• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.47-61
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• 2008

Objectives: This study examined to explain the practical health behaviour and health-related quality of life, and their influencing factors in high school students. Methods: Total of 718 high school students from 1 school in Seoul were assessed with a self-administered questionnaire regarding general characteristics, health related characteristics, obesity index(Height and weight calculated by using the relative weight law: obesity group>20%, overweight group $10{\sim}20%$, normal weight group $-10{\sim}10%$, under weight group <-10%), health behaviour in school-aged children(eating, exercise and weight control) and health-related quality of life(PedsQLTM4.0 Generic Core Scale: physical health, emotional functioning, social functioning, school functioning). Results: Major results were as follows. 1. The rate of obesity by obesity index was 5.3% of high school students. Obesity incidence in adolescents was mainly associated with gender and parents whether obesity. 2. Perceived health status was lower in obese adolescents than in normal adolescents. 3. The rate of miss a breakfast was 37.9%, and obesity group than normal weight group were fruits, vegetables and milk intake at least, a lot of fastfood intake. During the past week, followed by intense physical activity, and overweight consumed a lot of time for TV and the Internet. Overall, under weight group and normal weight group belong to the students evaluated fatter than themselves. Weight control for weight loss, gain and maintain was grater in obesity group than in normal weight group. Weight loss showed highest scores in overweight group which appeared significant difference. 4. Obese adolescents compared with other groups, reported lower total QOL score and all QOL in domain, and especially social functioning showed significant differences. 5. Factors influencing the adolescents's QOL were found to be gender, perceived health status and exercise. Conclusions: High school girls were aware of their bad health status and likely to improve the QOL by practicing health behaviour. But obese adolescents were likely to degrade the quality of life by reducing the practice of health behaviors. So further school-based education about proper practical health behaviors and obesity prevention is necessary.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.81-90
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify trends in intervention studies on childhood obesity in Korea. Methods: From 1996, when the first research paper on childhood obesity intervention was published, to 2015, 192 published papers were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The number of studies increased sharply between 1996 and 2007, but declined slightly from then. The majority of studies involved only children as intervention participants. Most were elementary students, and overweight and obese children. Exercise therapy was the most common type of intervention. Parental participation was found in 35 studies, while teacher's participation was found in only one study. In many studies physiological indicators were used as measurement variables, but follow-up was done in only 10 studies. Finally, only a few studies applied a conceptual framework, while a quasi-experimental research design was used for most studies. Conclusion: Examination of trends in intervention studies on childhood obesity in Korea, shows there has been a quantitative increase but not enough improvement in terms of the quality of interventions. Findings in the present study suggest that it is necessary to seek diversity in terms of study participants, interventions and evaluation method along with quality improvement in research methodology.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.44-48
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• 2015

Body fat distribution in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is characterized by reduce lean body mass (LBM), increased total body fat mass (FM), and lower percentage of visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Individuals with PWS seem to have a lower risk for insulin resistance with high levels of adiponectin, an anti-atherogenic adipocytokine that is decreased in visceral fat hypertrophy subjects compared to simple obese subjects, both in children and in adults. The mechanism of the reduction in visceral adiposity in PWS is still unclear. It might be related to qualitative intrinsic characteristics of adipocyte or novel genetic influences on the control of fat distribution. However, obesity remains a critical problem, and obesity status plays a crucial role in individual metabolic risk clustering and development of metabolic syndrome (Mets) in PWS children and adults. Long-term growth hormone (GH) treatment after cessation of skeletal growth improved body composition, with an increase in lean body mass and a reduction in total body fat and subcutaneous and visceral fat in PWS adults. Thus, the role of GH is important after childhood because it might attenuate obesity and Mets in PWS adult by adipocyte modification.

