Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the determinants of regional body fat distribution of obesity(upper body obesity and lower body obesity) for adolescents. The macronutrient consumption pattern utilized the most important variables to test for potential determinants. A total of 726 adolescents living in rural areas in Korea had been observed for four years from 1992 to 1996 about their diet, sexual maturation, serum components and physical growth. The study design was similar to that fo a casecontrol study. Logistic regression analysis were used as an analytical method to identify the determinants of upper body obesity and lower body obesity. Odd ratios were estimated from the regression to identify the determinants of upper body obesity and lower body obesity. Odd ratios were estimated from the regression to identify the risk factors. Fat consumption pattern was the most frequent one among the three macronutrient consumption pattern of carbohydrate, fat and protein. Prevalence of obesity for the subjects was 9.5%. Prevalence of upper body obesity was higher in malestudents than in female students. On the other had, prevalence of lower body obesity was higher in females. The results of the logicstic regression analysis showed that the risk factor for upper body obesity was sexual maturity rather than dietary factors. None of the factors included in the analysis for lower body obesity appear to be the risk factor. The result may suggest that to develop a determinant model for obesity of adolescents, the model should include a wider range of variables other than diet, sexual maturity and changes in blood serum.

• Keywords: macronutrient consumption; obesity; body fat distribution; adolescent