Double burden of malnutrition and obesity in children and adolescents from North Korean refugee families

Abstract

This study assessed the nutritional status of children and adolescents from North Korean refugee (NKR) families who have settled and are living in South Korea (SK). Among the 547 individuals who participated in the study, 526 were ultimately included after excluding 21 with missing height or weight data. Their nutritional status was estimated using the 2017 Korean National Growth Charts for children and adolescents. Stunting, underweight, wasting, and obesity were defined as a height-for-age z-score < -2.0, weight-for-age z-score < -2.0, weight-for-height z-score < -2.0, and body mass index z-score > 2.0, respectively. The overall prevalence of stunting, underweight, wasting, and obesity was 7.0%, 6.8%, 5.3%, and 9.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, the prevalence of stunting, underweight, wasting, and obesity was 5.4%, 7.0%, 7.6%, and 10.3% for individuals settled in SK for <5 years and 6.1%, 6.1%, 0.0%, and 13.3% for those living in SK for =5 years, respectively. Therefore, children and adolescents from NKR families experience the double burden of malnutrition and obesity.