Abstract

The prevalence of obesity in children has steadily risen during recent years in developed countries. Child obesity has become a major concern to health providers since it has grown to epidemic proportions over the past few decades. This study was conducted to investigate the biochemical status, dietary habits and life styles according to the obesity degree among obese children residing in the Gyungbuk area. The subjects were 148 elementary school students (boy 103, girl 45) and classified as mildly obese (n = 56), moderately obese (n = 61) and severely obese (n = 31) by the obesity index. The average body weight and height increased significantly according to the obesity degree (P <0.05, P <0.001). Serum cholesterol concentration came under the normal level in all groups. Serum AST activity increased according to the obesity degree but it was not significant. Serum ALT activity increased according to the obesity degree (P <0.05). Dietary habit score was lower significantly according to the obesity degree (P <0.01). Life style of the subjects was significantly different for the level of 'healthy state (P <0.05)', 'body perception (P <0.01)', 'watching TV and video (P <0.05)', 'normal sleeping hour (P <0.05)' and 'degree of stress (P <0.05)' according to the obesity degree. A positive relationship between obesity index and blood pressure, ALT has been shown in the subjects. Obesity index and dietary habit scores were negatively associated. Therefore, these results suggest that a practical nutrition-exercise education program for the prevention of child obesity should be provided to elementary school children.

• Keywords: elementary school students; obesity; biochemical status; dietary habit