Journal List > Korean J Nutr > v.44(3) > 1043877

Moon, Yoon, and Jang: Comparison of Growth from First to Sixth Grade Based on the Obesity Index of Sixth Grade Students at an Elementary School in Seoul

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify differences in growth based on the obesity index in sixth grade. Heights and weights of 141 students from first to sixth grades were collected from school records. Other information was gathered by survey, and the weight length index (WLI) was calculated. Subjects were classified into three groups: underweight (n = 57, UG), normal (n = 53, NG), and obese (n = 31, OG) using the WLI. Differences in weight, height, and growth velocity were compared among the three groups from the first to sixth grades. With regard to growth, the past physical status of the three groups was maintained. More than 50% of the OG was in the overweight range when they were in the third to fifth grades. Approximately 60% of NG was in the normal weight range between the first and fifth grades. More than 70% of UG was in the underweight range when they were in the first to fifth grades (p < 0.001). Growth velocity was faster in OG than that in NG and UG (p < 0.001). The annual growth rate of children was the highest when they moved from the third to the fourth grade (p < 0.001). The results indicate that general balanced diet education should be implemented in lower grades, because physical growth formed in lower grades tended to be maintained in senior grades. It would be better to educate students about diet to prevent obesity before the fifth grade when a major change in body structure has occurred.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Distribution of weight for under weight subjects at 6th grade from 1st to 5th grade.
kjn-44-212-g001
Fig. 2
Distribution of weight for normal weight subjects at 6th grade from 1st to 5th grade.
kjn-44-212-g002
Fig. 3
Distribution of weight for over weight subjects at 6th grade from 1st to 5th grade.
kjn-44-212-g003
Table 1
Mean and standard deviation of height, weight and WLI for study subjects by grade
kjn-44-212-i001

1) Mean ± SD 2) *: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01, ***: p < 0.001 3) WLI, Weight Length Index

Table 2
Mean and standard deviation of height, weight and WLI at 6th grade by the current obesity status
kjn-44-212-i002

1) Mean ± SD 2) ***: p < 0.001 3) WLI, Weight Length Index 4) a, b, c: Values with different subscrit with a obesity status are significantly different at p < 0.05

Table 3
Distribution of obesity index at 6th grade by sex [N (%)]
kjn-44-212-i003

ns: not significant (p > 0.05)

Table 4
Mean and standard deviation of height, weight and WLI by grade and the current obesity status
kjn-44-212-i004

1) Mean ± SD 2) ***: p < 0.001 3) WLI, Weight Length Index 4) a, b, c : Values with different subscrit with a obesity status are significantly different at p < 0.05

Table 5
Mean and standard deviation of height change and weight change, WLI change by the current obesity status
kjn-44-212-i005

1) Mean ± SD 2) *: p < 0.05, ***: p < 0.001 3) WLI, Weight Length Index 4) a, b, c: Values with different subscrit with a obesity status are significantly different at p < 0.05

References

1. Mo S, Baek SK, Cheon MJ. Nutrition survey of elementary school children of remote villages of Gaesan-gun in Chung Buk province. J Korean Home Econ Assoc. 1990. 28(1):43–56.
2. Ku JO, Mo SM, Lee JW, Choi HM. Special nutritional science. 1993. Korea National Open University publishing department;166–243.
3. Lee YN, Kim WG, Lee SK, Chung SJ, Choi KS, Kwon S, Lee EW, Mo S. Nutrition survey of children attending an elementary school with a school lunch program in socioeconomically high apartment compound of Seoul. Korean J Nutr. 1992. 25(1):56–72.
4. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health & Welfare. Report on 2001 national health and nutrition survey. 2002.
5. Chung SJ, Kim CI, Lee EW, Mo S, Han CW. Nutrition survey of children attending an elementary school without a school lunch program, in a low income group of Seoul. 1. A study on anthropometry and biochemical test. Korean J Nutr. 1990. 23(7):513–520.
6. Chung YJ, Han JI. Prevalence of obesity, living habits and parent's characteristics of 5th grade elementary school boys in Taejon city. Korean J Nutr. 2000. 33(4):421–428.
7. Lee MH. A study on status of dietary behavior by school children of elementary school [Master's thesis]. 1996. Seoul: Sookmyung Women's University.
8. Kim HR. A strategy for child and adolescent health promotion: Nutrition, overweight and obesity. Health Welf Policy Forum. 2008. 141:20–31.
9. Kim YK, Shin WS. A comparison study on perception of body image and dietary habits of high school students between urban and rural areas. Korean J Community Nutr. 2008. 13(2):153–163.
10. Seung JJ, Kim MH, Kim MH, Kim BY, Kim SK, Kim AJ, Kim YH, No SR, Sung MK, Lee YK, Lee JS, Jung BM, Choi MK, Choi SH, Han KH, Hong JI. Diet therapy: Theory and practice. 2003. Kwangmoonkag.
11. Lee YS, Park HS, Lee MS, Sung MK, Park DY, Choi MK, Kim MH, Sung CJ. A study of nutrient intake, serum lipid and leptin levels of elementary school students with different obesity index in Kyunggi area. Korean J Nutr. 2002. 35(7):743–753.
12. Kim JW. Study on an actual condition and relevant factors of obesity of elementary school students [Master's thesis]. 1994. Cheongwon: Korea National University of Education.
13. Shin Y. A review of childhood obesity. Korean J Child Health Nurs. 2005. 11(2):240–245.
14. Ku JO, Lee JW, Choi YS, Kim JH, Lee JH. Life cycle nutritional science. 2006. Seoul: Hyoil.
15. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Korean pediatric society. Growth Standards Committee for Children and Adolescents. 2007 Korean national growth charts standard. 2007.
16. Oh SW. Current status of childhood obesity in Korea and counter-measures. Proceedings of international symposium on childhood obesity prevention: Polices, strategies, and programs by KFDA and KHIDI. 2010. 39–54.
17. DuRant RH, Linder CW. An evaluation of five indexes of relative body weight for use with children. J Am Diet Assoc. 1981. 78(1):35–41.
crossref
18. Chang YK, Jung YJ, Moon HK, Yoon JS, Park HR. Nutritional assessment: Theory and practice. 2008. Shinkwang Publishing Co..
19. Park HR, Kim SL, Ha AW. A longitudinal study on the prevalence and the change in degree of obesity among private elementary school children. J Nat Sci. 1996. 13:130–136.
20. Moon HK, Chung HR, Kim YC. A study on anthropometric data of 5th grade students. II. Comparisons between underweight and overweight group by BMI. Korean J Nutr. 1987. 20(6):405–411.
21. Shin EM, Yoon EY. A study on nutrients intake, physical and biochemical status of elementary school children in Taejon. J Korean Diet Assoc. 1998. 4(2):212–224.
22. Kim EK, Moon HK. A comparison of the past physical growth, eating habits and dietary intake by obesity index of sixth grade primary school students in Seoul. Korean J Community Nutr. 2001. 6:Suppl. 475–485.
23. Park MA, Moon HK, Lee KH, Suh SJ. A study on related risk factors of obesity for primary school children: Difference between normal and obese group. Korean J Nutr. 1998. 31(7):1158–1164.
TOOLS
Similar articles