: This study was synthesized and reviewed systematically by meta-analysis. In addition, a total of thirty nine studies were investigated. The random effect model was used for meta-analysis. Results: Most studies used single interventions and that their theoretical frameworks still required improvement. In addition, on-line education programs still need to increase their number over that of off-line ones. Regarding the dependent variables for understandings the influences obesity may have on Korean children, most studies took advantage of biological indicators. In terms of the effects of obesity management programs, multiple interventions have gained a competitive edge over single ones for Korean obese children's diet and exercise. In a similar vein, healthy eating habits and adequate physical activities would have more positive effects on Korean children' obesity management programs. Conclusion: Further various studies will be needed for the early detection and prevention of obese children through varied interventions and qualitative improvement of studies.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.sup1
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• pp.118-126
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• 2009

The incidence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically. Childhood obesity is an increasing health problem because of its strong associations with chronic health problems in children and adults. These health problems significantly contribute to the development of common chronic diseases in later life, including hypertension, type2 diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, coronary heart disease, and other psychological disorders. So it is an important issue to prevent and treat obesity during childhood and adolescent. Diet and exercise are the cornerstones of treatment for obesity and related complications. For obese children, some clinical trials have shown improvement with diet, exercise, and /or behavioral interventions. Promising interventions for high-risk individuals, such as bariatric surgery and novel pharmacological agents, also require rigorous assessment with attention to long-term patient important outcomes. There are various pharmacological approaches to the treatment of obesity in the adolescent population some of which have FDA approval. In the article we discuss pharmacological approaches to guide the treatment of obesity in the pediatric population, including risks of treatment, monitoring of potential side effects.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.11
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• pp.552-558
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• 2021

The food shortage in North Korea is a serious situation that has spanned the mid-1990s to today. North Korean refugee children, even those born in North Korea, China, or South Korea, had poor nutritional status at birth; thus, their growth and nutritional status should be continuously monitored. This review focused on the health status of North Korean children and the nutritional status of North Korean refugee children upon settling in South Korea. Immediately after entering South Korea, North Korean refugee children were shorter and lighter than South Korean children and had a serious nutritional status. Over time, their nutrition status improved, but they remained shorter and lighter than South Korean children. A new obesity problem was also observed. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor their growth and nutritional status.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 1999

Body mass index(BMI) is recognized as one of the most useful indexes for adiposity in children and adults. This study was conducted to provide information on BMI distribution by age and sex in Korean children, and to identify sociodemographic factors that affected BMI among children. The study was conducted on 2376 children(boys 1184, girls 1192) living in a middle-size city in Korea. Subjects were selected from the primary schoolchildren in grades 1-6 using the two-stage sampling method. Their mean age was 9.4 years. The percentile of BMI tended to increase as age increased in both sexes. The 85th percentile for boys, aged 6-12 years, was 19.8kg/㎡, and the 95th percentile was 22.5kg/㎡. The 85th percentile for girls, aged 6-12 years, was 18.9kg/㎡, and the 95th percentile was 21.5kg/㎡. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to predict BMI from percent ideal body weight (PIBW), age and sex. After adjusting PIBW and age, BMI for boys was 0.062kg/㎡ lower than that for girls. One year of age increased BIM by 0.55kg/㎡. The prevalence rate of overweight and obesity based on PIBW was 15.8% and 15.0% for boys, and 14.0% and 11.0% for girls, respectively. Demographic factors such as sex, age, and parents' obesity influenced children's BMI. After adjusting for sex, age and parents' BMI, the presence of another children in family, and mother's employment status showed a strong effect on children's BMI. The results suggest an age-sex specific BMI distribution of Korean children. The present study also provides direct evidence of a correlation between early life environmental factors, such as presence of siblings or mother's employment, and BMI level in Korean children.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.775-784
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• 2010

