DIFFERENCES IN OBJECTIVELY AND SUBJECTIVELY MEASURED WEIGHT AND HEIGHT IN SLOVAK ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The goal of our contribution is the issue of differences in objectively and subjectively measured weight (and consequently Body Mass Index /BMI/) and height in Slovak adolescents. The data obtained are a part of international study Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC) performed in Slovakia in 2017/2018. Our representative sample consisted of 782 adolescents of the fifth to ninth grades of elementary schools in Slovakia in the target group of 11 to 15 years old. We also obtained objective somatic indicators by measuring and subjective indicators were obtained using 2 item questions of the HBSC questionnaire. The results obtained point to the fact, that adolescents tend to add height and decrease weight (boys on average 0.9 kg and girls 0.6 kg) by self-reported question. However, statistically significant difference was observed in weight difference among boys girls and in total. Overweight boys tend to take almost 3 kilograms of their weight. Moreover, obese boys tend to take 5.14 kilograms and obese girls 2.40 kilograms of their weight. The results of survey show that adolescents self- assessing their height and weight tend to increase their height and decrease their weight, which is more pronounced in boys than in girls. Acknowledgments: The document is also based on the support of the grant task of MS VVS SR: VEGA 1/0460/23: „Postural health in children and adolescents and the possibilities of influencing it “