Comparisons of Anthropometric Measurements, Body Fat, Blood Parameters, and Nutrients Intakes in Over- and Desirable-Body Weight School Children

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to compare the characteristics of the over weight elementary school students with those of desirable-weight children. Anthropometric parameters such as height, weight, BMI, body fat percentile, triceps skin fold thickness were measured. Dietary assessment and blood analysis were performed. The average ages of over weight children and desirable-weight children were 10.9+/-2.5 and 10.2+/-2.8 years, respectively. The means body fat percentile of over weight children and desirable-weight children were 27.5+/-3.7% and 20.2+/-3.8%. respectively. Plasma levels of TG, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol of over weight children and desirable-weight children were 179.3+/-30.0, 104.9+/-26.6, 52.3+/-6.7 and 178.3+/-84.1 mg/dl, and those of desirable-weight children were 86.1+/-43.5, 183.7+/-16.5, 101.0+/-2.1 and 67.7+/-20.0 mg/dl, respectively. Plasma TG levels of over weight children were significantly higher than those of desirable weight children. On the other hand, plasma HDL-cholesterol levels of over weight children were significantly lower than those of desirable-weight children. Plasma levels of GOT and GPT were in normal range in both group however, GPT level of over weight children was higher than that of desirable weight children. Plasma levels of albumin, globulin, and BUN were all in normal range and no differences were found in both groups. Hematologic data did not show any difference between two groups except WBC, RBC and Hgb levels which were significantly higher in over weight group than those of desirable-weight children. Daily nutrients intake of over weight children and desirable-weight children were very similar and they were around the Korean RDA levels for each nutrients. However the intake of calcium of both groups were little over 50% of RDA. The consumption of dietary fiber was very low and the cholesterol intake was very high showing that the habitual meals of Korean school children were not well balanced.