Anthropometric parameters of growth and nutritional status in children aged 6 to 7 years in R. Macedonia.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of age- and sex-specific differences of anthropometric parameters that were used as indicators of growth and nutritional status in children aged 6 and 7 years in R. Macedonia and their comparison with the WHO and NCHS reference values.


METHODS
The study included 580 children aged 6 to 7 years from different regions of R. Macedonia. Eighteen anthropometric parameters were measured using standard equipment and measurement technique according to the International Biological Programme. The following nutritional indicators were calculated: BMI, weight-for-height, weight-for-age and height-for-age.


RESULTS
The majority of anthropometric parameters have shown significant age- and sex-specific differences in favour of male subjects, with exception of skin-folds that were apparently higher in female subjects. Values at the 50th percentile in our male subjects for the index weight-for-age were 23 kg and 26.95 kg, respectively, whereas in the female subjects they were 22 kg and 25 kg, respectively. The index height-for-age corresponding to the 50th percentile showed higher values in our male subjects (119.5 cm and 125.55 cm) than in our female subjects (118 cm and 124.5 cm, respectively). 50th percentile in our male subjects for BMI was 16.48 kg/m2 and 16.75 kg/m2, whereas in our female subjects it was 15.98 kg/m2 and 16.25 kg/m2, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The found values are recommended to be applied for evaluation of deviations in the growth and nutritional status in children aged 6 and 7 years from Macedonian nationality.
Zafirova
B
B
Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University Ss Cyril and Methodius, Skopje, R. Macedonia. zafirovab@yahoo.com
Todorovska
L
L
D000367:Age Factors; D000886:Anthropometry; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000033:anatomy & histology