This paper presented at 5th annual research conference ,Royal Asiatic society 2012

1. A Study on Pre-School Children’s
Body Mass Index
T.Mukunthan
P.Senevirathna
Dept. Early Childhood and Primary Education
Faculty of Education
The Open University of Sri Lanka
31.03.2012

2. Out Line
• Introduction
• Problem
• Objectives
• Sample
• Data Collection
• Findings
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
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3. Introduction
• Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number
calculated from a person’s weight and
height
• BMI = Weight in Kilograms
(Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters)
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4. Introduction ( Continue)
• BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness
for most children and teens
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5. Introduction (Cont.)
Category BMI Range
Under Weight less than 18.5
Normal Weight 18.5 to 24.9
Over Weight 25 to 29.9
obesity more than 30

6. Problem
• Overweight in children has become a matter
of growing concern
• In developed societies, several studies have
shown increasing numbers of overweight
children
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7. Objectives
• To find the pre-school children’s BMI
category
• To find the relationship between the
students’ BMI and their family background.
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8. Sample
(Children belong to 4 years and 5 years age range)
Gender Boys Girls Total
Pre school
1 31 34 65
2 29 32 61
Total 60 32 126
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9. Data Collection Methods
The children’s weight and height were
measured in kilo gram (kg) and meter
BMI calculated used the formula
BMI = Weight in Kilograms
(Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters)
Students Social information collected by the
interview of the parents and teachers
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10. Findings
BMI BOYS GIRLS TOTAL
Under 40(31%) 51(40%) 91(71%)
Weight
Normal 18(14%) 13(10%) 31(24%)
Over 02(1.6%) 04(3.4%) 06(5%)
Weight
Total 60 68 128
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11. BMI Category
Pecentage
5%
24%
71% Under Weight
Normal Weight
Over Weight
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12. BMI Category and Gender
60
50
40
30 Boys
Girls
20
10
0
Low Weight Normal Weight Over Weight
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13. BMI Vs. Social background
• 85% of the children out of the low weight
stay at the day care centres after the school
hours. Both parents these children are go to
work
• Only 2% of the children out of the
underweight categories are staying at the
daycare centers
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14. BMI Vs. Social background
• 92% of the children under low weight
category come from high socio-economic
states family
• 82% of the children from the normal weight
category are from the low income families
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15. Conclusions
• These results indicate that, more students
are in the underweight category
• Most of the children staying at the daycare
centres are in the underweight category
• Children’s BMI is not dependent in family
income
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16. Recommendations
• Conduct awareness Programme to the
Parents with the help officials from the
MOH office.
• Prepare diet list for children and give to the
parents

17. THANK YOU
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