| Prevalence and trends in obesity among Korean children and adolescents in 1997 and 2005 |
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Kyungwon Oh1, Myoung Jin Jang1, Na Yeoun Lee1, Jin Soo Moon2, Chong Guk Lee2, Myung Hwan Yoo1, Young Taek Kim1 |
1Division of Chronic Disease Surveillance, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital |
| 한국 소아청소년의 비만 유병률 추이: 1997년과 2005년 비교 |
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오경원1, 장명진1, 이나연1, 문진수2, 이종국2, 유명환1, 김영택1 |
1질병관리본부 만성병조사팀
2인제의대 일산백병원 소아과학교실 |
Correspondence:
Young Taek Kim, Email: ruyoung@cdc.go.kr
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| Abstract |
Purpose
: The objective of this study was to provide current estimates of the prevalence and examine trends of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.
Methods
: Height and weight measurements from 183,159 (112,974 in 1997, 70,185 in 2005) children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years were obtained via the 1997 and 2005 National Growth Survey. Obesity among children and adolescents was defined as being at or above the 95th percentile of the gender-specific body mass index (BMI) for age in the 2007 Korean National Growth Charts or a BMI of 25 or higher; overweight was defined as being at or above the 85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile BMI.
Results
: In 2005, 9.7% (11.3% for boys, 8.0% for girls) of South Korean children and adolescents were obese; 19.0% (19.7% for boys, 18.2% for girls) were overweight or obese. The overall prevalence of obesity increased from 5.8% in 1997 to 9.7% in 2005 (from 6.1% in 1997 to 11.3% in 2005 for boys and from 5.5% in 1997 to 8.0% in 2005 for girls); the increasing trend was most evident in boys, especially those aged 13-18 years.
Conclusion
: The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents increased significantly during the eight-year period from 1997 to 2005. This study suggests that we need to make a priority of developing strategies to control obesity in children and adolescents; the potential health effects of increases in obesity are of considerable public health importance. |
| Key Words:
Obesity, Overweight, Body mass index, Children and adolescents, Growth chart |
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