Korean J Pediatr.  2004 Apr;47(4):362-367.

The Prevalence of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in Jeju and Clinical Characteristics according to the Degree of Obesity

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Jeju-Jungang Hospital, Jeju, Korea. seojungho@hanmir.com

Abstract

PURPOSE
Recently, childhood obesity has increased and became a major health concern in Korea. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in Jeju and to analyze clinical characteristics according to the degree of obesity.
METHODS
A total of 3,643 students from April 2002 to August 2002 were studied. To examine the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity, obesity index, body mass index and Rholer index were used. To analyze clinical characteristics according to the degree of obesity, blood pressure and laboratory data from student health examination were used.
RESULTS
Prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in Jeju was 9.9%(mild:5.1%, moderate:4.3%, severe:0.5%) by obesity index, 5.6% by body mass index, and 6.3% by Rholer index. Prevalence of obesity in males was significantly higher than in females, but prevalence of obesity according to age made no significant difference. Prevalence of hypertension, liver function test abnormality and hypercholesterolemia according to the degree of obesity were significantly increased, but that of anemia, hyperglucosemia showed no significant difference.
CONCLUSION
By student health examination data, the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in Jeju was identified. Because the prevalence of hypertension, liver function test abnormality and hypercholesterolemia according to the degree of obesity were significantly increased, we must pay more attention to childhood and adolescent obesity as an important student health issue.

Keyword

Childhood obesity; Hypertension; Liver function test abnormality; Hypercholesterolemia; Prevalence

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Anemia
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Female
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypertension
Korea
Liver Function Tests
Male
Obesity*
Pediatric Obesity*
Prevalence*
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