Dietary characteristics and nutrient intake according to weight status among school-age children in Korea: Based on the 7th and 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2019)

Objectives This study aims to determine the status of obesity and underweight among school-age children in Korea and to compare and analyze dietary characteristics and nutrient intake status according to weight status. Methods Data from a total of 2,075 children aged 6 to 11 who participated in the 7th and 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted from 2016 to 2019 were used for analysis. The height and weight of participants were used to calculate body mass index (BMI). The participants were then classified into underweight, normal weight, and overweight/obese groups. Differences in socioeconomic and dietary characteristics for each weight group were analyzed. Energy, intake of the three main nutrients, rate of energy supply, nutrient intake ratio to dietary reference intake, and the ratio of those below the nutrient reference intake were calculated for each weight group. Results Results indicated that 9.45% of male children and 10.74% of female children were underweight, while 20.57% of male children and 18.10% of female children were overweight/obese. The lower the parents’ education level, the higher the rate of overweight/obesity in children. Children who skipped breakfast more than five times a week had a higher rate of overweight/obesity than children who skipped breakfast less than five times a week. Compared to the underweight group, the overweight/obese group consumed more vegetables, meat, fish, and seafood but less fruit. The intake ratio to the estimated energy requirements (EER) was 97% in the underweight group and 102 to 108% in the normal and overweight/obese groups. The intake ratio of protein to the recommended intake (RI) was 144 to 166%, exceeding the protein reference intakes for all weight groups. The intake ratios of vitamin A and calcium to the RI were low at 73 to 74% and 63 to 69% in all weight groups, respectively. Conclusions Thus, this study suggests that the government, community-related organizations, and schools should continue to cooperate to provide efficient intervention programs to manage the health and nutrition of obese and underweight children.