• Journal of mucopolysaccharidosis and rare diseases
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.35-37
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• 2016

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) often develops type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) related to severe obesity. The prevalence of T2DM in adults with PWS (7-20%) exceeds greatly the prevalence in the general population (5-7%). It is uncommon for pre-pubertal children with PWS to develop overt diabetes or glucose intolerance. GH therapy and genotype did not influence the development of altered glucose metabolism. It has been assumed that T2DM in PWS develops as a consequence of morbid obesity and concomitant insulin resistance. However recent studies suggest the relationship between morbid obesity and T2DM development is more complex and appears to differ in PWS subjects compared to non-PWS subjects. PWS patients had relatively lower fasting insulin levels and increased adiponectin levels compared with BMI-matched obese control despite of similar levels of leptin. So PWS children may be protected to some extent form of obesity-associated insulin resistance. Although there's no data, it seems logical to approach diabetes management including weight loss and increased exercise, using similar pharmacological agents as with non-PWS obesity-related diabetes such as metformin or thiazolidinedione, with the introduction of insulin as required. On the other hand, several recent T2DM in PWS case reports suggest favorable outcomes using Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analog with regard to ghrelin reduction, control of glucose and appetite, weight loss and pre-prandial insulin secretion. The role of GLP-1 agonist therapy is promising, but has not yet been fully elucidated.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.83-93
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• 2016

This study was conducted to develop a 26-week obesity management program and examine the effects of this program on obesity index (body mass index, fat mass percentage, and triglyceride) and psychological variables, self-esteem, dietary self-efficacy, physical activity self-efficacy, and body image among 46 4th-6th obese elementary school children with a BMI above $20kg/m^2$ using a nonequivalent control group quasi-experimental design (experimental group=23, control group=23). This program included a 12-week intensive course (12 times for group education on obesity, exercise, and nutrition, 36 times for practicing diet and physical exercise, and 5 times for psychological counseling) and a 14-week follow-up course (3 times for group education, 3 times for checking diet and physical exercise, and 1 time for psychological counseling. The collected data were analyzed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, chi-squared test, Fisher's exact probability, t-test, and ANCOVA. There were above normal values in body mass index ($20kg/m^2$), fat mass percentage (15-20%), and triglyceride tolerance ($90mg/d{\ell}$) in experimental group and control group. The body mass index (F=94.869, p<.001), fat mass percentage (F=37.361, p<.001), and triglyceride tolerance (F=7.907, p= .007) were significantly lower, while self-esteem (F=19.661, p<.001), dietary self-efficacy (F=16.942, p<.001), physical activity self-efficacy (F=9.363, p= .004), and body image (F=9.782, p= .003) were significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group after 26 weeks. This study provides evidence that the 26-weeks obesity management program is an effective nursing intervention for managing obesity and psychological variables of obese elementary school children.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1283-1294
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• 1998

This study was conducted to investigate nutritional status by anthropometric meas-urement and to assess the validity of indicators for nutritional status of preschool children. Health examinations, including blood and urine tests, were done for 799 childern aged 2 to 6 years. The mean anthropometric measurements of height, weight , head circumference, and chest circumference were 90.2cm, 13.9kg, 47.7cm, 50.9cm for 2 years (n=13), 94.8cm, 15.2kg, 43.3cm, 47.0cm for 3 years(n=125), 100.7cm, 16.4kg, 46.2cm, 50.5cm for 4 years(n=272), 106.5cm, 18.1kg, 48.8cm, 53.8cm for 5 years(n=253), 113.0cm 20.4kg, 50.4cm 56.9cm for 6 years(n=136), respectively. All anthropometric measureemnts were significantly different by age and sex. The results of physical examinations excluding dental examination were normal for all studied children. Urine test results were also normal for the subjects. The most common blood type was A and the rarest one was type AB. The mean hemoglobin concentration was 11.84g/dl for boys(n=398), 11.86g/dl for girls, and 11.85kg/dl for all. The percentage of childeren whose hemoglobin concentration was less than 11.0g/dl was 21.6% for boys and 18.9% for girls. The percentage of children whose height for age, weight for age, and weight for height were in the rang of median $\pm$1 standard devication(S.D) was 71.7% , 65.6%, and 67.0% for each indicator. Obese childeren whose weight for height or weigth for age was more than median +2S.D. were 5.2% while tall children whose height for age was more than median +2S.D, were 1.8% . Past and recent nutritional status of most children(87.2%) were assessed as normal by the combination of three indicators(height for age, weight for age, weight for height). The percentate of coincidence between for height) and one assessed by anthropometric measurements (height for age, weight for age, weight for height) and one assessed by physicial was 59.6%, 69.3% and 67.8% for each indicator, respectively. The distribution of subjects by height for age was significantly different between normal and anemic groups. With these results , the nutritional status of children the studied was normal. The anthropometric measurements reflected the nutritional status of childeren relatively well. In conclusion, in comparison with biochemical meausurements anthropometric measurements are relatively simple and effective indicators for nutritional assessement of children in large health and nutrition suveys in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2005

