Time Trend in Height, Weight, BMI and Waist Circumference of Korean Adolescents; From the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES), 1998, 2001 and 2005

Kim, You Suk; Park, Mi Jung

Abstract

PURPOSE: The mean height and weight had been increasing rapidly in Korean adolescents. The purpose of this study was to analyze body physique (height, weight, BMI and waist circumference) of Korean adolescents, using KNHNES data.
METHODS
The data were obtained from the KNHNES from each year of 1998, 2001 and 2005. Total number of 4164 adolescents (2140 boys, 2024 girls) aged 10 to 19 years were included. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured and the mean value of body physique was analyzed by sex and age.
RESULTS
For height of 10 yr-old boys, there was no difference between 1998, 2001 and 2005, but the height of 13 yr-old boys was increased more than 3 cm in 2005, compared to 1998 and 2001. For height of 10 yr-old girls, more than 2 cm was increased, but, there was no significant difference after the age of 14 year in each 1998, 2001 or 2005. Height of the age of 19 was 173.7 cm in boys and 161.3 cm in girls in 2005, showing no distinct change compared to 1998 or 2001. Weight and BMI showed significant increase in both sexes and all-aged groups for older than the age of 11 years in 2005, compared to 1998 or 2001. Weight increase was more distinct in boys compared to girls. For boys, waist circumference of 2005 were higher than 1998, but lower than 2001. For girls, waist circumference of 2005 were higher than 1998 and 2001 especially in the late teens.
CONCLUSION
Rapid increase in height was shown in the early teenage whereas final height showed no significant difference during 1998-2005. The mean weight and BMI have been increased dramatically in 2005, compared to 1998 or 2001 in boys and girls. This phenomenon was shown more remarkably in boys, compared to girls. These findings emphasize importance of obesity management, especially on boys.