Korean J Obes.  2016 Dec;25(4):225-232. 10.7570/kjo.2016.25.4.225.

Evaluation of Eating Behavior and Nutritional Status Using the Nutrition Quotient in Obese Children

• Lim HS
• Kim SK
• Park YH
• Shin YL

• KMID: 2368802
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7570/kjo.2016.25.4.225

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The increasing incidence of pediatric obesity has recently emerged as a social problem, and children's eating behaviors and nutritional statuses directly affect health. Obesity prevention and treatment must involve dietary life management. Despite the importance of specialized, accurate eating behavior and nutritional status evaluations of obese children, available study tools in Korea are lack.
METHODS
Obesity index, blood parameters, and nutrient intake were evaluated in 64 obese children (29 boys, 35 girls) at a university hospital childhood and adolescent obesity clinic; eating behaviors and nutritional statuses were evaluated using a recently developed and validated Korean nutrient quotient (NQ) for children.
RESULTS
The subjects' mean age was 9.7±1.8 years, and the mean obesity index was 132.8%±17.2%. Moderate or severe obesity (P<0.001) was significantly more frequent among girls. Nutrient intake analyses revealed insufficient intakes of fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and folic acid relative to recommendation. Protein and carbohydrate intakes were significantly elevated among boys and girls, respectively (P=0.001 and 0.004, respectively). The overall mean nutrition quotient score was 59.6±15.3. Diversity and practice scores were below average, and girls had significantly higher scores only in regularity (P=0.037). Severely obese children had significantly lower moderation (P=0.032), practice (P=0.005), and mean total scores (P=0.019) relative to normal weight children.
CONCLUSION
Specialized nutrition evaluation and mediation are essential for child obesity management. The nutrition quotient might allow more efficient evaluation of obese children.

Keyword

Child obesity; Diet; Nutritional status; Eating behavior

MeSH Terms

Calcium
Child*
Diet
Eating*
Feeding Behavior*
Female
Folic Acid
Humans
Incidence
Korea
Negotiating
Nutritional Status*
Obesity
Obesity, Morbid
Pediatric Obesity
Potassium
Social Problems
Vitamin A
Calcium
Folic Acid
Potassium
Vitamin A