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. 2021 Mar;26(1):38-45.
doi: 10.6065/apem.2040100.050. Epub 2021 Mar 31.

Changes in anthropometric indices among Korean school students based on the 2010 and 2018 Korea School Health Examination Surveys

Moon Young Seo  1 , Shin-Hye Kim  1 , Mi Jung Park  1
Affiliations

Changes in anthropometric indices among Korean school students based on the 2010 and 2018 Korea School Health Examination Surveys

Moon Young Seo et al. Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: This study sought to identify changes in anthropometric values among Korean school students by comparing the most recent nationwide data with previous data.

Methods: Data from the Korea School Health Examination Survey 2018 were used. The study population consisted of 107,954 Korean school students ranging from the 1st grade in elementary school through the 3rd year of high school. The difference in height and weight values for each sex and school grade was analyzed by comparison with the Korea School Health Examination Survey 2010.

Results: The mean heights of the 3rd-year high school students were 173.8 cm and 160.9 cm for boys and girls, respectively. The mean height of the 3rd-year high school students showed no difference between 2010 and 2018 for either sex. However, the mean height of the age group from the 3rd grade in elementary school through the 1st year in high school was significantly taller in 2018 compared to 2010 for both sexes. The mean weights of the 3rd-year high school students were 71.3 kg and 57.5 kg for boys and girls, respectively. The mean weight of students in 2018 was significantly higher compared to students in 2010 for most school grades.

Conclusion: Although no significant change was found in near-final height between 2010 and 2018 among high school seniors, the mean height during the growth spurt was significantly higher in 2018 compared to 2010. Weight was significantly higher in almost all school grades in 2018 compared to 2010.

Keywords: Anthropometry; Body mass index; Growth charts; Height; Korea; Students; Weight.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Comparisons of mean height and weight of Korean school students by sex and school grade between Korea School Health Examination Surveys (KSHES) from 2010 and 2018. (A) Mean height for boys, (B) mean weight for boys, (C) mean height for girls, and (D) mean weight for girls. Es, elementary school; Gr, grade; Ms, middle school; Hs, high school. *P<0.05. **P<0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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