Anthropometric Measurements of Fourth Grade Students Compared to National and Regional Data

1. Anthropometric Measurements of Fourth-Grade Students
Compared to National and Regional Data
Brianna D. Higgins, Emily N. Werner, Abigail D. Gilman, Stella L. Volpe, FACSM
Department of Nutrition Sciences
Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Background: Approximately 17% of children in the United States, 2 to 19
years of age, are obese1. In addition, over one-third of children and
adolescents in the Unites States are overweight.2 In the Greater Philadelphia
area, 20% of children, 6 to 17 years of age, are obese.3 Obesity in childhood is
defined as having a body mass index (BMI) at or greater than the 95th
percentile, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) growth
charts.1
PURPOSE: To assess anthropometric data of fourth grade students in the
Greater Philadelphia area compared to national and regional standards.
METHODS: These cross-sectional data included 12 elementary schools
selected for inclusion in a three-year school-based intervention. These data
represent baseline data from the larger, ongoing intervention. Height, body
weight, BMI and waist circumference were taken on 598 students throughout
the months of January to May during the 2013 to 2014 school year.
RESULTS: Mean height (± standard deviation) was 140.8±7.8 cm. Mean
body weight was 43.1±13.5 kg. Mean waist circumference was 70.0±14.1 cm.
Mean BMI was 19.8±4.5 kg/m2.
CONCLUSION: For boys and girls, the mean BMIs were 19.6 and 19.9 kg/m2,
respectively. Of all the children measured, 18.3% had BMI values between the
85th and 95th percentile, classifying them as overweight; while 18.2% had BMI
values at or above the 95th percentile, classifying them as obese. The students
assessed in this study had a greater total frequency of overweight and obesity
rates compared to the national, but not regional standards.
1. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
2. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/facts.htm
3. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/programs/CommunitiesPuttingPreventionto
Work/communities/profiles/both-pa_philadelphia.htm
Funded by: Independence Blue Cross Foundation
Five hundred ninety-eight fourth grade students were recruited from the
Greater Philadelphia area. Through the months of January to May during the
2013 to 2014 school year, height, body weight, and waist circumference were
measured. These cross-sectional data included 12 elementary schools
selected for inclusion in a three-year school-based intervention. These data
represent baseline data from the larger, ongoing intervention. Height was
measured using a stadiometer, body weight was measured using a balance
beam scale, and waist circumference was measured using a tape measure one
inch above the umbilicus. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the
equation, weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters) squared.
* **
Participant Characteristics N Minimum Maximum Mean ± SD
Height (cm) 561 121 170 140.8 ± 7.6
Weight (kg) 561 20 113 43.1 ± 13.5
Waist Circumference (cm) 553 51 165 69.9 ± 14.1
BMI (kg/m2) 560 12 45 19.8 ± 4.5
SD = standard deviation; cm = centimeters; kg = kilograms; kg/m2 = kilograms/meters2
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
Normal Weight Overweight* Obese**
TotalPercentage
Body Mass Index Category
Percentage of Boys and Girls in Each BMI Category:
Current Study versus United States
Boys Current Study
Girls Current Study
United States
*United States data found from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
**United States data found from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/facts.htm
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
Boys* Girls**
BodyMassIndex(kg/m2)
Sex
Body Mass Index for Girls and Boys:
Current Study versus United States
Current Study
United States
Error bars represent Mean ± SD
*Boys data found from http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/set1clinical/cj41l023.pdf
**Girls data found http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/data/set1clinical/cj41l023.pdf
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Normal Weight Overweight and Obese Obese
TotalPercentage
Body Mass Index Category
Percentage of Children in Each BMI Category:
Current Study vs CDC Philadelphia
Current Study
CDC Philadelphia*
*United States data found from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
**United States data found from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/facts.htm
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
Normal Weight Overweight* Obese**
TotalPercentage
Body Mass Index Category
Percentage of Children in Each BMI Category:
Current Study versus United States
Current Study
United States
• The average BMI for girls and boys in Philadelphia was higher than the United
States’ standards
• Students assessed in this study had a greater frequency of overweight and obesity
compared to the United States, but not Philadelphia standards
• Girls had a higher frequency of being overweight than boys and the United States’
standards
• Boys had a greater frequency of being obese than girls and the United States’
standards
*CDC Philadelphia data found from
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dch/programs/CommunitiesPuttingPreventiontoWork/communities/profiles/both-pa_philadelphia.htm