• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.226-233
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• 2011

Objectives: Being overweight or obese is central to metabolic syndrome, and these characteristics constitute dominant risk factors for chronic diseases. Although behavioral factors, including eating habits and sedentary lifestyles, are considered to be determinants of obesity, the specific childhood factors that contribute to this condition have not been clearly defined. Methods: The subjects consisted of 261 children aged 7- 9 years who were recruited from an elementary school during October 2003. Information was obtained from their parents using a questionnaire focused on eating behaviors and lifestyle factors, additional data were also collected via anthropometric measurements and biochemical examinations, including blood tests. Results: A total of 48 (18.4%) of the 261 children were overweight, and 34 (70.8%) had at least one other component of metabolic syndrome. Eating behaviors emerged as significant lifestyle-related risk factors for being overweight or obese. Those who engaged in overeating more than twice per week had three times the risk of being overweight (odds ratio [OR], 3.10, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39 to 6.92), and those who ate rapidly had three times the risk of being overweight (OR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.68 to 6.41). Those who had fewer family meals (fewer than 2?3/month) had a nine times higher risk of being overweight than those who had family meals more frequently (at least 1/day) (OR, 9.51; 95% CI, 1.21 to 74.82). Conclusions: This study showed that being overweight or obese during preadolescence is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and is related to unhealthy eating behaviors. Thus, weight-control strategies and healthy eating behaviors should be developed early in life to reduce the risk for metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.23-37
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the health status of preschool children using the questionnaires about dietary behaviors and anthropometric indices. And also nutritional status was investigated using questionnaires for 24-hr recall method. The study was conducted in 145 children aged 3 to 6 years and questionnaires for dietary behaviors and dietary intakes were performed by mothers of children in Ulsan. Just nine percent of children were graded as good in terms of having healthy eating habits, this means that the nutrition education for the dietary behaviors should be more focused on preschool children. With regard to the frequency of food intake, children consumed green & yellow vegetables less frequently, meanwhile consumed high protein source food (meat, egg and bean) and milk and its product more frequently. Children almost never consumed fried foods as often as 1-2 times a weak. In assessment of the health status, children have the highest prevalence of colds and allergy, but lower prevalence of clinical symptoms due to the nutritional deficiency. The mean height was $103.6\;{\pm}\;6.4\;cm$ and significantly different among age (p < 0.05), but was not significantly different between sex. The mean weight was $17.8\;{\pm}\;3.0\;kg$ and significantly different in 5, 6years old among age. By the WLI criteria, 11.1% of children were underweight and 17.4% of children were overweight or obese. By the Rohrer index criteria, any children were not underweight and 86.8% of children were overweight or obese. By the Kaup index criteria, 2.8% of children were underweight and 29.2% of children were overweight or obese. And Obesity Index criteria, 2.1% of children were underweight and 20.8% of children were overweight or obese. The results of obesity rate by all criteria except Rohrer index indicated similar level, were significantly high in age 3 with all criteria, and decreased with age increased. The energy intake of children was lower than EER (Estimated Energy Requirements) of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) by as much as 85.7%. Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR) was 62.6:21.5:15.7 as carbohydrate:protein:lipid, so children consumed protein more, but consumed lipid less compared with those of KDRIs. Vitamin A intake was 133% of recommended intakes (RI) and calcium intake which was identified as the nutrient most likely to be lacking in diets was 98.9% of RI. The intakes of all minerals and vitamins except folate were higher than KDRIs. 33.3% of children were distributed in insufficiency of energy intake, 42.7% of children were distributed in insufficiency of lipid intake. These results indicate that the need of developing of nutrition education program and further concern of a public health center, university and children care center about dietary life for preschool children.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.744-750
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• 2012

