Economic Differences in Risk Factors for Obesity Among Overweight and Obese Children. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Hee Soon; Ham, Ok Kyung; Jang, Mi Na; Yun, Hyun Jung; Park, Jiyoung
• Is Part Of: Journal of school nursing. Volume 30:Number 4(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 281
• Page End: 291
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: children -- health status disparities -- low income -- obesity; School health services -- Periodicals; School nursing -- Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1177/1059840513509839
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1059-8405

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to identify the economic differences in familial, physiological, psychological, and lifestyle characteristics associated with overweight and obese children in South Korea. A total of 407 overweight and obese children participated in the study. The obesity rate was 69.0% and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) was 33.3% in the low-income bracket, and the prevalence of MS was 27.2% for the population. The children in the low-income group were more prone to have poor eating behavior and more likely to spend more than 2 hr viewing television. They also were more likely to have lower self-esteem and more depressive symptoms. School nurses should understand that risk factors for childhood obesity are more prevalent in low-income groups, which will eventually aggravate health disparities between socioeconomic status groups. Therefore, prevention programs for childhood obesity, which target high-risk groups of such children need to be developed and prioritized.