Analysis of BMI of the selected group of children aged 4 and 6 years living in the city of Cieszyn

Abstract

Background. As stated by the WHO, overweight and obesity are increasing health problems of childhood. In Poland, obesity affects 2–12,3% of children, depending on their age and gender. Well-child care is an important element of the control of abnormal values of children’s body mass. Objectives. The aim of this study was an evaluation of the prevalence of abnormal body mass in the group of children aged 6 and a retrospective analysis of the occurrence of abnormal values of body mass in the same group of children when they were 4 years old. Material and methods. The analysis included a study of well-child care cards of 69 children who were under medical care in a GP practice. There were 34 girls and 35 boys in the studied population. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated for each child. The results were compared to the WHO growth charts and the charts of the OLAF and OLA projects. Results. According to the WHO growth charts, in the analyzed group, body mass deficiency was found in 2.9% of children aged 4, overweight was observed in 8.7% of those children and 5.8% of them suffered from the obesity. Body mass deficiency was observed in 2.9% of children at the age of 6, overweight in 14.5% and obesity in 13%. BMI values below the 5th centile were observed more frequently when OLAF and OLA growth charts were used. Conclusions. The abnormal body mass occurred more frequently among girls. Along with the age of the child, the prevalence of excess body mass was increasing. The excess body mass was diagnosed more often when WHO growth charts were used. The abnormal body mass was related not only to weight deficiency, but also to excess body mass.