• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.199-210
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• 2023

This study was undertaken to analyze the growth, nutritional, and dietary risk factors of elementary school students belonging to the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education and provide the basic data needed to develop an underweight and obesity prevention program. In 2021, BMI and Dietary Screening Test (DST) data of 4,046 children surveyed by the Nutrition Education Experience Center's "Diagnosis System" of the Busan Regional Office of Education were analyzed. The DST consists of 36 questions about lifestyle habits, meal quality, meal regularity, snack quality, and eating behavior. Of the children included, 6.8% were underweight, 65.4% were normal weight, 13.4% were overweight, and 14.4% were obese. Children in the obesity group had shorter sleep and meal times (P<0.001), lower vegetable and fruit consumption frequencies (P<0.001), higher fast food consumption frequencies (P<0.001), higher rates of skipping meals (P<0.01) and breakfast (P<0.001), and more frequently used smartphones and watched TV during meals (P<0.001). The underweight group had the highest scores for all eating development factors but more frequently had chewing and swallowing difficulties (P<0.001). The study confirms underweightedness and obesity are present different problems and indicates that nutrition teachers should conduct accurate studies on the eating habits and behaviors of obese and underweight students and provide individually tailored nutritional counseling.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.198-212
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• 2001

This study was designed to compare the prevalence rate of obesity, food attitude, food frequency and food habits between children in Kangnung and Seoul areas. 1,005 children aged 9-12 were included in this study. They were composed of 343 children living in Kangnung from one elementary school, and 662 children in Seoul from two elementary schools. The body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences of children were measured and food frequency scores of Korean and Western foods were examined by questionnaire. And questionnaires about food attitude, food habits and life style were administered to the mother of each child. There was no significant difference in body weight and obesity index among three groups(one school of Kangnung area and two schools of Seoul area). The male children\`s prevalence rates of obesity in Kangnung and two schools(A, B) of Seoul were 10.3%, 10.3% and 7.3%, respectively. Female children\`s prevalence rate were 5.4%, 4.7%, and 6.3%, respectively. Children in Seoul turned out to more frequently eat such Korean foods like pulkogi, kalbi and fried rice and such western foods like butter, margarine, hamburger, pizza, and fried chicken. Children in Seoul had more tendency to eat regularly and spent less time in sleeping and watching TV and more time in exercise than the respondents in Kangnung. The obesity index of parents had a significantly positive correlation with that of children. These results suggest that children in Seoul have tendency to eat high-energy food frequently and to have more energy expenditure than children in Kangnung. In conclusion, further studies on the evaluation of energy intake and energy expenditure of obese and normal children different in area should be conducted. (Korean J Nutrition 34(1) : 198∼212, 2001)

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 2021

Objectives: This study examined the association between the dietary behavior and weight status of preschool children and their mothers in Daejeon, Korea. Methods: A total of 301 mother-preschool children (aged 3~6 years) dyads were included in this study. The dietary behavior of children and their mothers was assessed using the Nutrition Quotient (NQ) questionnaire for preschoolers and adults, respectively. The NQ questionnaires were completed by the mothers. The overweight/obesity status of children and their mothers was determined using data on height and body weight reported by the mothers. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the relationship between the dietary behavior and weight status of children and their mothers. Results: The mean NQ score was 58.9 ± 9.7 in children and 55.6 ± 9.2 in mothers. The NQ score was higher in boys than girls but did not vary by age. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 27.5% in children and 46.5% in mothers. The physical activity level of mothers and their NQ scores were positively associated with the NQ scores of the children. After adjustment for covariates, the mothers in the highest tertile of NQ scores showed a lower odds ratio (OR) for the unhealthy dietary behavior of children (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.11~0.53, P < 0.001) compared to those in the lowest tertile. The obese mothers showed a higher OR for children's overweight/obesity (OR = 3.38, 95% CI = 1.68~6.80, P = 0.001) compared to normal weight mothers. Conclusions: The dietary behavior and weight status of young children and their mothers were closely linked. Nutrition education programs targeting mothers are necessary for improving maternal and child nutrition. Specifically, these programs need to be tailored to the socioeconomic characteristics or weight status of mothers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.766-771
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• 2009

Purpose : The objective of this study was to compare the levels of adipocytokines in obesity group with those in control group and examine their correlation with insulin resistance. Methods : We enrolled 36 obese children (male:female [M:F]=17:19; age, $9.3{\pm}1.9yrs$) with ${\geq}95^{th}$ percentile body mass indexes (BMIs) (obesity group) and 35 healthy children (M:F=16:19; age, $9.1{\pm}2.1yrs$) with $25^{th}-75^{th}$ percentile BMIs (control group). We measured the serum leptin, adiponectin, and resistin levels and insulin resistance in both the groups. Results : The weights, heights, BMIs, fasting sugar levels, insulin levels, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values were higher in the obesity group than in the control group. As compared to the control group, the obesity group showed significantly higher leptin levels and lower adiponectin levels; no significant difference was observed in the resistin levels. The leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio was higher in the obesity group than in the control group. In the obesity group, HOMA-IR showed significant positive correlations with weight, height, BMI, and leptin level. However, it was not correlated with age and adiponectin and resistin levels. In the obesity group, leptin level showed significant positive correlations with age, weight, height, and BMI, while adiponectin and resistin levels showed no such correlations with the other variables. Conclusion : We suggest that adiponectin plays an important protective role against weight gain in obese children. Further, L/A ratio can be used as a parameter for predicting the prognosis of obese children.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.987-999
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term nutrition education camp on food and nutrient intakes of obese children. The subjects of the study were 30 obese children in Gumi city who have obesity index over $130\%$. The food consumption of the subjects was surveyed for three days before the camp, for eleven days during the first camp and for three days after the second camp, by food record method. The mean intakes of energy and carbohydrates in obese children were significantly decreased during and after the nutrition education camp, and that of vitamin C was significantly increased after the camp. The mean daily total food intake of the subjects was gradually decreased from 1646.4g before the camp to 1438.6g during the camp and 1412.66g after the camp. Energy and fat intake ratios from grains and milks were significantly decreased after the camp compared with that before the camp, and the energy intake ratio from grains, milks and eggs was significantly low during the camp. The protein intake ratios from grains, potatoes, vegetables and fishes were significantly increased after the camp. The calcium intake ratios from potatoes and milks were significantly increased during and after the camp, and the ratio from eggs was significantly decreased after the camp. The iron intake ratios from potatoes and fishes were significantly increased during and after the camp, and the ratio from grains was significantly low during the camp. The results of the study demonstrated that the short-term nutrition education program positively affected the overall food consumption and nutrients intakes of obese children.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.473-486
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• 2014

