Cross-sectional Anthropometric Study Research Articles

Young Adult Obesity Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors, A Cross-Sectional Anthropometric Study in local Population

Objective: This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and risk factors among young adults in Pakistan. Study Design: A cross-sectional anthropometric study in local population to assess the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and risk factors among young male and female. Place and Duration: Present study was conducted in 25 high schools of Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi from January 2022 to November 2022. Methodology: In this study 1000 young adults (500 girls and 500 boys) of age 15-17 years were selected and used population-based stratified cluster sampling method. To determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity, the participant’s body mass indices (BMI) were compared to the BMI guidelines for Pakistani children and adolescents. In order to gather information about the study group's sociodemographic traits, Internet use, TV watching, physical activity, and family history of obesity, a standardized questionnaire was administered. Results: According to the findings, there were 8.9% of teenagers who were obese overall (9.6% of females and 7.2% of boys). It was shown that BMI went up when computer use did. Compared to their peers who were of normal weight, a higher percentage of overweight and obese teenagers watched TV and used computers for longer than two hours each day. It was discovered that the patients with normal weight participated more frequently in regular physical activity. 59.6% of the households of overweight adolescents were obese. Practical Implication:It will spread awareness among community about obesity prevalence in young adults and the risk factors associated with them ,controlling methods and things to prevent. Conclusion: Comparatively it was concluded that Pakistan has lower frequency of adolescent obesity than several developed countries. The usage of computer, mobile, television, physical exercise, and family dynamics are all significant risk factors for obesity. Keywords: Adolescent, Obesity, Body mass indices, Risk factors, Anthropometric

Body mass index, weight, and height percentiles in school-aged children from Mendoza. A comparison with the WHO reference.

Introduction. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of reference tables to monitor the growth pattern and nutritional status of children and adolescents. Body mass index (BMI), weight, and height are the most commonly used variables. The objective of this study was to estimate the BMI, weight, and height percentiles for school-aged children (2009-2011) living in the department of San Rafael (Mendoza) and compare them to the international World Health Organization reference to establish their relevance for the evaluation of the growth pattern and nutritional status of this population. Population and methods. A cross-sectional anthropometric study was conducted in 3448 school-aged children aged 4.00 to 13.49 years. The LMS ChartMarker Pro software was used to estimate the BMIfor-age, weight-for-age, and height-for-age percentiles, by sex and age, and they were compared with the WHO curves. Besides, percentage differences (%D) were calculated to estimate the differences and their statistical significance using the Wilcoxon test. Results. The population of boys and girls in San Rafael showed higher weight and BMI (%D ≈ 7% and 9%, respectively) percentiles, and lower height (%D ≈ 0.8%) values than WHO reference (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The differences found warn about the use of the WHO reference in the school-aged population of San Rafael since it would overestimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and chronic malnutrition and underestimate the prevalence of acute and global malnutrition. This situation highlights the importance of having a local reference resource.

Differences in skeletal growth pattern of yoga practising adolescent girls: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundYogasana improves both mental and physical health. There is sparse systematic research on the growth of yogasana practising adolescents. ObjectivesThis study aims to assess the differential skeletal growth pattern among pre-adolescent and adolescent girls as a result of yoga practice. MethodsA cross-sectional anthropometric study was conducted on stature (height), sitting height and leg length of 757 school-going girls (4-15 years old), divided in two groups, Yoga Group (YG) (n=380) and age matched Control Group (CG) (n=377) participants participating in recreational games other than yoga. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were applied. Unpaired t-test was performed for assessment of level of significance and Pearson's correlation (r) test was performed to to identify the association between growth pattern of stature and leg length at specific ages. ResultsThe physical growth showed an ascending trend in both Yoga group (YG) participants and control group (CG). At the onset of adolescence (10–12 years) the mean stature and leg length of YG participants were retarded (p < 0.05). Sitting height in YG was significantly (p < 0.05) low only in 10-year-olds. The similar trends were observed in stature and leg length in YG participants at 10 years (5th and 10th percentile) and 12 years (90th and 95th percentile). There was strong positive relationship between stature and leg length of YG participants (10 years, r = 0.86, p < 0.01; 11 years, r = 0.86, p < 0.01; 12 years, r = 0.72, p < 0.01). The stunted growth in YG participants during adolescence may be related to retarded growth of leg length. ConclusionsIntense yogasana practice with greater skeletal stress possibly hinders stature in adolescent girls from 10 to 12 years. This may compromise with the natural growth pattern, necessitating special care during yoga training among adolescents while selecting the type, intensity and duration of yogasanas practice.

