Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Related to Obesity in Elementary School Children

Lee, Myung Ha; Kim, Hyeon Ok; Hyoung, Hee Kyoung; Kim, Hee Sun

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was carried out to investigate the knowledge of obesity and exercise, attitude to dietary habits and exercise, and physical activities and exercise in elementary school children to provide basic data for obese programs.
METHODS
The subjects were 850 elementary school children of grade 3-6 in C City and data were collected with a questionnaire.
RESULTS
Higher grade, female and overweight children recorded a higher knowledge score than lower grade, male and normal weight children. As for attitude to dietary habit, lower grade and female children had more positive attitude than higher grade and male children. Overweight children were more aware of the seriousness of exercise than normal weight children. In physical activity, lower grade and male children were higher than higher grade and female children. The more interested the children's family were in exercise, the higher score of physical activity they showed.
CONCLUSION
In planning education for preventing obesity, it should give consideration to lower grade and male children. In addition, education for changing dietary habit attitude must be extended to higher grade and male children as well. It is effective to develop and apply physical activity improvement programs in the cooperation and involvement of their families.