Abstract
Objective: Obesity and being underweight appear to be completely opposite, but both are undesirable for the healthy growth of children. This study examined the similarities and differences between obese and underweight children by comparing their lifestyle behaviors based on the stages of growth.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was implemented utilizing the permitted “Field Survey of Lifestyle” issued by the Board of Education of Niigata prefecture. The participants were boys and girls from elementary to high school (n=7,395). We classified the participants into three groups: underweight, normal weight, and overweight/obese. We analyzed their dietary, physical activity and sleep patterns.
Results: Among elementary school boys, a larger percentage of underweight children (n=50, 58.8%) “exercised more than three days a week” than did obese children (n=147, 42.6%) (p=0.01). In contrast, among high school students, a larger percentage of obese children (n=89, 37.1%) “exercised more than three days a week,” as compared to underweight children (n=12, 25.0%) (p=0.001). In elementary school children, more underweight participants exhibited desirable behaviors such as “having breakfast everyday,” “chewing food well,” “eating with family (or with adults),” and “watching TV for less than two hours per day,” than did obese and normal weight children. In contrast, underweight high school students exhibited fewer desirable behaviors than did normal and overweight students.
Conclusions: Obese and underweight children have similar behaviors regarding exercise and sleep. It was shown that even if children were classified into the same figure group, their lifestyle varied according to the stages of growth.
