Abstract

This study was performed to compare nutrient intakes, diet quality and serum indices (TG, Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, RBC, Hb, Hct, Serum iron, ferritin, MCV) of obese and normal weight children. The subjects were 149 children living in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas. Each subject was assigned to one of such as normal weight group (15th < or = BMI percentile < 85th, n = 82) or obese children (85th < or = BMI percentile, n = 67) according to their percentile of BMI by The Korean Pediatric Society. Data on dietary intakes, body composition and serum indices were obtained. Differences of all the above variables were assessed. Energy, carbohydrate, fat, cholesterol, total fatty acid, SFA, MUFA, PUFA, phosphate, potassium, zinc, vitamin B1 and vitamin B6 intakes of girls in the obese group were higher than those of the normal weight group (p < 0.05). The intake of fiber was as insufficient as below 50% of KDRIs in both groups. Nutrient adequacy ratio of calcium, iron, phosphate, zinc and folate in obese boys were lower than those of normal weight boys (p < 0.05). Energy intakes of grain and milk and dairy food in the obese girl group (905.9 +/- 344.5 kcal, 210.9 +/- 166.4 kcal) were higher than those of normal weight girls (671.2 +/- 360.7 kcal, 184.0 +/- 103.5 kcal) (p < 0.05). HDL-cholesterol level of obese boys (52.7 +/- 6.3 mg/dL) was significantly lower than that of normal weight boys (65.3 +/- 15.6 mg/dL). Serum iron level of obese boys and girls (boys: 79.4 +/- 32.6 mg/dL, girls: 98.3 +/- 16.2 mg/dL) was significantly lower than those of normal weight children (boys: 104.8 +/- 38.6 mg/dL, girls: 106.7 +/- 28.9 mg/dL) (p < 0.05). These results suggest that there should be sensible food selection and more intakes of fruit and vegetable are needed to improve the nutritional status in obese children.

• Keywords: obese children; nutrient intake; NAR; serum lipids; iron