A Study on Dietary Related Factors and Blood Parameters of Obese Children Residing in Samcheok

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary related factors and blood parameters of moderately or severely obese children residing in Samcheok. Anthropometric measurement, 24-hour recall for dietary intake, blood analysis and questionnaire response including nutritional knowledge, nutritional attitude, body image recognition and eating habits were conducted in 23 obese children(16 boys and 7 girls) and their mother. The mean age of subjects are 10.0 years. The average body weight, BMI, obesity index and percent body fat were 57.5kg, 27.0kg/m2, 47.3 and 38.1% in boys and 51.0kg, 24.8kg/m2, 40.3 and 43.9% in girls. The average nutritional attitude, the self-satisfaction and the nutritional knowledge scores in subjects were 29.9/40, 32.7/50 and 7.3/10, respectively. 34.8% of the subjects were unsatisfied with their body image, whereas, 81.8% of their mothers were unsatisfied with children's body image. 60.9% of subjects had one or both obese parents. Average intake of energy were 90.6% of RDA in boys and 84.3% of RDA in girls. The ratio of energy from carbohydrate/protein/fat were 66/16/18 in boys and 66/17/17 in girls. The mean serum cholesterol concentration of the subjects was 191.8mg/dl and 78.3% of the subjects were above the normal serum cholesterol rage of children. In the results of correlation analysis, obesity index was negatively correlated with self and mother's nutritional attitude scores. Body weight and BMI were positively correlated with vitamin C(p<0.05) and fruits(p<0.05) intakes. And there was a positive correlation between obesity index and BMI, and serum cholesterol(p<0.05).