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of 12 weeks-moderate aerobic exercise training on body composition, adiponectin, retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4), and vascular inflammation factors in obese children. The subjects were classified into two groups, one of which was an exercise group (n=15) practicing moderate aerobic exercise training for 12 weeks, and the other group, the control group (n=13), was not in that program. The exercise group participants performed on the treadmill running at heart rate reserve (HRR) 50% of exercise intensity for 300 kcal of the consumed time. The results of all the studies and inspections are as follows: Weight, body mass index, body fat, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower, while $VO_2$ max was higher in the exercise group than in the control group (p<0.05, respectively). Fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels in the exercise group were significantly decreased (p<0.05), whereas adiponectin levels in the exercise group were significantly increased after 12 weeks' exercise training (p<0.05). In addition, our results showed that RBP4, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations in the exercise group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). This investigation has shown that a 12 weeks-regular aerobic exercise program offers useful effects such as an amelioration of inflammation and body indices in obese children.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1261-1267
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• 2012

The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise training program and a gym-ball exercise training program on body composition, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), adipokines, and cardiovascular risk factors in obese children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The subjects were separated into two groups, an aerobic exercise group (n=10), which practiced moderate aerobic exercise training for 12 weeks, and a gym-ball exercise group (n=13), which practiced resistance exercise training for 12 weeks. The results of the analyses are as follows: Weight, body mass index, and body fat were significantly lower (p<0.01, respectively), whereas the $VO_2$ max was higher in both groups (p<0.01). Fasting glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR levels were significantly decreased in the gym-ball exercise group (p<0.05), whereas adiponectin, AST, and ALT levels were significantly increased (p<0.05, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively) in both groups after the 12-week exercise training program. In addition, our results showed that HOMA-IR, insulin, and concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly lower in both groups. They demonstrate that a 12-week program of regular aerobic exercise or gym-ball exercise yields beneficial effects such as an amelioration of cardiovascular risk factors, body indices, and liver function in obese children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.69-77
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to determine the probability of overweight throughout childhood in relation to the presence of overweight at birch or in early childhood, and presence of overweight in children's parents. Weight and height measures were collected at birth and at ages of 7, 10, 12 years from 655 6th grade primary schoolchildren. Childhood overweight was defined as a body mass index at or above the 85th percentile for age and sex, and overweight in children's parents as a body mass index at or above 27. The prevalence of overweight increased with age of the children. Overweight at birth was not associated with overweight at 12 years of ages. However, overweight at 12 years old was already related to overweight at 7 years old. In comparison to non-overweight peers, overweight children at ages 7(OR = 7.64, 95% CI = 4.32-13.51) and 10 years(OR = 19.69, 95% CI = 11.42-33.94) had a higher rick of becoming overweight at 12 years of age. Among children who was overweight at age 7years, 60.7% remained overweight 5 years later, Yearly increment in BMI of overweight children was larger than that of non-obese children (1.15-1.65kg/m$^2$vs 0.50-0.71kg/m$^2$. As compared with the lower case in mealy increment of BMI, the probability of being overweight at age of 12 years was greater in higher case. BMI values at age 7years were positively correlated with BMI values at age of 10 and 127ear,i, and with annual increments in BMI. But those relationships with birth weight were not observed. Children were at greater risk for overweight if at least ogle parent was overweight. The odds ratio for child overweight associated with maternal overweight was 2.41(95% CI = 1,13-5.IS), and those associated with paternal overweight 1.70(95% CI = 0.92-3.17). And parents' BMIs were positively correlated with children's BMI values and yearly BMI increment. In conclusion, overweight at early childhood and annual inclement in BMI can be important in predicting the prevalence of overweight and the risk that overweight will remain after 7 years of age. The risk of being overweight throughout the childhood increases by the parents'overweight.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.146-153
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• 2011

