Health examination of low-income elementary students in South Korea

A national school health screening program of Korea announces an increase of underweight in school while obesity increases in the country. Low-income children are vulnerable to such discrepancy and subsequent health outcomes. In supplement of the national school health screening program, 2,033 low-income elementary students were recruited from 106 Community Child Centers in Korea in 2006 for health examination and survey to detect behavioral characteristics and health conditions of the children. Higher prevalence of abnormal weight (determined by using the BMI-for-age and –sex chart of the national School Health Screening Program of Korea: underweight-below 5th percentile; overweight-above 85th percentile; and obesity-above 95th percentile) is found among low-income elementary children than that of the national sample in Korea. Differences are found in eating regularity and variety between underweight and overweight/obese children, while a previously established factor such as drinking soda is not relevant. Underweight children experience higher level of stress with academic performance level, and overweight/obese children are more concerned about their appearance. These findings highlight the importance of coordinated health promotion programs that integrate school health with services for low-income children. Periodical monitoring and nutritional service should concern preventing and intervening early in order to reduce abnormal weight problems. Research is needed to understand a more comprehensive picture of factors associated with both underweight and overweight/obesity among low-income Korean children.