Secular changes of anthropometric measures for the past 30 years in South-West Germany.
We investigated long-term changes in weight and skinfold thicknesses in German schoolchildren. In 2006, anthropometric measures were collected after a standardized protocol among 1079 children within the Ulm Research on Metabolism, Exercise and Lifestyle in children (URMEL-ICE) study. Data were compared with historical data (1975-1976). In URMEL-ICE, prevalence of overweight (IOTF criteria) was 16.5% (boys) and 17.3% (girls) and of obesity 3.5 and 3.6%, respectively. Compared with historical data the number of children above the 90th percentile(1975/76) increased statistically significantly for weight (approximately 150% both sexes), for subscapular (boys 288%, girls 206%) and triceps skinfold thickness (boys 460%, girls 413%). Statistically significant increases above the 50th percentile(1975/76) were found: weight 36 and 26%, subscapular 43 and 60% and triceps skinfold thickness 63 and 69% for boys and girls, respectively. Body fat among 6- to 9-year-old children increased dramatically within 30 years. Moreover, our data suggest substantial changes in body composition among normal-weight children towards an increased body fat mass.
Nagel
G
G
Institute of Epidemiology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
Wabitsch
M
M
Galm
C
C
Berg
S
S
Brandstetter
S
S
Fritz
M
M
Klenk
J
J
Peter
R
R
Prokopchuk
D
D
Steiner
R
R
Stroth
S
S
Wartha
O
O
Weiland
S K
SK
Steinacker
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012885:Skinfold Thickness