• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.441-450
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• 2009

The prevalence of obesity in children has steadily risen during recent years in developed countries. Child obesity has become a major concern to health providers since it has grown to epidemic proportions over the past few decades. This study was conducted to investigate the biochemical status, dietary habits and life styles according to the obesity degree among obese children residing in the Gyungbuk area. The subjects were 148 elementary school students (boy 103, girl 45) and classified as mildly obese (n = 56), moderately obese (n = 61) and severely obese (n = 31) by the obesity index. The average body weight and height increased significantly according to the obesity degree (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). Serum cholesterol concentration came under the normal level in all groups. Serum AST activity increased according to the obesity degree but it was not significant. Serum ALT activity increased according to the obesity degree (p < 0.05). Dietary habit score was lower significantly according to the obesity degree (p < 0.01). Life style of the subjects was significantly different for the level of 'healthy state (p < 0.05)', 'body perception (p < 0.01)', 'watching TV and video (p < 0.05)', 'normal sleeping hour (p < 0.05)' and 'degree of stress (p < 0.05)' according to the obesity degree. A positive relationship between obesity index and blood pressure, ALT has been shown in the subjects. Obesity index and dietary habit scores were negatively associated. Therefore, these results suggest that a practical nutrition-exercise education program for the prevention of child obesity should be provided to elementary school children. (Korean J Community Nutrition 14(4) : 441${\sim}$450, 2009)

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.509-520
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of weight control program on food habits, eating behaviors and life habits in obese elementary school children. The program consisted of nutritional education, physical exercise and behavioral therapy was conformed for 10 weeks. Participants of the study involved 41 obese children and their parents. There was significant difference in waist circumference (p < 0.05) and children's body fat % significantly decreased from 35.8% to 33.0% (p < 0.01) after program. There was significant increase (p < 0.05) in HDL-cholesterol, 47.8 (mg/dL) to 53.6 (mg/dL) after weight control program. Food habits and eating behaviors of obese children were showed positively changes but there were no significant differences after program. Regularity of having breakfast and amount of meal under the stress condition were not significantly different after program. The levels of physical activity of obese children were significantly increased from 1.40(hr) to 1.74(hr) per day (p < 0.05). But there were no significant changes in spending hours of watching television and playing computer games. Food habits, eating behavior and physical activity showed significant correlations to weight control. These results suggest that the body weight control program for obese children including nutrition education, physical exercise and behavioral therapy may be effective to improve their food habits, eating behaviors and life habits. Nevertheless we need a more concentrating program to improve life habits such as physical activity and watching television.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.99-111
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of obese children's life style habits in order to contribute to the prevention and management obesity. The survey group included B,D, and J elementary school children. Out of 731 children, 380 were in the obese group and 351 were in a control group following the 1985 Korea Pediatric Association Height and Weight Standard Chart. Through a self questionnaire, a description of background, exercise including play behavior, diet intake, eating behavior and, environment were obtained. The results included that children's obesity is related to parents' obesity and, girls in both control and obese groups participate less in exercise than boys. Also, aspects of the amount of diet intake and speed of eating was significantly more (p<.001) and faster (p<.05) for the obese group. Furthermore, outdoor playing time for the obese group was significantly more than the control group (p<.05). Looking at the results, it is necessary for both school and home to actively involve themselves in guidance and providing an environment that modifies life style habits to prevent childhood obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the differences in environmental and psychological factors in children with obesity and to offer useful information for obesity treatment and prevention. 123 children of 5-6th grade in elementary school and their mothers were included in this study and divided into either the obese group and normal group(obese group: 61, normal group: 62) according to the Weight-Length Index(WLI). Results showed that between the two groups there no significant differences in family income, mother's occupation status, educational level, and anthropometric measurement. Nutritional knowledge in the obese group was significantly higher than that of the normal group(p<0.05). The mothers of children with obesity had a higher level of nutritional knowledge than the mothers of normal children(p<0.05). There were no significant differences in food behavior between the obese and normal groups. There were no significant differences in maternal child-rearing practices and in maternal attitude on flood behavior of children. Considering psychological factors ; 72.1% of the children with obesity appraised their body image as obese(p<0.05), and 54.1% of the mothers in obese group perceived their child's body shape as obese(p<0.05). The level of self-esteem were not significantly different when compared between the obese and normal groups. From these results, it was suggested that effective measures for obesity treatment and prevention should include nutritional monitoring, and such efforts need to be maintained in order to help the obese children and their mothers.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.611-620
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of a school-based obesity control program based on behavior modification and self-efficacy for obese elementary school children. The program was composed of strategies to modify diet and exercise habits and to increase self-efficacy. Method: The subjects were 57 obese children (experimental group = 28, control group = 29) whose Rohler index was 150 and over. The program was implemented once a week for 12 weeks from September 16 to December 12, 2003. The data was analyzed by Fisher's exact probability, $x^2$-test, t-test, and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Result: The Rohler index, fat mass and lean body mass of the experimental group positively changed after the intervention more than those of the control group, but there was a significant difference in the Rohler index only (t=2.06, p=.045). In addition, obesity stress significantly decreased (z=-2.86, p=.047) and dietary self-efficacy significantly increased (t=2.35, p=.023) in the experimental group than those of the control group. Conclusion: This study supports that a school-based obesity control program based on behavior modification and self-efficacy can be effective in decreasing obesity stress and increasing dietary self-efficacy. Parents, school nurses and the other support groups should be encouraged to participate from the planning stage of the program to be effective in weight control of obese elementary school children. Also school-based program should be implemented as an essential course in the curriculum, not as an elective.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.631-642
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• 2007

