JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCE & MEDICINE |
Research article |
PREVALENCE OF OBESITY IN KOREAN ADOLESCENTS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WEEKLY FREQUENCY OF THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES | |||||||||
Wi-Young So1, Dong-Jun Sung2, Brenda Swearingin1, Seong-Ik Baek3, Soung -Yob Rhi4, Daniel Webb1 and Tiffany M. Fuller1 | |||||||||
1Department of Human Performance & Leisure Studies, North Carolina A&T State University, USA, 2Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea, 3Department of Physical Educations, Myongji University, Gyeonggido, Korea, 4Health and Exercise Science, Institute of Sports Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea | |||||||||
| |||||||||
© Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2011) 10, 679 - 684 | |||||||||
|
ABSTRACT | ||||||||||||
The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the prevalence of obesity among Korean adolescents and to determine the relationship of obesity prevalence with weekly frequency of physical education (PE) classes. In 2009, 72,399 students from grades 7 to 12 participated in the fifth Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS-V) project. Body mass index (BMI) and the frequency of PE classes attended were assessed by the KYRBWS- V. BMI was computed to classify the participants as underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. The association between the frequency of PE classes and BMI were examined using one-way ANOVA and logistic regression analysis. The differences in the weekly frequency of PE classes and the BMI values among both the boys and girls were significant (p < 0.001). A post-hoc test showed that underweight boys and girls attended the PE classes more frequently (p < 0.001), and overweight girls attended these classes less frequently (p < 0.01) than the other groups did; moreover, obese boys and girls, compared to boys and girls in the other groups, attended less number of PE classes per week while at school (p < 0.05). Besides, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval, CI) for normal-weight vs. underweight boys attending 1 PE class, 2 PE classes, and > 3 PE classes per week were 1.168 (1.011-1.349, p = 0.035), 1.621 (1.450-1.812, p < 0.001), and 3.023 (2.704-3.381, p < 0.001), respectively, compared with those for boys who did not attend PE classes. The OR (95% CI) of normal-weight vs. obese boys attending > 3 PE classes attended across normal vs. obese boys was 0.862 (0.762-0.974, p = 0.017), compared with those of boys who did not attend PE classes. The OR (95% CI) for normal-weight vs. underweight girls who attended 2 PE classes and > 3 PE classes per week were 1.235 (1.131-1.349, p < 0.001) and 2.238 (2.048-2.446, p < 0.001), respectively, compared with those of girls who did not attend PE classes. The OR (95% CI) of for normal-weight vs. overweight girls who attended > 3 PE classes per week were 0.886 (0.787- 0.997, p = 0.045) and 0.772 (0.679-0.878, p < 0.001), respectively, compared with those of girls who did not attend PE classes. The OR (95% CI) for normal-weight vs. obese girls who attended 2 PE classes and > 3 PE classes per week were 0.788 (0.675-0.919, p = 0.002) and 0.709 (0.599-0.838, p < 0.001), respectively, compared with those of girls who did not attend the PE class. Increase in the frequency of PE classes should be considered in any attempt for curbing weight-related problems in Korean adolescents. Key words: Prevalence of obesity, physical education class, adolescents. |
|
INTRODUCTION | ||||||||||||
Overweight and obesity are associated with serious health issues worldwide. According to the World Health Organization report, more than 1.5 billion adults aged 20 years and above are already overweight, and more than 500 million adults are obese. In addition, almost 43 million children aged 5 years and less were classified as overweight in 2010 (WHO, 2011a). Thus, obesity in adolescents and adults is becoming increasingly common (Foti and Lowry, 2010; Patton et al., 2011; Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [KCDCP], 2008). |
|
METHODS | ||||||||||||
Study design Independent variables Dependent variables Statistical analysis |
|
RESULTS | ||||||||||||
|
|
DISCUSSION | ||||||||||||
TThe aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the frequency of PE classes per week in schools and the prevalence of obesity in Korean adolescents. The results of this study, for both boys and girls, showed that lower-weight (UG) tended to be associated with a high frequency of PE classes per week, and higher weight (OWG and OG) tended to be associated with a low frequency of PE classes per week, compared to the association observed for students with a normal BMI (NG). |
|
CONCLUSION | |
We concluded that increase in the frequency of PE classes is a factor that should be considered to improve weight status in Korean adolescents. |
KEY POINTS | |
|
AUTHORS BIOGRAPHY | |
Wi-Young SO Employment: Research Prof., Department of Human Performance & Leisure Studies, North Carolina A&T State University Degree: PhD Research interests: Exercise physiology, exercise prescription E-mail: wowso@snu.ac.kr | |
Dong-Jun SUNG Employment: Senior researcher, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University Degree: PhD Candidate Research interests: Exercise physiology, exercise prescription, cell biology and elec E-mail: sls987493@hanmail.net | |
Brenda SWEARINGIN Employment: Ass. Prof., Department Human Performance & Leisure Studies, North Carolina A&T State University Degree: PhD Research interests: Exercise physiology, lifestyle modification E-mail: brendas@ncat.edu | |
Seong-Ik BAEK Employment: Department of Physical Educations, Myongji University Degree: PhD Research interests: Sports Management, Exercise Prescription, Adapted/Special Physical Activity/Education E-mail: brooklyn1002@nate.com | |
Soung -YobRHI Employment: Health and Exercise Science, Institute of Sports Science, Seoul National University Degree: PhD Candidate Research interests: Exercise Physiology, Exercise Prescription, Sport Medicine E-mail: fltmdduq@snu.ac.kr | |
Daniel WEBB Employment: Assoc. Prof., Department Human Performance & Leisure Studies, North Carolina A&T State University Degree: PhD Research interests: Adapted/Special Physical Activity/Education. E-mail: dwebb@ncat.edu | |
Tiffany M. FULLER Employment: Ass. Prof., Department Human Performance & Leisure Studies, North Carolina A&T State University Degree: PhD Research interests: Exercise and sport science, pedagogy E-mail: tf984181@ncat.edu | |