This study was undertaken to assess grade and gender differences in dietary behavior, food preference and perception about body image of students in 4, 5 and 6th grades in elementary school in Kwangju. Anthropometric data showed that mean height and weight were 137.98±6.79cm 32.69±6.09kg, in the 4th grade, 144.11±6.91cm, 36.88±7.60kg in the 5th grade and 151.52±7.47cm, 42.68±8.06kg in the 6th grade. Height and weight of male and female students of each grade were very similar to those of the Korean standard Growth data. Females in the 5th and 6th grades were taller than those in male students, which suggested the height growth spurt in females. Furthermore, both genders showed marked variability even in the same group. All the three different obesity indices(BMI, Rohrer and % of ideal body weight) showed higher value in males than in females consistently. Male respondents desired taller and heavier body shape while females perceived they were heavy and desired only taller and thinner body image. There were significant differences in satisfaction with height, weight and body image by grade(p〈0.05). 36.7% of subjects responded that they did not eat despite hunger. In higher grade they felt guilty after eating sweet things. Strikingly, it was noted a small number of students tried to take a diet pills or vomited on purpose. Data on food preference showed that female did not like sweet food and pork. While male students preferred red meat and chicken. Thus result indicated that there was a great difference in food preference by gender.

The purpose of this study was to develop menu planning in the elementary food service system. This survey conducted in 10 elementary schools located in Inchon area. Among 300 questionnaires, 258 responses were collected and were analyzed by SAS program. Household income levels, food habits and preference of menu were investigated using frequency and percentiles with chi-square test. The result showed that mostly people belonged to lower middle income classes. As for preference of school food service menu, elementary students chose correction of unbalanced diet and good nutrition, while mothers of them ranked correction of unbalanced diet and convenience of preparing food. Regardness of mothers for menu preference of the elementary school students came to an agreement overall.

This study was carried out to survey dietary intakes of 739 elementary students, 4-6grades, in Won-Ju area, in 1998, to enhance the effect of school foodservice. The results were as follows : 1. Most investigated students had nuclear family with one brother or one sister. 2. The average height of boys and girls was 141.0±7.7cm and 141.4±8.0cm, and the average weight of them was 35.7±8.5kg and 36.1±8.5kg, respectively. There was no significant difference between boys and girls. 3. The rates of obesity were 12.2% in urban, 7.4% in rural and 0% in remote rural area by Rohrer index and 22.9% in urban 13.9% in rural and 0% in remote rural area by the rate based on standard weight. 4. All nutrients intake of investigated students were sufficient according to recommended dietary allowances. All nutrients intake of boys were higher than those of girls. Calcium intake of children with well educated mother was higher than that of children with poorly educated mother. Children in remote rural area had lower carbohydrate, calory and calcium intake than those in other areas. 5. Students without breakfast had lower protein and iron intake and higher calory from snack than those with breakfast. 6. Students who thought themselves to be obesity had low intake of carbohydrate, total calory and calory from snack and students with regular exercise had high intake of protein, iron, calcium and calory from snack. 7. Students with unbalanced diet, snack intake in large quantities and irregular meal had lower protein, fat, iron and calcium intake and higher calory from snack than other students. As a result, Students without breakfast often had lower all nutrients except calory from snack than other students, significantly. Problems of nutrients intake of elementary students in Won-Ju area were high rate of obesity, high intake of protein, unbalanced nutrients intake of students without meal or students with excessive eating and limited calcium intake of students with poorly educated mother. It is important to confirm desirable food habits for balanced nutrients intake in all areas and to increase calcium intake of students in remote rural area.

The present study was performed to investigate the prevalence rate of idiopathic scoliosis and to determine the effect of exercise training on scoliotic angle in elementary school children. In this study, two out of five elementary schools in Seosan city were chosen by random sampling. Seven hundred sixty four students (from four grade to the sixth grade student) were selected in two schools. Screening tests were conducted to find idiopathic scoliosis. Among the 764 individuals, 139 subjects who showed positive sign in physical examination took whole spine radiography. Thirty six subjects who had a curve of 10 or greater and consented to participate in the exercise program were selected for the exercise program. The exercise program was performed four times a week for 5 months. The results of this study were as follows: 1) One hundred thirty nine subjects showed positive sign in the scoliosis screening test. 2) The overall prevalence of curve of greater in X-ray finding was 8.15%. The prevalencies of curve of greater in male and female were 7.1% and 9.2%, respectively. 3) Scoliosis curves were observed at thoracic area (48.4%), at thoracolumbar area (27.4%) and at lumbar area(24.4%). 4) Right side curve was 59.7%, and left side curve was 40.3%. 5) After the 5 month exercise program for scoliosis, the Cobb's angle was significantly decreased. 6) There was no significant difference of Cobb's angle change respect to sex, grades, and scoliosis curve site. Results shown here indicates that an early detection and early exercise for scoliosis can result in decreased the Cobb's angle in elementary school children.

The aim of this study is to survey the eating habits and nutritional knowledge of children in Pusan, with a view to uncovering problems and their underlying causes and cultivating desirable dietary habit and nutrition for children. Three hundred and fifty six elementary school students were asked questions about their eating habits and nutritional knowledge as well as general information about their personal characteristics. The results showed: 1. Only 53.5% of the subjects had breakfast every day. Seventy-six percent of the subjects had dinner every day. Only 40% of the children took meals and talked with family at both breakfast and dinner. Thus there was little opportunity for dietary guidance by parents. 2. About half of the subjects answered that their appetite decreased after eating snack foods between meals. A third of the subjects liked the baked goods as snacks. Because of their high sugar and fat content, they can damage children's health, resulting in child diabetes and tooth decay. For this reason, careful education is necessary to allow children to be able to select snack foods that are appropriate in kind and quantity. 3. About 85% of the subjects had an unbalanced diet. Therefore systematic nutrition education at school is necessary to instill in children the value of balanced diet. 4. Children preferred rice to other cereals as a staple food. They disliked kimchi, seasoned and blanched foods and salads as subsidiary foods. It is therefore necessary to teach children systematically the nutritional advantage of cereals and vegetables and to heighten their awareness of Korean food culture. 5. Children had a low level of nutritional knowledge. The knowledge of specific nutrients was lower than that of foods. In conclusion, systematical educational programs need to be developed at elementary school. These should include information about achieving a balanced diet, good eating habit, meal management and Korean dietary culture. Nutritional education at home must be emphasized.