To elucidate the effects of an obesity control program on body composition and serum lipid levels, 31 obese elementary students (male: 25, female: 6) residing in the Gyeonggi area were evaluated and their body composition, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TG (triglyceride) were analyzed. The average age, height, weight and BMI (body mass index) were 11.52±1.00 yrs, 151.96±8.04 cm, 68.21±9.03 kg and 29.40±1.79 kg/m2 for the males, respectively, and 11.17±1.17 yrs, 147.83±5.15 cm, 65.05±10.86 kg and 29.62±3.24 kg/m2 for the females, respectively. There was a significant decrease in BMI for males (p〈0.001) and females (p〈0.05). There were also significant changes in all of the biochemical levels evaluated before and after the study. Specifically, the total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TG level decreased after the obesity control program, while the HDL-cholesterol level increased after the program. These results indicate that obesity control programs do change the BMI, serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TG levels in obese elementary students. Thus, obesity control programs are urgently needed to prevent degenerative disease and decrease obesity among children in elementary school.

The principal objective of this study was to assess the bone density and processed food intake behavior of middle-aged and elderly women in the Seoul area. The subjects were assigned to one of the following groups on the basis of BMI: namely, the underweight, normal, and overweight groups. The results are summarized as follows: The average BMI and systolic blood pressure of the three groups were 19.0, 127.3 mmHg; 22.4, 132.8 mmHg; and 26.8, 136.1 mmHg respectively. The BQI and T-scores of the three groups were as follows: 56.6, -2.50; 62.3, -2.22; 66.0, -2.03 respectively. The bone status of the three groups, in terms of the percentage of normal and osteoporosis, were 9.5%, 52.4%; 8.3% 33.0%; and 8.8%, 23.6% respectively. We noted no significant differences in processed food intake (frozen, cold and can processed food, instant and convenience store food, basic side dishes) behavior among the three groups. However, we recorded a negative value between processed food intake and bone density (BQI, T-score, %young adult, Z-score, %age-matched) generally. In particular, ramyeon (r=-0.1574, p<0.05) and cup-ramyeon (r=-0.1996, p<0.05) intake were significantly associated with the T-scores of bone density levels. The results of this study revealed that processed food intake was not generally desirable for healthy bone. Thus, practically and systematically organized education regarding a good and healthy dietary life is highly recommended.