Health Status by Anthropometric Values and Serum Biochemical Indices of Preschool Children in Day-Care Centers in Gumi

Sin, Eun Kyung; Lee, Yeon Kyung

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.