Trends in weight, height, BMI and obesity in schoolchildren from Santa Rosa (Argentina), 1990–2005/07

Abstract

Aim: To assess secular changes in physical growth and the current prevalence and trend of overweight/obesity in Argentinian schoolchildren.

Subjects and methods: One thousand and forty-nine schoolchildren aged 6 and 12 years attending schools in 1990 were compared with an age-matched sample of 935 boys and girls collected between 2005–2007. Changes in weight, height and BMI by age between the surveys were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Overweight and obesity were defined according to IOTF criteria and compared by Chi-squared test. Odds ratios (OR) and intervals of confidence (95% CI) were also calculated.

Results: Six and 12 year-old boys and girls were significantly heavier (1.2–3.2 kg) and had higher BMIs (0.7–1.0 kg/m²) in 2005–2007 than in 1990. Significant differences in height were seen in 6 year old boys (1.5 cm) and 12 year old girls (1.3 cm). Overweight and obesity increased by 4.4% (OR = 1.4, 1.1–1.8) and 5.9% (OR = 4.3, 2.8–6.5), respectively; obesity being higher in younger children.

Conclusion: The disharmonic secular change in weight and height has led to high overweight/obesity. The obesity increase is consistent with global and regional trends, indicating a shift in BMI distribution, especially at the higher centiles.

• Overweight
• physical growth
• school age
• secular trend

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Viviana Celi, from the School Health Office, the authorities of the Ministry of Culture and Education of La Pampa, school authorities, teachers, schoolchildren and parents for their unselfish participation. We also want to give thanks to Sebastián Consoli for the English edition of the manuscript and Lorena Pasarin for her valuable support.