Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate nutrient intakes and obesity-related factors of obese children by interviewing the subjects aged from 11 to 13 in Daegu. The collected data were consisted of items on general characteristics, dietary behavior, nutrition knowledge and daily nutrient intakes of subjects. The subjects were classified into obese and non-obese control groups according to their relative weights. Frequency of skipping breakfast and eating rate of obese group were significantly higher than those of control group. There was no significant difference between obese and control group in the nutrition knowledge score. Except vitamins B1, B2 and iron, the average daily intakes of other nutrients in obese were greater than control group. The most contributing factor to BMI turned out to be cholesterol intake. After the nutrition education targeting obese children, their nutrition knowledge scores improved, but the dietary behavior score was not significantly changed. Therefore, childhood obesity may be prevented by continuous education programs including the behavior modification of obese children.

• Keywords: nutrients intake; obese; children nutrition education; BMI