The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the obesity rate in elementary school students of Daejeon and relevant factors such as social-demographical factors, genetic factors, birth factors, diet factors and intelligence factors....
The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the obesity rate in elementary school students of Daejeon and relevant factors such as social-demographical factors, genetic factors, birth factors, diet factors and intelligence factors. For the research, 443 fourth grade students, 405 fifth grade students and 417 sixth grade students from six elementary schools of Daejeon Metropolitan City were sample-surveyed and classified into three groups: normal-weight group, mild obesity group, and moderate or greater obesity group.
The results of this research are as follows:
1. The total obesity rate of the elementary school students in the school district of Daejeon Metropolitan City is 14.2%; the rate of mild obesity is 7.2%; the rate of moderate obesity is 5.5%; and the rate of severe obesity is 1.5%. The obesity rate of surveyed boys is 16.9%, and the obesity rate of girls is 11.1%.
2. The obesity rate of students who are in the upper class of social-economic status or whose parents have high BMA is notably higher than that of other groups. Diet factors are more critical than physical activity factors. The amount of meals, eating speed, and meal frequency are the most important of diet factors. The preference of greasy food is also one of the critical factors.
3. The significant factors for boys' obesity are mothers' BMI, eating speed, constant demand of foods, preference for greasy foods, frequency of eating snacks, daily hours of watching TV, and after-school study programs. The significant factors for girls' obesity are fathers' BMI, mothers' BMI, living standards, constant demand of foods, preference for greasy foods, frequency of eating snacks, and daily walking hours.
4. It was found that students' subjective mind and objective health index are related to obesity. In the case of obese students, they have more concern about their health and more stress from the dissatisfaction of their physical appearance than normal students. The result of blood pressure measurement showed that the incidence rate of the hyperpiesia in the obese student group is higher than that of the normal group. In particular, the incidence rate of the severely obese or greater student group is 6.8%.
From the above evidences, it is apparent that the obesity of elementary school students has strong relations with eating habits rather than physical activities. It is important that healthy eating habits should be formed in early age before establishing the living tendency. It is to be hoped that obesity prevention programs such as effective meal guidance, parental guidance for TV viewing, and intense physical activities will be included in the curriculums of health education for elementary school students.