Obesity Index and Related Factors among Elementary School Students Visiting Pediatric Department of General Hospital

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to investigate dietary habits and biochemical indices according to the obesity index of elementary school students visiting a hospital for diagnosis. The subjects of this study were 150 elementary school students and their mothers. The overweight rates of child subjects were 37.5% for males and 40.9% for females, whereas the rates of underweight children were 35.0% for males and 14.5% for females. Children's obesity index significantly decreased with an increase in the average monthly income of children's families. Children's obesity index, mothers's weights, BMI, and percent ideal body weight were all positively correlated. Blood biochemical values in children (hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, globulin, glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels) and their obesity index also showed positive correlation. For the underweight group, the frequency of iron-deficiency anemia was significantly high, whereas for the overweight group, the frequency of dyslipidemia was high. There was a significant increase in children's obesity index and a decrease in frequency of regular exercise with time spent on the TV/computer. The normal weight group recorded the highest total scores for mothers' nutritional knowledge, whereas the overweight group recorded the lowest total scores. Therefore, to maintain healthy weight in children, nutritional education programs for mothers and children should be developed.