All issues > Volume 38(11); 1995

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1995;38(11):1547-1557. Published online November 15, 1995.

Prevelance and Associated Factors of Childhood Obesity on the Elementary Students in Kwangju City

Myoung Sook MS Chung¹, Yung Il YI Rho¹, Eun Gyeoung EG Jung¹, Kyung Rye KR Moon¹, Sang Gee SG Park¹, Young Bong YB Park¹, So Yeon SY Ryu¹, Jong J Park¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Chosun University , College of Medicine, Kwangju, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: The prevalence of childhood obesity and its attendant morbidity have increased and the success of therapy for childhood obesity has been limited. It is important for us to recognize risk factors for the development of obesity in children. The purpose of our study is to provide useful information for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
Methods
: A survey was performed by a special questionare sheet at 9 elementary schools in Kwang-ju from May to June 1994.
Results
: 1) Obesity was categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. The percentage of mild obesity was 7.1%, moderate obesity 5.2%, severe obesity 0.9%, respectively in the surveyed children. 2) There was statistically significance correlation between childhood obesity and birth weight and parental body mass index of the obese children were higher than those of the non-obese children. In obese children, there was preference a for vegetables, fish and meat. There was no significant difference in sleeping time, television viewing, reading time, physical activity and economic level between obese and non-obese children. 5) In correlation coefficients between obesity index and risk factors, there was a negative correlation in age, birth order, a preference for vegetables, and bedtime meal and a positive correlation in birth weight, parents BMI, and preference for fish and meat. 6) Multiple regression analysis on obesity and risk factors has shown correlated with parents BMI, birth weight, birth order and bedtime meal in males; and correlated with age, parents BMI and a preference for vegetable in females.
Conclusion
: The results of our study suggests that obesity is developed through a multiple of factors. In paticular familial factors such as eating habits, life style, and genetic predisposition are of primary importance. Therefore the following measures are required for the prevention and treatment of obesity in children. the first is to manage the eating habits of children. The second is family based treatment and the third is nutritional councelling.

Keywords :Childhood obesity, Associated factors, Elementary students