Body fat percentage of urban South African children: implications for health and fitness.
OBJECTIVE
To explore gender and racial profiling of percentage body fat of 1136 urban South African children attending public schools in Pretoria Central.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional survey of 1136 randomly selected children (548 boys and 588 girls) aged 9-13 years in urban (Pretoria Central) South Africa. Body mass, stature, skinfolds (subscapular and triceps) were measured. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations). Differences in the mean body fat percentage were examined for boys and girls according to their age group/race, using independent t-test samples.


RESULTS
Girls had a significantly (p = 0.001) higher percentage body fat (22.7 ± 5.7%, 95% CI = 22.3, 23.2) compared to boys (16.1 ± 7.7%, 95% CI = 15.5, 16.8). Percentage body fat fluctuated with age in both boys and girls. Additionally, girls had significantly (p = 0.001) higher percentage body fat measurements at all ages compared to boys. Viewed racially, black children (20.1 ± 7.5) were significantly (p = 0.010) fatter than white children (19.0 ± 7.4) with a mean difference of 4.0. Black children were fatter than white children at ages 9, 10, 12 and 13 years, with a significant difference (p = 0.009) observed at age 12 years.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a considerably higher level of excessive percentage body fat among school children in Central Pretoria, South Africa, with girls having significantly higher percentage body fat compared to boys. Racially, black children were fatter than white children. The excessive percentage body fat observed among the children in this study has implications for their health and fitness. Therefore, an intervention programme must be instituted in schools to prevent and control possible excessive percentage body fat in this age group.
Centre for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa. daniel.goon@univen.ac.za; daniel.goon 2013@yahoo.com.
D T
DT
Goon
Department of Sports, Rehabilitation and Dental Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
A L
AL
Toriola
Department of Sports, Rehabilitation and Dental Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
B S
BS
Shaw
Centre for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
L O
LO
Amusa
Dean's Office: School of Health Sciences, University of Venda,Thohoyandou, South Africa.
L B
LB
Khoza
Department of Sports, Rehabilitation and Dental Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa; and Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Monash South Africa, PO Box X60, Ruimsig, 1725, Republic of South Africa.
I
I
Shaw
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data