ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Recently, childhood obesity has increased and became a major health concern in Korea. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in Jeju and to analyze clinical characteristics according to the degree of obesity. METHODS: A total of 3,643 students from April 2002 to August 2002 were studied. To examine the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity, obesity index, body mass index and Rholer index were used. To analyze clinical characteristics according to the degree of obesity, blood pressure and laboratory data from student health examination were used. RESULTS: Prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in Jeju was 9.9%(mild:5.1%, moderate:4.3%, severe:0.5%) by obesity index, 5.6% by body mass index, and 6.3% by Rholer index. Prevalence of obesity in males was significantly higher than in females, but prevalence of obesity according to age made no significant difference. Prevalence of hypertension, liver function test abnormality and hypercholesterolemia according to the degree of obesity were significantly increased, but that of anemia, hyperglucosemia showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: By student health examination data, the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity in Jeju was identified. Because the prevalence of hypertension, liver function test abnormality and hypercholesterolemia according to the degree of obesity were significantly increased, we must pay more attention to childhood and adolescent obesity as an important student health issue.