Secular change in the growth status of urban and rural schoolchildren aged 6–13 years in Oaxaca, southern Mexico

[Analysis on the law of height growth spurt in adolescence of children and adolescents in Zhongshan City]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the characteristics of the age at peak height velocity and peak height velocity of primary and middle school students in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, and to explore the law of the sudden increase in adolescent height in this area, and to understand the law of height growth spurt in adolescence by longitudinal tracking of the height of children and adolescents in Zhong-shan City.

METHODS

Based on the physical examination database of primary and middle school students in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province from 2005 to 2016, individuals who had been continuously tracked for more than 6 times were selected as research samples. SITAR model was used to fit the height data of the sample population, and the age at peak height velocity and peak height velocity were calcula-ted.

RESULTS

A total of 49 579 subjects were included in this study, including 26 524 boys and 26 008 urban students. The median follow-up ages of boys and girls were 7.74 and 7.72 years, respectively. The boy's height spurt peak age was (12.72±0.89) years, and later than the girls at the age of (10.98±0.95) years (t=207.639, P < 0.001), the boy's height spurt peak velocity of (10.12±1.49) cm/year, higher than the girls of (8.35±1.12) cm/year (t=150.826, P < 0.001). The gender differences of height spurt peak age and height spurt peak speed in urban and rural students were consistent with the whole sample. The height surge peak age of urban male students was earlier than that of rural male students, and the height surge peak speed of urban female students was lower than that of rural female students.

CONCLUSION

The peak age of the surge of girls was earlier than that of boys, but the peak rate of the surge of girls was lower than that of boys, the peak age of urban students was earlier than that of rural students, but the peak rate of urban boys was lower than that of rural boys in Guangdong Province.

Fitness Level Differences between Students in Kosovo and Montenegro

Geographical, cultural, and socio-economic factors create a different lifestyle. Accordingly, the aim of this research was to identify the differences in anthropometric and fitness characteristics among adolescents living in Montenegro and Kosovo in order to optimize the physical fitness as a consequence of the proactive behavior. Anthropometric characteristics and fitness level measures were assessed by Eurofit testing battery among 600 Kosovar and 600 Montenegrin students, equally distributed by gender. Differences between countries, gender, and age group (13, 14 and 15 years) were assessed with multivariate and univariate analysis of variance. The results showed that Montenegrin students are taller, heavier, and achieve better results in the sit-ups and 20-m endurance shuttle-run tests. Kosovar students achieve better results in the standing broad jump and 10 × 5 m shuttle-run tests. Males achieve significantly better results in all tests, excluding the sit-and-reach test. Statistically significant differences among age groups were found for all variables, regardless gender and country (except for the flamingo and sit-and reach tests). This study is of importance to physical education teachers and curriculum authors to optimize students’ proactive behavior based on the identified anthropometric and physical fitness differences between the two countries, age groups, and genders.

Physical fitness for sedentary students: a common trend from six European countries

BACKGROUND

Several studies have assessed the fitness level of students to evaluate physical condition, compare groups with differences in social disadvantage and to define indexes for post training programs. Often, these large surveys compared groups without normative value that could define the real, practical gaps. Thus, the aim of this study was the definition of baseline values describing the fitness level of sedentary European students.

METHODS

Standing broad jump (SBJ), sit up (SUP) and sit and reach (SAR) physical fitness tests were assessed on 31,476 students (age=11-13) from 6 European countries were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

The effect size for multiple groups ANOVA was obtained to verify the biological consistence of differences. Then, weighted-means were calculated and stratified for age and gender. Overall, boys obtained SAR scores close to zero, while girls obtained results between 2 and 7 cm. The SUP test revealed similar results between boys and girls (about 20). SBJ performances were similar among countries (over 160 cm for boys and 150 for girls).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results were aligned to other studies performed in other Continents or Countries and can contribute to the establishment of a large and objective reference to readily evaluate the physical fitness and health-related status of young students.

An intervention to promote physical activity in Mexican elementary school students: building public policy to prevent noncommunicable diseases

Physical activity is an important component of strategies for health promotion and prevention of noncommunicable diseases. It is also associated with decreased risk for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese adults and children. This article addresses the initial description of a physical activity intervention for children attending public elementary schools in Mexico. The objective was to develop a replicable model based on a strategic public, private, academic, and social partnership that would have a short-term impact on the metabolic health of children and be useful for building effective public policy. Forty-nine schools (20 000 students) participated, and 5 schools were selected for evaluation. The intervention included a 30-minute supervised middle-effort interchangeable routine, 5 days a week for a complete school year, adapted for different school conditions and students of different ages. Evaluation included anthropometric measurements and biochemical markers. Actual prevalence of combined overweight and obesity in these children was 31.9%. The intervention was successfully implemented in all schools. No change in body mass index, waist circumference, or other anthropometric indicators was found. However, changes in biochemical markers showed a significant decrease in blood glucose, total cholesterol, and cholesterol-low-density lipoproteins, reflecting a positive effect on cardiovascular health indicators.

Urban and Rural Fitness Level: Comparison between Italian and Croatian Students

The goal of this study was to investigate the differences in physical fitness in relation to urban or rural living environment and between two countries: Italy and Croatia. Over 14,000 students were tested during physical education (PE) lessons. Croatian students were taller and heavier than Italian students, with women achieving better results in flexibility. Urban students were fitter in abdominal strength than rural students. Age seemed to be the major factor influencing the performance. This study's results indicate a trend: urban students performed “indoor” tests better than rural students; the opposite may be true for rural students. Living environment, socio-economic-status, or cultural correlation differences could be decreased during school experiences. Thus, PE programs could train all people toward an adequate, age-based fitness level.