For the purpose of carrying out nutrition counseling effectively and efficiently, this study assessed the nutrition counseling practice, perception and nutrition knowledge of elementary school children in Gyeongbuk province. Survey questionnaires were distributed between November 2009 and December 2009 to 100 nutrition counseling experienced children (participants) and 110 nutrition counseling non-experienced children (non-participants) and were completed with nutrition teachers' assistance. According to the survey results, girls and overweight/obese children showed higher tendency of participation in nutrition counseling (p<0.001). Participants who took nutrition counseling according to their own intentions showed satisfaction after counseling on diverse subjects such as obesity, unbalanced diet, and weight control. Particularly, 'lack of counseling session time', 'unfavorable counseling condition' or 'difficult explanation' caused participants unsatisfaction after counseling. Participants usually perceived the meaning of nutrition counseling more correctly than non-participants and showed positive intentions for taking further counseling in the future(p<0.001). Diet good for weight control, good food to fix unbalanced diet and diet good for growing stature were the top three subjects of nutrition counseling chosen by subjects (p<0.001). Participants also showed higher nutrition knowledge scores than non-participants. Therefore, it is critically important to apply nutrition counseling in the proper environment (counseling room, time, teaching materials, etc) to elementary school students to fix healthy food habits. Therefore, nutrition teachers need to be provide professional nutrition counseling skills and knowledge.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2008

Purpose: The objective of this study was to study the effect of the obesity control program to the extent of the overweight children's knowledge about obesity, physical exercise, dietary habits and the extent of obesity. Methods: A total of 61 elementary school children between the age of 9-12 were chosen for this study: 31 overweight children whose extent of obesity exceeded over 20% when measured using Broca index and other 30 overweight children of the same category for the comparison as a control group. The obesity control program made up of regular physical exercise for five days per week and a weekly diet education and consultation was implemented for the period of 8 weeks. Results: The knowledge about obesity, regular physical exercise, and diet habits were significantly improved after implementing the obesity control program, as compared to the control group. But the extent of obesity was not significantly decreased. Conclusion: These results suggest that the studies are needed to define factors of effective program and develop the effective program for decreasing the extent of obesity.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.35-44
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• 2006

Objective : As today obese children have increased rapidly in Korea, the interest has been much increased. And parents concern about the effect of Herbal Medication(HM) on gaining weight. Therefore we had a retrospective study HM and obesity for children. Method : We examined medical record of 38 patients who visited to Department of Pediatrics in 00 medical center from 2002 to 2006 and took HM. Their Hight, Weight, Obesity Index(OI) were estimated at two points: before and after HM treatment. And they were divided into two groups according to the HM type and analyzed for differences of OI. Result : There were no significant changes in 38 patients's OI before and after treatment. But only one case gained over weight(OI: 21.31). OI increased slightly after treatment but there were not statistically significance. OI according to the HM type had slightly difference but there were not statistically significance. There were no connections between HM type, the number of days taking HM and changes of OI. Conclusion : On the basis of this study, we thought there were no connections between HM and obesity for children. But this study's cases are small in number so more study is need.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.399-406
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was performed to test an obesity management program for elementary school children. The program was assessed by examining its effects on the obesity, dietary attitudes, dietary habits, and exercise habits. Methods: The participants were 65 elementary school children, of which 32 were assigned for the experimental group and 33 for the control group. The experimental group received an 8 weeks obesity management program. The outcome variables were measured before and after the program. $X^2$-test and t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: After the obesity management program, the BMI and fat mass percentage in the experimental group were significantly reduced. The score for dietary attitudes and dietary habits changed in a positive direction. Conclusions: The findings from this study suggest that the obesity management program was effective in decreasing the rate of obesity and increasing the score for dietary attitudes and dietary habits. The program should be effective in the management of obesity in elementary school children.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.501-510
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• 2019

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in children. The global prevalence of pediatric NAFLD from general populations is 7.6%. In obese children, the prevalence is higher in Asia. NAFLD has a strong heritable component based on ethnic difference in the prevalence and clustering within families. Genetic polymorphisms of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3), transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2, and glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) are associated with the risk of NAFLD in children. Variants of PNPLA3 and GCKR are more common in Asians. Alterations of the gut microbiome might contribute to the pathogenesis of NAFLD. High fructose intake increases the risk of NAFLD. Liver fibrosis is a poor prognostic factor for disease progression to cirrhosis. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance proton density fat fraction are more accurate for steatosis quantification than ultrasound. Noninvasive imaging methods to assess liver fibrosis, such as transient elastography, shear-wave elastography, and magnetic resonance elastography are useful in predicting advanced fibrosis, but they need further validation. Longitudinal follow-up studies into adulthood are needed to better understand the natural history of pediatric NAFLD.