Crecimiento, estado nutricional y composición corporal: un estudio transversal sobre las manifestaciones del dimorfismo sexual en escolares de Tucumán, Argentina.

Introducción: El dimorfismo sexual (DS) del crecimiento se expresa fundamentalmente en el tamaño, la forma y la composición corporal. Depende en gran medida de factores genéticos y hormonales; aunque su expresión se ve condicionada por las características del entorno, entre ellas la desnutrición. No obstante, la relación entre sobrepeso, obesidad y el DS ha sido poco explorada. Objetivo: Analizar si existen diferencias sexuales en el crecimiento y la composición corporal de escolares de Tucumán (Argentina) e identificar si la expresión del DS se modifica en presencia de sobrepeso u obesidad.Material y métodos: Estudio antropométrico transverso en escolares de ambos sexos. Se relevaron: Peso corporal; Talla; Circunferencias (brazo, cintura y cadera) y Pliegues subcutáneos (bicipital, tricipital, subescapular y suprailíaco). Se calcularon: Índice de Masa de Corporal (IMC), Índice Subescapular/Tricipital (IST), Áreas Muscular y Grasa del brazo. Se determinó el estado nutricional de cada participante, conformándose tres grupos: 1) con estado nutricional adecuado, 2) con sobrepeso y 3) con obesidad. Se realizaron comparaciones sexuales mediante pruebas U de Mann-Whitney en la población total y en cada grupo de estado nutricional. Se consideró un nivel de significación p&lt;0.05.Resultados: La muestra estuvo compuesta por un 52.7% de varones y 47.3% de mujeres (n=1844) con edades comprendidas entre 8.0 y 11.9 años. Las niñas presentaron medias superiores en la mayoría de las variables analizadas; con diferencias sexuales más evidentes a los 11 años. Considerando el estado nutricional, el 12.9% presentó sobrepeso y el 19.0% obesidad, sin diferencias sexuales significativas. Conclusiones: El patrón dimórfico de los escolares con sobrepeso y obesidad se vio atenuado con respecto a quienes presentaron un estado nutricional adecuado. Los varones con obesidad presentaron crecimiento relativo mayor en las variables asociadas al tejido adiposo; dando cuenta de la mayor ecosensibilidad masculina a ambientes obesogénicos.

Anthropometric Study among Chilean Older Adults

Background: The number of people over 60 years of age is rapidly growing worldwide. The ageing of population increases the need for new public health policies and products. In this context, it is primordial to have access to the anthropometric characterisation of the elderly population. Objective: This investigation describes the somatotype components of a representative sample of elderly from Chile. Methods: In a cross-sectional anthropometric study, we assessed 200 older adults (60 to 80 years old). The study was conducted using the Heath-Carter anthropometric method, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to redefine and optimise the cluster definition. Statistical differences were established for male and female among the somatotype categories (endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph) using t-test. For the analysis of the progression of a variable among the different age bins were used ANOVA and Tukey has a post hoc test. Results: the somatotype of the male and female showed a higher frequency of mesomorph-endomorph biotype (77.5% and 52.4% respectively) follow by mesomorph-endomorph in males and an endo-mesomorph in females (10.8% and 29.8% respectively). The sample differs significantly by gender with a higher endomorphic component in females from 60-80 years old. The somatochart show displacement in men and female trough the endomorphic component. The PCA and hierarchical clustering identify four main new clusters. Conclusions: These results provide evidence of an increase in gender difference regarding anthropometric parameters, also redefine the most frequent somatotype assignation in elderly adults. This information is essential for new public health policies and the design of new products..