Physical fitness of normal, stunted and overweight children 6-13 years in Oaxaca, Mexico

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to compare the growth and physical fitness of normal, stunted and overweight/obese (owt/ob) Oaxaca children 6-13 years.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional, included 688 school children (grades 1-3, 4-6), aged 6-13 years, from an indigenous rural community (n=361) and colonia popular (n=327) in Oaxaca, southern Mexico.

MEASUREMENTS

Anthropometry-weight, height, sitting height, limb circumferences, skinfolds. Derived-body mass index, sitting height/height ratio, leg and step lengths, limb muscle areas, sum of skinfolds. Physical fitness-sit and reach, sit-ups, distance run, grip strength, standing long jump, 35 yard dash. Physical activity-steps to and from school, household chores, sports participation.

ANALYSIS

Normal-not stunted, not owt/ob; stunted-not owt/ob; and owt/ob-not stunted were compared with multivariate analysis of covariance controlling for age. Two children were stunted and owt/ob, and were excluded.

RESULTS

Age-adjusted means for body size, muscularity, adiposity and grip strength showed a gradient, owt/ob>normal>stunted in both sexes and grade levels (P<0.001). Relative position of stunted and owt/ob children was reversed for strength per unit mass. Stunted and normal children ran a greater distance than owt/ob children (P<0.05). Normal, stunted and owt/ob children did not differ consistently in other fitness items and indicators of activity and inactivity.

CONCLUSION

Size, muscularity, fatness and strength differed significantly, owt/ob>normal>stunted, but owt/ob children had less strength per unit mass and poorer endurance. Normal and stunted children did not differ consistently in fitness. Physical activity and television time did not differ among the three groups.

Trends in weights, heights, BMI and comparison of their differences in urban and rural areas for Iranian children and adolescents 2-18-year-old between 1990-1991 and 1999

BACKGROUND

Secular trends in height and weight are interesting because in middle- and low-income countries they are a marker for changes in population health. The present study aims to evaluate the secular trend in height and weight and body mass index (BMI) of Iranian children and adolescents aged 2-18 years old between 1990-1991 and 1999 and compare the magnitude of urban-rural differences during this period for the first time in an Asian country.

METHODS

Data from two national health surveys in 1990-1991 and 1999, of 22,349 and 25,196 weight and height measures of Iranian children and adolescents were used to study the trend and compare its difference in urban and rural children. Logarithmic transformation of weight, height and BMI was modelled as a polynomial in age for urban and rural boys and girls in each survey separately. The trend in urban and rural growth indexes (weight, height and BMI) and also the comparisons of urban-rural differences between two national surveys were tested in logarithmic scale using a weighted form of Z statistic for comparison of two means adjusted for age groups.

RESULTS

Urban and rural boys and girls became taller and heavier (P≤ 0.02) with no change of BMI (P > 0.05) during the period. There was not any significant difference between the magnitudes of urban-rural difference between two surveys (P≥ 0.61).

CONCLUSION

Although generally positive weight and height trend was observed among urban and rural residents, the magnitude of their differences was not changed.

Socioeconomic differences in obesity among Mexican adolescents

OBJECTIVE

We investigate socioeconomic disparities in adolescent obesity in Mexico. Three questions are addressed. First, what is the social patterning of obesity among Mexican adolescents? Second, what are the separate and joint associations of maternal and paternal education with adolescent obesity net of household wealth? Third, are there differences in socioeconomic status (SES) gradients among Mexican boys and girls, rural residents and non-rural residents?

METHODS

Using data from the Mexican National Health Survey 2000 we examined the slope and direction of the association between SES and adolescent obesity. We also estimated models for sub-populations to examine differences in the social gradients in obesity by sex and non-rural residence.

RESULTS

We find that household economic status (asset ownership and housing quality) is positively associated with adolescent obesity. High paternal education is related to lower obesity risk, whereas the association between maternal education and obesity is positive, but not always significant.

CONCLUSION

The household wealth components of SES appear to predispose Mexican adolescents to higher obesity risk. The effects of parental education are more complex. These findings have important policy implications in Mexico and the United States.

Community well-being and growth status of indigenous school children in rural Oaxaca, southern Mexico

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between community well-being based on an index of marginalization and growth status of indigenous rural school children in Oaxaca.

METHODS

Heights and weights of a cross-sectional sample of 11,454 children, 6-14 years, from schools for indigenous rural children (escuelas albergue) in 158 municipios in Oaxaca were measured in 2007. Tertiles of an index of marginalization were used to classify the 158 municipios into three categories of community well-being: lowest (highest marginalization), low, and moderate (lowest marginalization). Multivariate analysis of covariance, controlling for age, relative isolation and population size, was used to compare body size of children by category of community well-being. Contributions of marginalization, isolation and population size to variation in body size were estimated with sex-specific linear regression.

RESULTS

Children from municipios lowest in well-being were shorter and lighter than children from municipios low and moderate in well-being. Marginalization and relative isolation accounted for 23% (boys) and 21% (girls) of the variance in height and for 21% of the variance in weight of girls. Marginalization was the predictor of weight in boys (23%).

CONCLUSION

Community well-being was reflected in the growth status of rural indigenous school children. Compromised growth status was consistent with poor health and nutritional conditions that were and are characteristic of rural areas in the state of Oaxaca.