• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 1996

The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of obesity and factors with it Ulsan secondary school girls. A cross-sectional study involving a sample of 485 students aged 12 to 15 years was obtained form secondary schools. Obesity was determined using body mass index(BMI=wt/Ht$^2$). The findings revealed that the average BMI was 19.3, and 4.5% of girls were either overweight and obese(BMI$\geq$25). Subjects were grouped into three categories based on the BMI, sibling obesity, self-consciousness of obesity, eating patterns such as eating snack after dinner and prejudice in food selection, and food frequency score were significantly associated nth BMI, while nutrition knowledge score was not associated with BMI. The fact that several social, environmental and health factors are associated with obesity means that a multisectorial intervention program must be considered in order to decrease the problem of overweight among secondary girls. Such program should include dietary intervention to modify food habits, nutrition education through mass media, introducing information on prevention and control obesity in school curriculum, and allocating sufficient time in the school schedule for exercise activities.