Project on monitoring persistence of body mass index of school aged children

Abstract

Abstract Issue Childhood obesity is one of the most important public health issues today. In Croatia every third school aged child are overweight. Monitoring of nutritional status of school aged children in Croatia is a part of routine health examinations provided by School health service, while Project on tracking BMI from early school aged to adolescence provided insight into the risk of overweight in adolescence. Risk assessment for overweight is important in planning interventions in Croatia, as well in other countries. Description of the Problem Objective of the project was to collect and analyze anthropometric data of representative sample of Croatian school aged children, to determine tracking of BMI from early school age to adolescence and to assess the risk for overweight in adolescence. Longitudinal follow up included period from first to eight grade of primary school. Data of date of birth, body weight and height were obtained from medical records, and BMI was evaluate according to the national reference values. Results Project included 641 participant (49.8% girls) with the data of three measurements within health examination in primary school. Normal weight in all free measurements were 226 (71%, CI95% 66-76%) girls, and 192 (60%, CI95% 54-65%) boys, while overweight were 18 (6%, CI95% 4-9%) girls and 26 boys (8%, CI95% 5-12%), respectively. Probabilities of being overweight in eight grade for girls and boys normal weight in first grade were 10% (CI95% 7-14%) and 13% (CI95% 10-18%), while for overweight in first grade probabilities were 63% (CI95% 46-78%) and 69% (CI95% 54-81%), respectively. Risk of being overweight in eighth grade started increasing at 75th BMI centile value in first grade. Lessons Project showed importance of monitoring persistence of BMI of school age children. Intervention should target normal weight children as well, in order to maintain normal weight during the lifespan. Key messages Monitoring of nutritional status and risk assessment for overweight is important in planning interventions. Intervention should target not only overweight children, but normal weight children as well.