Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate health status of preschool children utilizing anthropometric values and serum biochemical indices. The subjects were 1,159 boys and 1,019 girls in Gumi day-care centers aged 4 to 6 years. The mean height and weight of 4, 5 and 6 year old children were 103.0 cm and 17.1 kg, 107.2 cm and 18.3 kg and 113.4 cm and 20.6 kg, respectively. By the obesity index criteria, 5% of boys and 4% of girls were obese:whereas 10% of boys and 9% of girls were underweight. By the Kaup index criteria, 7% of boys and 4% of girls were obese. By the percentage of body fat criteria, 5% of boys and girls were obese. The mean concentrations of serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, Atherogenic Index and serum glucose were 154.1 - 156.5 mg/dL, 80.1 - 81.9 mg/dL, 46.8 - 47.4 mg/dL, 90.9 - 92.8 mg/dL, 2.34 - 2.39 and 76.4 - 77.8 mg/dL, respectively. Serum triglyceride level, AI and body fat percentage of obese children were significantly higher than other children and were significantly lower in HDL-cholesterol level (p < 0.05). In addition there were significant correlation between anthropometric values and serum biochemical indices:Kaup index and obesity index were positively correlated to the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in boys and girls (p < 0.01) and to the triglyceride concentration in boys (p < 0.05). These results indicate the need of developing and implementation of nutrition education program for preschool children to prevent further development of childhood obesity and to maintain normal serum lipid profiles.

• Keywords: Preschool children; Anthropometric values; Serum biochemical indices