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Original Article
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J Korean Acad Fam Med. 2006;27(2):104-112. Published online February 10, 2006.
- The Prevalence of Childhood Obesity, Risk Factors, and Obesity Related Disease in Elementary Students.
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Ji Bin Park, Tae In Choi, Ji Su Kim, Do Sik Jung, Kyu Nam Kim, Seon Yeong Lee, Jae Heon Kang
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1Department of Family Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea. drggsm@hanmail.net
2Department of Family Medicine, Seoul Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea.
- Abstract
- Background
: Recently, childhood obesity has been increased and has resulted in serious health problems. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of childhood obesity and its risk factors in elementary students.
Methods : One thousand nine hundred and eleven children were selected from an elementary school in Seoul. We measured children's height, weight, waist to hip ratio, and the obesity rate (%). The risk factors associated with childhood obesity were assessed by a self-written questionnaire answered by their parents. In moderate and severe obese children, we checked their blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, ALT, AST, uric acid, total cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Results : The prevalence of childhood obesity was 14.0%. We found that the factors associated with childhood obesity were the number of siblings, class, parent's obesity, and the preference for fish and meat (P=0.030, 0.022, ＜0.001, 0.003, respectively). In moderate and severe obese children, the prevalence of obesity related diseases was 77.6% and 92.3%, respectively.
Conclusion : The childhood obesity was strongly associated with parent's obesity and the preference for fish and meat. The prevalence of obesity related diseases were very high in moderate and severe obese children.
Keywords :childhood, obesity, prevalence, obesity related disease
