engleski

CAN BODY WEIGHT AT AGE SIX BE PREDICTIVE FOR BODY WEIGHT AT AGE FOURTEEN?

Background and aims Obesity is one of major public health problems among school children. Early detection of children with risks for overweight and adiposity could enable intervention programs. The aim of this study is to assess body mass index (BMI) in 8th grade on its values achieved in 1st and 5th grade measurements. In longitudinal study of 985 elementary school children, 494 boys and 491 girls, anthropometric measurements were taken at enrollment in school and on regular checkups in 5th and 8th grade. Methods Body height, body weight and BMI were measured according previously determinate methodology. Participants were distributed in three groups by BMI (“Cole” standards): normal weight, overweight, obesity. Results Overweight boys were 11, 7% in 1st, 21, 7% in 5th and 19, 6% in 8th grade, for girls 14, 5%, 18, 3% and 15, 7%. Obese boys were 6, 1% in 1st and 6, 3% in 5th and 8th grade, for girls 5, 9%, 3, 9% and 3, 3%. Between 6, 5 and 14 years 67, 5% boys and 74, 5% girls didn’t change BMI group. Out of 334 normally weight boys 90, 7% stayed normal weight in 5th and 8th grade, out of 355 girls normally weight stayed 96, 8%. Boys and girls who were normal weighted in 1st and 5th grade were normal weighted in 8th grade. Conclusions Results show that body weight assessment in 5th grade could be good predictor of body weight at 14 years for children with normal weight at enrollment to school.

children; body mass index; overweight; obesity

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