Abstract
Purpose: The main purpose of the present study was to establish percentile curves for body-mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and WHtR(exp) in adolescents. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 1036 secondary-school students aged 15 to 18 years from eight randomly selected schools (55.3% girls). BMI, WC, WHtR and WHtR(exp) were calculated using standardized measuring protocol. The sex- and age-specific smoothed percentile curves with 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentile for each anthropometric measure were constructed using Cole’s LMS method. Results: In boys, both BMI and WC percentile curves increased by age, yet the 95th percentile curve for WHtR and WHtR(exp) decreased by age. In girls, the 95th percentile curve for BMI remained unchanged through the age of 15 to 18 years, yet the 90th and 95th percentile curves for WC and WHtR decreased by age. Conclusion: This is the first study in Croatia to establish combined BMI, WC, WHtR and WHtR(exp) percentile curves and add some new insight on anthropometric measures in 15- to 18-year-old adolescents.
Highlights
The prevalence of obesity has risen dramatically in the past several years worldwide, especially in children and adolescents [1]
The selection criteria were an active participation in physical education (PE) classes, and an absence of injuries
Our final sample was based on 1036 secondary-school students
Summary
The prevalence of obesity has risen dramatically in the past several years worldwide, especially in children and adolescents [1]. The global age-standardized prevalence of obesity in this age group in 2016 was 5.6% in girls and 7.8% in boys [1]. Obesity is associated with many non-communicable diseases [2] and being overweight or obese in childhood and adolescence often leads to negative health consequences in adulthood [1]. Data from the Health Behaviour in School Aged Children 2009/2010 survey [5] showed that 23.0% of boys and 10% of girls were classified as overweight. According to the aforementioned survey, special interventions and strategies monitoring and tracking the level of nutritional status in accordance to children’s healthy growth is of extreme importance
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