Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 47, No 2, April, 2008
UDK 61
YU ISSN 0365-4478
 

Correspondence to:
 

Copyright 2008 by Faculty  of Medicine, University of Nis

Original article

ANTHROPOMETRIC PARAMETERS AS INDICATORS OF GROWTH ACCELERATION AND OBESITY PREDICTORS IN PREADOLESCENTS

Snezana Gligorijevic

At the beginning of the 21^th century, the phenomenon of growth acceleration with secular trend has been brought into question. Better life conditions brought about the expansion of nutritive transition with the consequent epidemics of obesity. Preadolescent period is very vulnerable to environmental factors. The aim of the paper was to investigate the growth acceleration by means of anthropometric parameters among urban preadolescents in Nis. Cross-sectional design study was carried out in the period from October 2006 to April 2007, comprising  1489 III grade pupils from the urban elementary schools in Nis (736 girls and 753 boys). After collecting data about anthropometric parameters (body height and body weight) from medical records from the School Dispensary in the Primary Health Care Center Nis, data were systematized by sex and statistically processed. BH and BW were statistically significantly higher in boys compared to girls   (BH: t=3,547>t=3,291 for p<0,001; BW: t=2,514>t=1, 96 for p<0, 05). According to percentile distribution, there are more girls (16, 03 %) with BH over P85 than boys (15, 01%). In percentile distribution of BW, boys are predominant (15% vs. 14.54%). The ratio between BW and BH², known as BMI, is higher than P85 in 15.08% of girls and 14.87% of boys. Girls are more exposed to the harmful effects of environmental factors, because there is no growth acceleration compared to girls from the study from 1993 (for BH, t=-3, 39, and for BW, t=-3, 57; both values are higher than t=3, 29 for error level p<0,001). Regression of growth acceleration along with   obesity prevalence increase are matters of concern requiring the planning of urgent intervention from the domain of healthy nutrition promotion. Acta Medica Medianae 2008;47(2):15-19.

Key words: anthropometry, growth acceleration, obesity, preadolescents

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