허약아와 성장지표의 상관성에 대한 연구

Abstract

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between weak children and growth indices. Methods One hundred twenty-six of the first and the second grade elementary school students who didn't have to develop yet their secondary sexual characteristics answered the questionnaire. Their bone age and body composition were measured. Results 1. According to the Weak Children questionnaire analysis, respiratory problem was one of the biggest problems in the weak children group (35.7%), followed by digestive problems (23.0%), psycho-neurological problems (22.2%), neuromotor problems (9.5%), and urogenital problems (8.7%). 2. From the comparison between growth indices of weak children and that of normal children are as follows: 1) The group of children who had problem in their digestive system had lower growth indices than the normal average children group. The growth indices includes mean height, weight, total body water, protein mass, mineral mass, body fat, skeletal muscle mass, body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), and basal metabolic rate (BMR). 2) The children who had urogenital weakness had lower mean height, RH (Recent Height), RH - MPH {Recent Height(%) - Mid-Parental Height(%)}, RUS (Radius, Ulna and Short bone) score, weight, protein mass, body fat, BMI, and visceral fat than the normal children group. 3. The results of the multiple comparisons of growth indices and weak children groups are as follows: 1) Digestive weak children were the lowest in total body water, protein mass, mineral mass, skeletal muscle mass, and basal metabolic rate. 2) Urogenital weak children were the lowest in height, RH, RH - MPH, RUS score, and weight. Conclusion These results showed that children's growth is strongly correlated to their own growth problems, especially to those children who have digestive and urogenital problems. Therefore, this may be an effective way for children growth treatment in Korean medicine to treat weak symptoms.