Growth Status Of School Children Research Articles

Growth status of school children and adolescents in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria

Background: Growth assessment is useful in monitoring children's growth. It often reveals their physical characteristics, health and nutritional status, and infers their biological well-being. The present study was conducted to evaluate the physical growth status of schoolchildren and adolescents in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was followed, which involved a random sampling of 1,620 subjects (849 males and 771 females) selected from schools in urban and rural communities of the state. Anthropometric measurements included height and weight; the body mass index (BMI) was also assessed and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 reference standards was used for comparison. Results: The median weight values of the urban subjects (males and females) tend to be higher than the CDC reference standard. The median weight of the rural females compared fairly while the rural males deviated below the reference standard at the age of 10-18 years. Compared to the CDC standards, the median height of the urban and rural subjects tends to be higher during childhood; the urban subjects at the age of 15-18 years deviated below the reference standard while the rural subjects deviated below the reference standard from the age of 13 years. The median BMI values of the urban females were higher than the standard; the urban males and rural females were almost identical to the reference chart. In contrast, the median BMI values of the rural males were below the standard. Conclusion: The age-matched increase in the anthropometric parameters evaluated indicates a normal growth pattern, and there was a marked difference in the anthropometric parameters and growth performance of urban schoolchildren and adolescents compared to their rural counterparts. The growth patterns of schoolchildren and adolescents in Ebonyi State appeared comparable to the CDC growth reference charts.

Sex and ethnic disparities in weight and height among children of transnational couples, aborigines, and Han Chinese in Taiwan

In this study, we examined sex and ethnic disparities in growth and body mass index (BMI) status among schoolchildren of transnational families, the aborigines and Han Taiwanese in Nantou, Taiwan. We tested the hypothesis that cultural and social factors of the transnational couples could impact the growth status of their children. The study also determined the factors associated with the growth status of schoolchildren. A total of 1674 school age children in the county were cluster sampled, and their weight and height data were statistically analyzed by 1-way analysis of variance, chi(2) test, and linear regression analysis according to sex, ethnicity, and residential locations. The institutional review board of Asia University, Taiwan, ROC, approved the study protocol. Results showed that aboriginal boys were significantly shorter in stature than sons of the transnational couples and Han Taiwanese. However, weight and BMI were not different among the 3 groups. Daughters of the transnational couples were significantly shorter and lighter, whereas the aboriginal girls were shorter but not lighter and had significantly greater BMI compared with their Han Taiwanese counterparts. Regression analysis revealed significant associations of weight and BMI with sex and ethnicity. Results suggest that culture plays a role in sex disparity. Ethnic and sex disparities in growth status exist in Taiwan. Aboriginal boys and girls are shorter but not lighter compared with their Han Taiwanese counterparts, whereas daughters but not sons of transnational couples are shorter and lighter compared with Han Taiwanese counterparts. These findings are useful information for the educators and healthcare policy makers for improving diet and health.

Opportunity for Natural Selection and Gene Flow in an Isolated Zapotec-Speaking Community in Southern Mexico in the Throes of a Secular Increase in Size

Our object in this paper is to analyze the opportunity for natural selection and gene flow in an isolated Zapotec-speaking community in the valley of Oaxaca, southern Mexico, that is undergoing a secular increase in body size. Surveys were conducted in the community in 1968, 1978, and 2000, including anthropometric and census data. No secular change was found in the growth status of schoolchildren and adult height between 1968 and 1978; subsequently, major secular gains in height occurred among children and adolescents between 1978 and 2000. The 1978 household data were used to compute gene flow (3.3%) and opportunity for selection intensity (I = 1.312). Migration and other demographic information was obtained from household census data for 1978 and 2000, and mortality information was extracted from community records and archives. These data were used to compute gene flow and opportunity for natural selection. Gene flow increased from 3.3% to 4.7% and intensity of natural selection decreased from 1.312 to 0.272 from 1978 to 2000. Variance in fertility increased slightly over time (12.25 to 13.69). Opportunity for selection was dominant during the prereproductive period in 1978, but approached 0 for the mortality component in 2000, resulting in a marked decrease in the mortality component (Im) of selection (0.626 and 0.019, respectively) and total opportunity for selection (I = 1.312 and 0.272, respectively). Secular increase in height and markedly decreased opportunity for natural selection (1) were associated with better health and nutritional conditions. Genotype-environment interaction and environmental influences are apparently the predominant causes of the secular trend. If natural selection plays a role in causing the secular trend, it is a small one.

