Prevalence of thinness and its effect on height velocity in schoolchildren

BMC Research Notes

Afaf Alblooshi¹  Hassib Narchi²  Ahmed R. Alsuwaidi²  Abdul-Kader Souid²  Huda Alshehhi³  Nawal Alali³  Latifa Alshehhi³  Maisoon Altunaiji³  Asma Almazrouei³ 

[1] Department of Medical Education, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates;Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates;School Health Team, Ministry of Health, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates;

关键词: Underweight;    Growth;    Height;    Obesity;    Schoolchildren;    Body mass index;    Epidemiology;    Prevalence;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13104-021-05500-3

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveIn contrast to childhood obesity, studies involving thin children are much fewer, especially in developed countries. Furthermore, most reports do not address the impact of childhood thinness on height velocity. This study investigated the prevalence of thinness and its effect on height velocity in schoolchildren in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Weight and height were measured in 29,410 schoolchildren (50.5% females), as part of the health assessment (academic year 2014–2015). The body mass index (BMI) was classified as normal, thinness, overweight, or obese using cutoffs established by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), World Health Organization, and Centers for Disease Control.ResultsThe median age was 10.2 years (range, 3–19). Using the IOTF scale, one-quarter of the children aged 4–6 years and one-third of the children aged 7–9 years were thin (BMI ≤ 18.5 kg/m2). Thinness was less prevalent (8–10%) in adolescents. Group peak height velocity was delayed 1–3 years in thin children and was higher in children with excess body fat. In conclusion thinness was the highest (25–33%) in children aged 4–9 years of age and their peak height velocity was delayed 1–3 years when compared to the other children.

【 授权许可】

CC BY