Korean J Fam Med.  2010 Sep;31(9):703-710. 10.4082/kjfm.2010.31.9.703.

Relationship between Overweight and Socioeconomic Factors in Korean Adolescents: Using Data from the 2007 Korean Youth's Risk Behavior Web-based Study

• Lim SM
• Kim CH
• Cho HJ
• Park HS

• KMID: 2234186
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2010.31.9.703

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Overweight in Korean adolescents has continuously increased over the past few years and it is recognized as a public health problem. We investigated the relationship between socioeconomic status and overweight in Korean adolescents.
METHODS
The data was obtained from the 2007 Korean Youth's Risk Behavior Web-based Study. We included adolescents aged 12 to 18 yearswho were > or = 5th percentile of the BMI cut-off point based on the Korean child growth curve. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between socioeconomic status and overweight.
RESULTS
The adjusted odds ratios for overweight were 1.116 (95% confidence interval [CI],1.021 to 1.220), 1.390 (95% CI, 1.242 to 1.555) in girls having middle and low grade family affluence scale (FAS), respectively, compared in girls having high grade FAS (P < 0.05). However, in boys, there was no significant relationship between FAS and overweight. In both gender, perceived household economic status and parental education level were negatively related to overweight in adolescents (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Lower socioeconomic status increased the risk of overweight in Korean adolescents. Efforts to reduce socioeconomic disparities in adolescents should be initiated for overweight prevention.

Keyword

Adolescent; Overweight; Socioeconomic Status

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Aged
Child
Family Characteristics
Humans
Logistic Models
Odds Ratio
Overweight
Parents
Public Health
Risk-Taking
Social Class
Socioeconomic Factors