Changes in morphologic indices of physical development of urban schoolchildren

Abstract

The aim of the research was to assess the age variability of anthropometric parameters in schoolchildren of the city of Gomel examined with a 40-year interval. The authors of the article examined schoolchildren of secondary schools in Gomel. Over 2010-2012 the complex cross-sectional morphometrical examination was carried out on schoolchildren aged of 8-16 years without any significant health problems in the city of Gomel (a total of 3105, out of them there were 1452 boys and 1653 girls). The somatometrical program included body length and mass, chest circumference parameters. The absolute and relative parameters of their annual increases were calculated in schoolchildren, which made it possible to determine the periods of their relative acceleration and deceleration indices. The anthropometric data on schoolchildren of the city of Gomel obtained by V.Ya.Leontyev in 1973 and A.I. Kienya, V.A. Melnik over 1994-1996 were used for comparison. The comparative analysis of the gender and age dynamics of morphometric indices in schoolchildren of the city of Gomel aged of 8-16 years in 1973 and over 2010-2012 revealed the processes of acceleration (increase of body length and mass) in boys and asthenization (increase of body length and decrease of body mass) in girls at the beginning of the XXI century. The indices of the chest circumference before and after puberty period in the contemporary school boys and girls were lower, but in the puberty period being higher than in schoolchildren of the same age examined forty years ago. The authors developed, published and put into both practical public health of Belarus and educational process the Tables for the assessment of physical development of schoolchildren of the city of Gomel.