Urban–rural contrasts in the growth status of school children in Oaxaca, Mexico

Objectives: The growth status of school children resident in an urban colonia and in a rural indigenous community in Oaxaca, southern Mexico, was considered in the context of two objectives, current status and the magnitude of urban–rural differences over a span of about 30 years. Both communities were initially surveyed in 1968 and 1972.Materials and methods: Height, body mass, segment lengths, skeletal breadths, limb circumferences, and subcutaneous fatness were taken on 361 rural (177 boys, 184 girls) and 339 urban (173 boys, 166 girls) school children, aged 6–13 years. Additional variables were derived.Results: Height and body mass were significantly greater in urban compared with rural children. Sitting height, estimated leg length and skeletal breadths on the trunk were also larger in urban than in rural school children, but only the difference in skeletal breadths was significant after age and body size were statistically controlled. Urban and rural children did not consistently differ in skeletal breadths on the extremities and limb circumferences. Subcutaneous fatness was more variable. After controlling for age and body size, rural girls had thicker skinfolds. The magnitude of the urban–rural difference in boys in 2000 was greater for body mass, BMI and triceps skinfold, and reduced for height, sitting height, leg length, and arm and estimated arm muscle circumferences compared with 1970. The magnitude of the urban–rural difference in girls was greater in 2000 than 30 years earlier for body mass, height, sitting height, leg length and BMI. Urban–rural differences for arm and arm muscle circumferences and the triceps skinfold were slightly smaller over the interval.Conclusions: Children resident in an urban colonia were taller and heavier than children resident in a rural indigenous community. After controlling for age and body size, urban–rural differences in skeletal breadths and limb circumferences were reduced or eliminated, but skinfold thicknesses were greater in rural girls. The magnitude of urban–rural differences in body size has decreased over approximately 30 years in boys, but has increased in girls.

Growth status of schoolchildren in a rural Zapotec community in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1968 and 1978.

Stature, weight, arm circumference, triceps skinfold and estimated mid-arm muscle circumference were compared in schoolchildren, 6 to 14 years of age, in 1968 and 1978. The children were resident in a rural Zapotec-speaking community in the Valley of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. There were no differences in stature, weight and arm circumference over the ten-year period. Triceps skinfold and estimated mid-arm muscle circumference showed small, significant changes. Multiple classification analysis, adjusting for age and sex variation, indicated that schoolchildren in 1978 were slightly heavier and fatter, but also slightly shorter and less muscular than children in 1968. Results of this follow-up survey indicate little improvement in the growth status of rural Zapotec schoolchildren over ten years from 1968 to 1978, and are consistent with adult stature data which show little evidence of secular change over 80 years.

A. Study of Physical Status of School Children by Longitudinal Section With Particular Reference to Analysis of Obesity from Standpoint of Skinf old Thickness

The author measured the physical status and skinfold thickness of school children who entered two primary schools in Numazu, Japan, in 1967 and 1968, during the following six years until their graduation. This study was made of the course of growth and development from the point of view of obesity which has in recent years been creating problems, with reference to the data obtained by measuring the builds of the school children by longitudinal section over the six years. The school children comprised 198 boys and 197 girls; and the boys were aged 7.02 and the girls, 7.03 on the average. The results of analysis of the data are presented below. I. General growth status of school children chosen subjects 1) The mean body heights, body weights and chest circumferences by ages and sexes which were measured by the author were mostly consistent with the means for the corresponding ages in 1968-1973 which were published by the Japanese Ministry of Education, but with a six-month lag. 2) The mean skinfold thickness of the upper arm, back and abdominal were commonly in the sequence of upper arm > the abdominal > the back and alterations with aging showed an abrupt increase at the age of 9 in both the boys and girls. II. The author classed the children by the rates of alterations in body weight by body heights into the following four groups; group A by not less than +10% ; group B by 0+9.9% ; group C by -0.1 to -9.9% ; and group D by not less than -10%. The growth statuses by these groups may be summarized as follows; 1) The mean magnitudes of body heights and body weights at the age of six tended to be in the sequence of group A >group B >group C >group D in both boys and gials, while only the body lengths of girls were in the sequence of group D > group C. The mean body heights of groups A and B were tested for singificant difference ;and it was revealed that there was a significant difference in mean body lengths at any of the ages of from six to 11 between the boys of the two groups, but a significant difference only at the age of ten between the girls of the two groups. 2) The mean skinfold thickness of each of the measured regions (upper arm, back and abdominal) of group A was far greater than that of any of the other three groups. 3) The rate of children judged as obese during the six pears was highest in group A, with 75.0% of boys and 60.0% of girls of this group judged so. This finding means the necessity of taking early measures to prevent the school children with a tendency to obesity at the age of six from getting obese. III. Twenty-five boys and 26 girls who were judged as obese during the six years were classed to the obese group, and the growth course of this group is presented below. 1) The mean body heights and body weights of this group at lower ages were smaller than the counterparts of group A by the rates of alterations in body weight by body heights, while those at higher ages tended to be greater than those of group A. 2) Alterations in the mean skinfold thickness of the upper arm, back and abdominal regions were such that the skinhold thickness increased sharply and markedly at ages of 8 to 9. 3) Alterations in annual increase in body length showed that both the boys and girls of obese group tended to be mature earlier than those of group A. 4) The incidence of obesity was high at lower ages of six to nine in both the boys and girls. Out of these children, the status of improvement of obesity at the of 11 was poor in the children judged as obese at the age of s6x. 5) The correlation coefficient between the rates of increases in body weights by body heights and the skinfold thickness (upperm arm+back) was as low as r= +0.47 in the girls at ages of 9 to 11, which appears to indicate the influence of the growth accelerating stage.