This study was conducted to develop and evaluate food menus after investigating eating behaviors and food preferences of preschool children. Parents of the preschool children In 2 Gumi City day-care centers completed questionnaires in July 2003, which were used to assess eating behaviors and food preferences of their preschool children. Analysis of the questionnaires led to the development of the menus. Menus (n=10) were developed for five different categories (two menus were developed for each category) including general menu, unbalanced menu, anemia menu, obese menu, and traditional menu. The preschool children(n=656) evaluated the menus as they were provided with each them throughout October 2003. The five score scale method was used to evaluate taste, smell, looks, texture and general preference of each menu. Results in eating behaviors showed that 70.7% of preschool children had unbalanced eating behaviors. No gender based differences in eating behaviors were found, but in regard to food preferences boys tended to prefer carbonated drinks more than girls. Results indicated that among all menus, fruit ranked highest $(3.97{\pm}0.65)$ for food preference, and vegetables ranked lowest for food preference $(2.46{\pm}0.68)$. Food preference in regard to cooking process indicated the highest preference was for fried foods $(3.80{\pm}0.68)$ and the lowest preference was for raw vegetables $(2.61{\pm}1.27)$ and namul $(2.85{\pm}1.13)$. Preference for taste ranked the highest $(4.30{\pm}0.91)$ but preference for looks recorded the lowest $(3.95{\pm}0.89)$. Of all the foods in the menus, steamed tofu rated the highest for individual food item preference, while tuna sesame leaf rice rated the lowest preference. Statistical analysis of interrelationships among food taste, smell, looks, texture and general preference were significant (p<0.0l). Results from this study suggest that various factors including food taste, smell, looks, and texture influence the food preferences of preschool children. Therefore, it is concluded that by developing a variety of appetizing menus for use at home and in day-care centers, containing varied food items and cooking methods, preschool children will be encouraged to increase their food preferences and to establish appropriate eating behaviors.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1368-1373
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of waist size on the reliability and validity of pedometers to count steps in children and youth. The participants for this study were 20 children and youth, composed of 14 Hispanic and 6 Caucasian children. Ten children and youth had waist circumferences greater than the $85^{th}$ percentile (Body Mass Index (BMI)=$28.91\pm3.07$), and 10 children and youth had waist circumferences smaller than the $50^{th}$ percentile (BMI=$18.05\pm1.55$). To examine pedometer reliability, each child completed 3 ascent and descent trials up a set of 15 stairs while wearing a Yamax SW-701 pedometer. The main effect of trials was not statistically significant for the stair ascent trials F (2, 36)=2.575 or for the descent trials F (2, 36)=0.235. The trial by group interaction was also not statistically significant. To examine the influence of waist circumference on the validity of the pedometer in counting walking steps at a self-selected walking pace, the children and youth in the two groups completed a 400-m course. The main effect on the groups was statistically significant, F (1, 18)=7.489. The main effect of counting techniques was not statistically significant, F (1, 18)=2.983 (hand-counted vs. pedometer counted). Overall, the trial and trial by group interaction comparisons for the 400-m walk were not statistically significant, suggesting that the pedometer was equally valid as a tool for assessing walking steps in high waist circumference (HWC) and low waist circumference (LWC) in children and youth.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