Purpose: The study was conducted to describe body shapes of school age children using the degree of obesity index (DOI) and body mass index obesity index classified by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (M-BOI) and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (S-BOI). Methods: In this cross sectional descriptive study health screening data for school children collected in 2007 was used. Results: Data were analyzed for 2,193 4th-6th grade boys (52%) and girls who attended 4 schools in rural areas. DOI determined that only 44.3% of students had average weight. This proportion was much lower than the results of other methods (74.3-77.6%). All three methods defined girls (51.3-61.8%) as skinnier than boys. Skinny and average body shaped children classified by DOI and obese children classified by S-BOI were heavier and taller and presented higher degrees of obesity (DO) and BMI scores than by other methods. M-BOI and S-BOI presented statistically significant positive correlations with weight, height, DO and BMI, while DOI was not correlated with height. Conclusion: BMI based body shape classifications provide a more rigorous classification of body shape which are favorable for school health professionals with limited resources and policy makers for internationally comparable references.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.469-479
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the knowledge of obesity and exercise , attitude to dietary habits and exercise, and physical activities and exercise in elementary school children to provide basic data for obese programs. Methods: The subjects were 850 elementary school children of grade 3-6 in C City and data were collected with a questionnaire. Results: Higher grade, female and overweight children recorded a higher knowledge score than lower grade, male and normal weight children. As for attitude to dietary habit, lower grade and female children had more positive attitude than higher grade and male children. Overweight children were more aware of the seriousness of exercise than normal weight children. In physical activity, lower grade and male children were higher than higher grade and female children. The more interested the children's family were in exercise, the higher score of physical activity they showed. Conclusion: In planning education for preventing obesity, it should give consideration to lower glade and male children. In addition, education for changing dietary habit attitude must be extended to higher grade and male children as well. It is effective to develop and apply physical activity improvement programs in the cooperation and involvement of their families.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.8
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• pp.317-323
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• 2019

Purpose: Investigating the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its association with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) in Korean children and adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional survey used data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2017); 1,256 males and females aged 10-18 years were included. Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid levels were >6.6 mg/dL at 10-11 years of age (both sexes), >7.7 mg/dL for males at 12-18 years of age and >5.7 mg/dL for females at 12-18 years of age. MetS was defined by the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze hyperuricemia-associated risk factors. Results: The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 9.4% (male, 8.4%; female, 10.5%) (P<0.281). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and health behaviors in multivariate analysis (model 1), the odds ratio (OR) for hyperuricemia of MetS was 3.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-7.92; P=0.022). After adjusting for the same variables in model 1 plus obesity and all MetS components (model 2), only abdominal obesity was significant, and the OR for hyperuricemia was 3.38 (95% CI, 1.72-6.63; P<0.001) After adjusting for the same variables in model 1 plus body mass index (BMI) z scores and all MetS components except abdominal obesity (model 3), only BMI z scores was significant, and the OR for hyperuricemia was 1.59 (95% CI, 1.34-1.89; P<0.001). Conclusion: MetS, abdominal obesity, and BMI z scores were CMRFs significantly associated with hyperuricemia in Korean children and adolescents. Therefore, attention should be paid to hyperuricemia in patients with obesity or MetS.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2015

Objectives : In children and adolescents, the prevalence of overweight has increased in the last 20 years. little research is available on the prevalence of obesity in children with autism spectrum disorders(ASD). The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of overweight among a clinical population of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders(ASD). Methods : Retrospective chart review of children ages 3-18 years seen between 2012 and 2015 at a Konyang University hospital psychiatric clinic. Diagnostic, medical, and demographic information was extracted from the charts. Body mass index(BMI) was calculated from measures of height and weight recorded in the child's chart. The Center for Disease Control's BMI growth reference was used to determine an age and gender-specific BMI z-score for the children. Results : In our study, children with ASD compared to non ASD group had significantly higher BMI percentiles (p=0.032). The prevalence of overweight($BMI{\geq}85th$ to 95th percentiles) and obesity($BMI{\geq}95th$ percentiles) was 35% and 19% respectively in children with ASD and without ASD. Conclusions : Despite noted limitations, our data suggest that overweight and obesity in children with ASD are more prevalent than without ASD. Longitudinal and further study is needed to examine the factors associated with obesity in this population.