A Cross-sectional Anthropometric Study of Cranial Capacity among Ukwuani People of South Nigeria.

Cranial capacity is used as a measure of brain volume and has a relationship with age and gender. The purpose of this study was to provide normative data and population-, age- and gender-specific regression formulae related to cranial capacity using head dimensions among the Ukwuani people of Nigeria. This study included 605 subjects grouped according to age as follows: 6-12 years, 13-19 years and ≥20 years. A cross-sectional study design using multistage sampling technique was adopted. Head length, head width, and auricular head height were measured in centimetres using a spreading caliper, and cranial capacity was calculated. The data were analysed using SPSS 20. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. A t-test was used to identify significant gender differences. Regression analyses were performed to derive age-, gender- and population-specific models. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. In all the parameters, males had significantly higher values than females (P < 0.05). The mean (SD) cranial capacity values at 6-12 years, 13-19 years and ≥20 years were 1176.95 (98.35) cc, 1288.59 (113.21) cc and 1408.90 (116.44) cc, respectively. All the parameters exhibited sexual dimorphism. Cranial capacity was found to increase with age. The models derived in this work will be relevant to population and growth studies as well as forensic anthropology.

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN CONSTITUTIONAL TYPES AND GROWTH RATES OF GIRLS FROM WESTERN SIBERIA

TA cross-sectional anthropometric study of 660 girls aged 7 to 17 years, residents of the City of Barnaul and the Altai Krai countryside, has been conducted. There have been detected differences of the girls' physical status depending on their residence in the urban or rural areas of the Altai Krai. The differences were represented by the greater body length (166.8 ± 6.28 cm in the city and 164.8 ± 5.36 cm in the village) and leg length (88.2 ± 6.06 cm in the city and 84.1 ± 4.21 cm in the village) of the townsgirls. The girls from the city had a significantly greater body and leg length throughout the period of the study. The longer lower limbs in relation to the torso and, correspondently, the lower values of the trochanter index were a result of the increasing rate of the prepubertal growth of the girls - residents of the city. A somatotypological analysis has revealed predominance of the normosthenic somatotype among the examined girls. In the city 50% of the girls had the asthenic somatotype, 41 % - the normosthenic somatotype, 9 % - the hypersthenic somatotype. 81 % of the rural girls had the normosthenic somatotype, 8 % - the hypersthenic somatotype, 11 % - the asthenic somatotype. The representation of the persons with the andromorphic somatotype decreased with the trochanter index increase.

Relationship between body mass index and timing of maturation

Background: Menarche is the first menstrual period. The increasing incidence of overweight/obesity and decline in the median age at menarche had led investigators to hypothesize potential associations of age at menarche with body mass index (BMI). We assess these associations between reproductive and nonreproductive age females. Aim: The present study assessed the relationship between BMI and the timing of menarche among contemporary Nigerian girls. Methods: The present cross-sectional anthropometric study was performed in 2014 using 600 menstruating and 200 nonmenstruating girls aged 11–18 years in Nigeria. We classified the menarcheal age of our participants into early, ideal, and late. Participants were also categorized based on their nutritional status into underweight, normal, and overweight. Results: Mean age at menarche was 13.54 years. Age at onset of menarche was inversely associated with BMI. Precocious menarche (<12 years) when compared to ideal (12–13 years) or late (≥14 years) menarche was found to be associated with a higher BMI (F = 10.64, P < 0.05). Overweight girls also reach maturation earlier than their contemporaries with moderate to lean body status (F = 15.32, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Girls with high BMI or overweight reach menarche earlier in life than their lean or low BMI counterparts.

Development of fat distribution patterns in children and its association with the type of body shape assessed by the Metric-Index

The present cross-sectional anthropometric study evaluates new approaches in preventing overweight in children. Anthropometric data were obtained in 289 German children (146 boys, 143 girls) aged 6-11 years and 41 20-29 year old German female students for describing the type of body shape by Metric-Index (thoracic breadth, thoracic depth, height). The data were correlated with 15 fat layers measured with a lipometer with Principal Component Analyses and ANOVA. In females the android respectively gynoid type of body shape was significantly associated with the pyknomorphic respectively leptomorphic type. The study demonstrates that this pattern is established by an age of 8 years, when the earliest maturing children start to enter puberty. This pattern can be used to check the individual's risk of overweight and to recommend preventive healthcare interventions.