To determine food preferences and nutrients intake of nursery school children, 199 children, ages 1 to 6 years, were assessed with a structured questionnaire completed by their mothers. The questionnaire included questions related to dietary habits, mother's interest in the child's health, family history of diseases, etc. The nutrients intake was measured by 24-hour recall method. Children's weight and height were measured by trained investigators on the same day. For analysis purposes, the subjects were grouped into underweight, normal and overweight groups based on the z-score of weight for height. Only 58.3% of the subjects were grouped into the normal weight group. On the other hand, 19.1% were in the underweight group and 22.6% were in the overweight group. Forty four percent of them showed unbalanced dietary habits such as preference for picky foods, 40.0% of them disliked vegetables, and 46.7% disliked minor grains other than rice. Children in the underweight group showed a higher score of inappropriate dietary habits compared to those of normal or obese groups. The level of nutrients intake of the subjects was higher than the Korean RDA value in general, except for Ca, calories, and Zn. However, 87.4% of the children showed a higher intake level than 125% of KRDA in protein, and 18.2% and 41.4% of them showed a lower intake level than 75% of KRDA in Fe and Ca, respectively. Children in the underweight group showed a higher percentage of eating less than 75% KRDA in niacin compared to those of the normal or overweight group (p<0.05) and we found a similar tendency in Fe, Zn and Vitamin $B_1$ intake.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.266-276
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate the nutrition education program for elementary school children Subjects were 5th graders (n = 142) of an elementary school in Seoul, and 138 children completed four sessions of nutrition education during March-April, 2008. One group pretest-posttest design was used to evaluate the program effectiveness. Anthropometric measurements and measurements on nutrition knowledge, eating attitudes and eating behavior were done before and after education. Data were analyzed using paired t-test, t-test and ${\chi}^2-test$. After completing nutrition education, body mass index (from 19.3 to 18.9), fat mass (from 10.9 kg to 10.1 kg), percent body fat (from 25% to 23.3%) of subjects decreased significantly (p < 0.001). Percentages of overweight or obese children were 24.6% at pretest and decreased to 20.3% at posttest, although it did not reach statistical significance. Total score of nutrition knowledge increased significantly from 11.9 (59.5/100) at pretest to 14.7 (73.5/100) at posttest (p < 0.001). After nutrition education, percentages of correct answers increased significantly in 10 knowledge items out of 20 items. These included items such as desirable weight control, energy requirements for boys, food groups, snack, and function of fat and balanced meals (p < 0.001). Total score of eating attitudes increased significantly from 35.1 to 36.9 (p < 0.001). Attitude of applying nutrition knowledge to daily life (p < 0.001), interest toward nutrition and health (p < 0.001), attitude of moderating food intake (p < 0.01), and attitude toward eating habit and future health (p < 0.05) were significantly different between pretest and posttest. Total score of eating behaviors increased significantly from 46.7 (possible score: 20-60) to 49.5 by nutrition education (p < 0.001). Improvement in eight eating behaviors were noticed after nutrition education. These included eating meals slowly, eat protein foods (p < 0.001), eating breakfast, eating meals regularly, eating meals with diverse foods, having dairy foods, eating foods using plant oils (p < 0.01), and having grains (p < 0.05). Subjects evaluated quite positively in attractiveness of program, understanding of program contents, helpfulness of program in improving nutrition knowledge and meal management. Study results show that the nutrition education program was effective in improving nutrition knowledge, eating attitudes and changing eating behaviors of children. This program can be used in nutrition education of children at school or at public health centers.