Oct. 28--SEOUL -- Obesity and unhealthy diet are emerging as major issues for elementary, middle and high school students in South Korea.
The obesity rate of elementary, middle and high school students last year was 13.2 percent, 2 percent higher than that of the previous year, according to a survey conducted on 194,817 students by the Education Ministry.
The figure fell slightly from 2006-2008, from 11.6 percent to 11.2 percent, but again took an upturn last year.
The number of students classified as extremely obese ? indicating those weighing over 150 percent of the average figure for their peer group ? was 1.1 percent, breaking the 1 percent line for the first time.
Extreme obesity was most common in the male high school student group ? at 1.8 percent, according to the study.
The average height of students, however, remained at a standstill or even fell from the figure of the previous year, except in the sixth grade boys group which showed a 0.3 percent rise.
Apart from obesity, many students also had a highly unbalanced diet, according to the study.
Almost 80 percent of students answered that they eat instant noodles at least once a week whereas less than 30 percent regularly eat fruit and vegetables or drink milk.
Also, 14 percent of the high school students said that they habitually skip breakfast.
The weight and nutrition issues may be due to the changed lifestyles of students but may also be linked to the economic and social realities of individual families, some experts said.
The obesity rate of children in poor families in 2007 was 25.9 percent, 2.5 times higher than the average child obesity rate which was 10.9 percent, according to ChildFund, a welfare foundation for children.
"Children in destitute families with working parents or parent are largely neglected in terms of healthy nutrition, as they are in other social categories," said an official of ChildFund.
"They then easily turn to cheap instant or takeaway food."
Students and parents may refer to the detailed health information on the student health information center website (http://www.schoolhealth.kr) or the parent information service website (http://www.parents.go.kr), said ministry officials.
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