Relationship between overweight, obesity and socioeconomic factors of adolescents in Vojvodina, Serbia

Obesity is a very important issue in developed societies and depends on many factors. The aim of this paper was to determine a possible relationship between overweight, obesity and socioeconomic factors among adolescents in Vojvodina. A cross-sectional anthropometric study was carried out from 2001 to 2004 in towns of Vojvodina, northern Serbia. The research included height and body weight measurements as well as body mass index (BMI) of 1236 schoolboys and 1414 schoolgirls aged 15–18 years. The socioeconomic factors (SES) included parents’ level of education and monthly income per family member. The overweight prevalence of about 10% (85 < P < 95) and the prevalence of obesity of 5% ( P > 95) were recorded in both male and female adolescents. A significant correlation ( p < 0.01) between all socioeconomic factors was observed in male subjects, although there were no significant differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity when different categories of subjects set by SES were compared. In females lower rates of the prevalence of overweight and obesity were detected in the subjects whose parents had a university education, but the difference was not significant. Regarding the prevalence of obesity, a significant difference was recorded between females with high and low incomes, those with a high income showing significantly greater prevalence of obesity than females coming from low income families. The results of the research indicate that in Vojvodina the family income is the only factor that significantly correlates with female obesity.

Use of Anthropometric Indices to Reveal Nutritional Status: Normative Data from 10,226 Chinese Neonates

Background: Measures of body size at birth are widely used for the evaluation of prenatal growth but limitations exist in their interpretation. Objective: To establish the percentile curves for the six common anthropometric indices (PI: ponderal index, BMI: body mass index, THR: thigh circumference/head circumference ratio, MAC/OFC: mid-arm circumference/head circumference, W/OFC: weight/head circumference, and W/L: weight/length) and determine the best anthropometric index for evaluating intrauterine nutritional status in Chinese neonates. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional anthropometric study was carried out. The anthropometric measurements were performed according to the Hall’s guidelines within 48 h of birth. Results: 10,226 infants (5,422 males, 4,804 females) with gestation 28–42 weeks from 12 hospitals were included for analysis. All of the six anthropometric indices correlated well with total skinfold thickness (T-SF, the sum of triceps skinfold thickness and subscapular skinfold thickness; p < 0.0001). Among the six anthropometric indices, W/L showed the highest correlation coefficient with T-SF (r = 0.622; p < 0.0001 in whole group, r = 0.653; p < 0.0001 in preterm infants, r = 0.612; p < 0.0001 in term infants). Conclusion: The present study establishes the gender-specific reference curves for the six important anthropometric indices in Chinese infants. W/L is a readily available index at birth that reflects the intrauterine nutritional state.

Estimation of stature in Turkish adults usinig knee height

Body height is an important clinical indicator to derive body mass index (BMI), which is a useful screening tool for both excess adiposity and malnutrition. Height measurement in the elderly may impose some difficulties and the reliability is doubtful. Stature estimation from knee height is one of the commonly used methods; nevertheless no study has been carried out so far on the Turkish population. A cross sectional anthropometric study was conducted to develop body height estimation equations by using knee height measurement for Turkish people. Measurements of height and knee height were taken according to the International Biological Programme procedures from 1422 adults (610 males, 812 females) aged 18-90 years from Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Samples were randomly split into two sub-samples, training and validation (control group) sub-samples. Height estimation equations were developed from the knee height measurements by linear regression analysis according to age groups and sexes. Males were significantly taller and have higher knee height values than females in all age groups. Height and the knee height variables showed a gradual decrease (P 50) with aging in females and males. Evaluated knee height equations for stature estimation were tested through the validation sample and the results showed high accuracy. The study presents sex and age specific regression equations for height estimation by using the knee height measurement for Turkish adults and suggests facilitating the accurate usage of knee height.