This study was an investigation of obesity, food habits and daily nutrient intakes of the 4th grade elementary school students in daejeon. A total of 148 children(male:71, female:77) participated in the study. We classified the subjects into normal group and obese group according to the grade of obesity indices by body fat ratio(BFR), 70% of the male and 31% of the female were obese group. The average height, weight were $140.1{\pm}4.9cm$, $33.0{\pm}3.6kg$(obese group), $141.9{\pm}5.7cm$, $42.0{\pm}3.6kg$(normal group) for the male, $141.2{\pm}6.4cm$, $42.4{\pm}6.2kg$(obese group), $139.5{\pm}6.4cm$, $33.0{\pm}4.5kg$(normal group) for the female. Weight showed a noticeable increase in the obese group, but height was not statistically significant. In dietary habits, it wasn't statistically significant but male obese group showed statistically increase in terms of eating fast(p>0.05) and eating snacks before sleeping(p>0.01) and female obese group was higher in frequency of eating out a month than normal group. Energy intakes of obese group was more than normal group and the average intakes of Vit. A, folic acid, Ca, were below the RI. The average intakes of vit A, vit C, folic acid, Ca, were also below the RI in normal group. The average intakes of vit A, folic acid, Ca, Fe were below the RI in female. Especially in female the intake of Ca was only 53.6%(obese group), 56.4%(normal group) of RI. From these results, we knew prevalence of obesity in elementary school students were high and obese groups were high in energy intakes but low in essential nutrients. Therefore we have to try to prevent and treat childhood obesity. So nutrition education of balanced diet and good dietary habits is needed for elementary school students.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2006

This study investigated the food habits of the elementary school children according to obesity index. The subjects included 1,307 elementary school children classified into four groups according to their individual obesity indices: underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity. The distribution of subjects by BMI was 51.5% underweight, 32.9% normal weight, 7.3% overweight, and 8.3% obese. Of these children, 62.6% ate breakfast everyday, and common weight control methods were exercise and diet. Lack of appetite was the most common reason for skipping breakfast(75.3%). Most students(74.7%) had Korean traditional cooked rice and side dishes for breakfast, and 69.6% of students responded that their meal speed was $10{\sim}30$ minutes. In conclusion, the food habits influencing obesity were eating speed, snack intake after dinner, and the number of snacks, while the size of meals did not influence obesity.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.568-575
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• 2007

