Abstract
Difference in the regional adolescent obesity level may cause a notable health inequality between regions since it significantly affects adulthood health status. This study examined 2018 and 2019 regional obesity and overweight status of adolescents aged 12 to 18 by comparing two cross sectional population-based data sources, the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) and the National Student Health Examination (NSHE). Prevalence was estimated by calculating weighted percentages and 95% confidence intervals. Correlations in the relative rankings of each municipality were determined by computing Spearman correlation coefficients (rs), and prevalence discrepancies between the data sources were visualized by simple correlation graphs. The geographical distributions of adolescent obesity and overweight status showed no perfect concordances between the data sources regardless of sexes and survey years. For adolescent obesity status, there were significant difference between the least and the most obese regions and rs levels were fair to good with p-values less than 0.05, but the correlation graphs indicated body mass index (BMI) underreporting in the KYRBS. For adolescent overweight status, no significant similarities were defined between the data. These results can be used as a basis for the establishment of related policies.
Highlights
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global pediatric obesity or overweight prevalence increased from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016 [1]
Even though a few studies based on the determinant levels of the Socio-Ecological Model [14] have been conducted in Korea by using a single cross sectional data source collected at the national level [15,16] or by using a longitudinal data composed of a small-sized cohort [17], studies examining the issue at the regional level are still scarce
This study examined the geographical distribution of adolescent obesity and overweight status by determining the relative rankings of each region and investigating the numerical agreements of prevalence between the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBS) and National Student Health Examination (NSHE)
Summary
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global pediatric obesity or overweight prevalence increased from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016 [1]. One of the most common ways studies have considered socio-environmental factors regarding this issue in Korea is by examining the association through categorizing regions into urban (large cities and medium- or small-sized cities) and rural areas [8,9,10]. News articles usually provide the national statistics [18] or report relative rankings of regions based on overweight or obesity percentages [19]. The advantage of this reporting tactic is that readers can grasp the contexts, but there is still a validity issue
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