Cross‐Sectional Anthropometric Study of the External Ear

This cross-sectional anthropometric study was aimed at estimating expansion of the external ear during adult life, in order to evaluate the extent to which anatomical features appearing in earprints may vary with time. A review of the literature was provided. Data extracted from photographed ears of 1353 subjects were analyzed. The effect of age on auricle length, earlobe length, and auricle width was explored using univariate analyses of variance. The regression coefficients of age on these dimensions were, respectively, 0.178, 0.115, and 0.073 mm/yr for males, and 0.162, 0.100, and 0.073 mm/year for females (p=0.000). Regression coefficients of age corrected for stature were assumed to be less accurate. Anthelix prominence and helix width were analyzed using data of 175 subjects, and appeared unaffected by age. As lobe expansion appeared to exceed the estimated cartilage expansion, it was assumed that particularly the imprint of the lobe would be less stable with time.

Anthropometric measurements of the facial framework in adulthood: age-related changes in eight age categories in 600 healthy white North Americans of European ancestry from 16 to 90 years of age.

The aim of this cross-sectional anthropometric study was to determine the age-related changes in the facial framework during adulthood in healthy white North Americans of European ancestry (261 male subjects and 339 female subjects). Five measurements, four horizontal and one vertical, defining the framework were taken from the skin and bony surface of the face in the maturation period (16-20 years) and in 10-year age categories of adulthood (21-90 years). As well, the thickness of the soft-tissue cover between these two anatomical levels was measured. The categories between 21 and 40 years represented early adulthood, those between 41 and 70 years represented middle adulthood, and those between 71 and 90 years represented late adulthood. The forehead width in both sexes increased significantly on the skin and bony surface from the maturation period to early adulthood. In middle adulthood, the changes were significant only sporadically. In late adulthood, the upper and lower jaw showed a harmonious change with age, mostly increasing on both the skin and bony surface. The face width proved to be the most stable measurement and had the thinnest soft-tissue cover. No consistent pattern emerged during adulthood in increases or decreases within the facial framework; however, an unexpected harmony was noted between the values of the measurements in early and late adulthood in both sexes on both the skin and bony surface. The thickness of the soft-tissue cover at the bony landmarks was greatest in the midface, with a moderately decreasing tendency in both sexes. In the lower jaw, the soft tissue showed significant increases in thickness in early adulthood and moderate to large decreases in late adulthood. Anthropometric analysis of the facial framework in adulthood marks only the first step in establishing the morphological changes of the aging face. Quantitative evaluation of changes within the facial framework of the aging population must be carried out in more detail. Increased worldwide migration results in a mixing of people of various racial/ethnic origins and necessitates a general anthropometric analysis of the aging face to provide more reliable guidelines for therapy.

Age at menarche in Coimbra (Portugal) school girls: a note on the secular changes

The age at menarche and several menstrual symptoms were reported by 516 Portuguese school girls who took part in a cross-sectional anthropometric study in Coimbra, Portugal. The mean ages of menarche calculated using the recall method and also using probit analysis were 12.53 ± 1.27 and 12.03 ± 1.26 years, respectively. Parents' educational level, place of residence and size of the family did not have any significant effect on the mean age at menarche in this sample of adolescents. The order of birth was the only variable that indicated a significative effect: the firstborns reported a lower mean age at menarche (12.34 years) than the later borns (12.6 years). In this sample, 47% of the girls had a cycle length of ⩾̸ 29 days, 23.4% had irregular cycles, 59% reported that the duration of bleeding was 3-5 days and the majority, 49%, did not report any pain during the bleeding days. However, 14.3% and 24.45% reported severe and medium pain. The age at menarche has declined from 15.0 (girls born in 1880-1890) to 12.03 (girls born in 1970-1980) years in the Portuguese population. This decrease in age, and also the lack of influence of the family characteristics, appear as a result of the great improvements in the social and economic living conditions that occurred in Portugal, especially after the 1970s. These improvements are mainly related to better nutrition and better health care along with many other environmental factors.