Purpoes: The study was done to investigate the effects of an exercise program on body composition, cardiopulmonary function and physical fitness in obese children. Methods: Thirty nine children in grades 4, 5, and 6 in elementary school were employed: experimental group(20) and control group(19). The subjects in the experimental group participated in an exercise program for 8weeks, thirty five minutes per session, four times per week. This data was analyzed by ANCOVA and paired t-test. Result: The Height(F=2.615, p=0.027) of the experimental group was significantly different from the control group. Also, in the experimental group, there were significant differences of height(t=4 79, p=0.000), cardiac rate(t=-6.461, p=0.000), body mass index(t=-2.13 p=0.046), muscle strength(t=3.48, p=0.003), and muscle endurance(t=3.20, p=0.005). Otherwise, in the control group, there were significant differences of weight(t=2.27, p=0.036), waist-hip ratio(t=3.16, p=0.005), and muscle endurance(t=-2.38, p=0.030). Conclusion: Jumping rope improved the body composition, cardiopulmonary function, and physical fitness for obese children.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-12
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was to examine the effects of a obesity management program for obese children at a urban elementary school. Methods: The study subjects were fifty five 4^th-6^th graders (experimental = 29, control = 26) whose obesity indices were 120% or over fiunr two schools in a urban area. Obesity management program was conducted weekly 12 sessions with 60-day morning group exercises. Study instruments were Imbody 310 (BIOSPACE, 2005) and summated scales. Data were collected from April 6 to June 22, 2006 and analysed by descriptive statistics, X²-test and ANCOVA using SPSS/PC+ 14.0 program. Results: 1. Obesity management program was effective to reduce body weight (t = -2.54, p = .014), fat mass percent (t = -2.37, p = .021) and to increase muscle mass (t = 2.36, p = .022). And all these were also significant statistically in ANCOVA 2. Obesity management program were also effective to decrease level of obesity (t = -3.28, p = .002), and that of stress (t = -2.19, p = .033) and to improve food habit (t = 2.52, p = .016). And all these were also significant statistically in ANCOVA. Conclusion: School-based obesity management program for obese children was effective to reduce weight, fat mass percent, obesity, and stress; increase muscle mass; and improve food habit. School-based obesity management program, therefore, can be recommended as a health promotion measure in elementary school as curricular basis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.149-160
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects after having the obesity education with obese elementary school children. The subjects were made up of 31 obese children out of U elementary school in B town as experimental group, and also were selected 34 children out of S elementary school under the same circumstance as control group. They ranged from the third to sixth grades with over 30% body fat ratio. The proceeding of obesity education consisted of three stage; stage for preparation, stage for practice, and stage for finish. The stages mentioned above were put into practice in turn for eleven weeks beginning on Oct. 8, 2001 through Dec. 22, 2001, while two stages only, stage for preparation and finish, were put into practice on the control group. The contents of the education for eleven weeks obesity regulation contained counseling and taking regular exercises once a week by professional gym teacher. In order to evaluate the effects of the education, physical characteristics, body composition, physical fitness, knowledge of obesity, dietry habit and attitude were measured. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS program, the effects of pre and post obesity education in experimintal group were measured by paired-t test. The conclusions of this study were as follows : 1. Body fat ratio was significantly reduced after obesity education in experimintal group(p=.003). 2. The height with experimental group got taller remarkably(p=.000), but weight showed no signeficance after obesity education(p=.258). 3. Triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness showed remarkable decrese after obesity education(p=.000), percentage body fat and body fat amount got down remarkably after obesity education(p=.000). Percentage lean body mass and lean body mass amount got down remarkably after obesity education(p=.000). 4. Body flexibility, agility and muscle endurance graded up remarkably after obesity education(p=.009, p=.000, p=.000). 5. The grade in obesity knowledge got up remarkably after obesity education(p.000), but dietry habits and its life showed no significance in figures after obesity education(p=.335, p=.112). Through the results shown above, the obesity education caused body fat ratio, physique, body composition to grade up and physical fitness elevated, while dietry habits and its life showed no significance.