Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence of overweight and underweight is steadily increasing among children and adolescents. To explore the relationship between parental socioeconomic status and body mass index, we examined levels of overweight and underweight among representative samples of children and adolescents in South Korea.MethodsWe analyzed data from the 2009 Korean Survey on the Obesity of Youth and Children, conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute. The sample response rate for this survey was 93.9%. After excluding 745 subjects who had missing information on age, height, or weight, 9411 subjects were included. To measure parental socioeconomic status, 4 categories were assessed by using a structured questionnaire: subjective economic status, parental education level, parental occupational status, and family structure. We used the chi-squared test in univariable analysis and multinomial logistic regression in multivariable analysis.ResultsMultinomial logistic regression analysis identified sex, education level, parental interest in weight management, and parental body shapes as statistically significant characteristics affecting overweight in children, and sex, place of residence, parental interest in weight management, and paternal and maternal body shapes as statistically significant characteristics affecting underweight (P < 0.05).ConclusionsUnderweight and overweight coexist among adolescent Korean males of low socioeconomic status, which indicates that these conditions can coexist in developed countries. Appropriate interventions to address both overweight and underweight in adolescents are required.
Highlights
Childhood and adolescence is a critical period of human life because it is characterized by rapid physical and sexual growth and changes in body fat that determine adult weight and height.[1]
We examined levels of overweight and underweight among representative samples of children and adolescents in South Korea and investigated the association between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI)
Using procedures developed by the National Youth Policy Institute (NYPI), the researchers selected a group of schools and trained interviewers visiting the schools to interview students using a structured questionnaire during the period from June through September in 2009; 93.9% of students agreed to participate in the interview
Summary
Childhood and adolescence is a critical period of human life because it is characterized by rapid physical and sexual growth and changes in body fat that determine adult weight and height.[1]. South Korea has seen escalating overweight rates in children and adolescents, including a 70% increase from 1997 to 2005.5 The alarming increase in the prevalence of overweight may adversely affect physical and psychosocial health among children and adolescents and increase the risk of adult obesity.[6]. To explore the relationship between parental socioeconomic status and body mass index, we examined levels of overweight and underweight among representative samples of children and adolescents in South Korea. Results: Multinomial logistic regression analysis identified sex, education level, parental interest in weight management, and parental body shapes as statistically significant characteristics affecting overweight in children, and sex, place of residence, parental interest in weight management, and paternal and maternal body shapes as statistically significant characteristics affecting underweight (P < 0.05).
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