This study examines the relationships between dietary self-efficacy, social support, depression, and weight-control behavior of children and adolescents. A total of 593 students (280 children and 313 adolescents) from schools in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Daegu were surveyed using scales for dietary self-efficacy, social support, depression, and weight-control behavior. The data were analyzed through a frequency analysis, means and standard deviations, a t-test, a one-way ANOVA, the Tukey test, the Pearson's correlation, and a stepwise multiple regression analysis. According to the results, weight-control behavior was more likely in girls than boys, high-school students than elementary-school students, and obese/overweight students than normal/underweight students. The factors influencing children's weight-control behavior were general eating habits, the BMI, depression, food choice, and family support, in that order, and those influencing adolescents' weight-control behavior were general eating habits, gender, and the BMI, in that order. These results are expected to be useful as basic data for developing weight-control programs for children and adolescents.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.56-74
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• 1992

To evaluate the nutritional status of the children in socioeconomically high apartment com-pound a nutritional survey of 276 children in the YunJung elementary school was undertaken in July of 1990. Yunjung elementary school is situated in Youido-dong Youngdeungpo-ku of Seoul and offers school lunch program The results were as follows : Anthropometric data of subjects showed higher results than the Korean standards : 11.0% of subjects were proven to be overweight and 21.6% belonged to obese group. Mean urinary the RDA's except for intake of was 10.2$\pm$3.7 Total daily energy and nutrient intake exceeded the RDA's except for intake of iron. Carbohydrate provided 57% of total energy intake; protein accounted to for 17 ; fat provided 27% The between meals provided 27.4% of total energy intake. The survey clarified that school lunch largely contributed to the nutritional balance of these children. Family environment and anthropometric data were positively correlated with nutrient intake. The survey emphasizes the urgent need to improve the nutrition education of these children.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-51
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• 2009

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oriental treatment on pediatric overweight and obesity. Methods From the December 2006 to the May 2008, 19 children were treated of obesity control in J Korean Hospital, electrolipolysis, auricular acupuncture was done 2 times per week for 4 weeks with the consulting of diet and exercise. Nine children were treated for 9 weeks. We checked the change of weight at treatment time and the body composition measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA) per 2 weeks. Results After 4 weeks treatment, the weight loss was 2.67${\pm}$1.75kg. And after 9 weeks treatment, the weight loss of 9 children was 5.91${\pm}$2.73kg. Total fat mass measured by BIA significantly decreased 2.38${\pm}$1.19kg after 4 weeks. BMI and the weight loss of children were significantly correlated. After 4 weeks treatment the BMI significantly decreased 1.43${\pm}$0.89kg/m$^2$. After 8 weeks treatment the BMI of 9 children significantly decreased 3.31${\pm}$1.47kg/m$^2$. Conclusions The pediatric obesity could be effective treated by herdal medicine and electroacupuncture.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 2015

The present study was performed to evaluate food behavior and nutritional status of children in a community child center using nutrition quotient according to age and growth index of children. The number of subjects enrolled in this study was 152 including 73 boys and 79 girls. Participants consisted of children from 5 to 12 years old, who visited a community child center in the area. Growth index was assessed through body mass index by height and weight and examined according to age. Subjects were divided into underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese according to questionnaire, which consisted of five categories including balance, diversity, moderation, regularity and practice, were analyzed by SPSS statistical program. Current results show significant differences in the diversity and regularity (p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively). Additionally, four items in the form of 10 questions showed significant differences related to habits of sodium-related food intake. This study design will be a useful tool in the evaluation of food behavior and nutritional status of preschoolers or elementary school children in community child centers, together with food frequency questionnaires related with sodium food intake.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2024

The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents is increasing worldwide. Obesity in children and adolescents not only increases the risk of transitioning to obesity in adulthood but also increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as high blood glucose, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, and hyperinsulinemia during childhood. The goal of treating obesity in children and adolescents is not to focus on weight loss but to help children reach a healthy weight while maintaining normal growth appropriate for their age and sex. To achieve this goal, regular physical activity and exercise, dietary modification, improvement of obesity-prone environmental factors, and behavioral changes are required for a healthy lifestyle. If appropriate weight control is not achieved through lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy may be considered for adolescents with severe obesity aged 12 and above. Recent clinical trials have reported the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in severely obese adolescents. Currently, two medications can be prescribed in Korea for patients with obesity aged 12 and above: Orlistat and Liraglutide. However, despite effective weight control through drug treatment, body weight may increase again after treatment discontinuation. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate adherence to health behaviors during visits and continue to educate on lifestyle modifications, even during pharmacotherapy, to minimize weight regain.