Anthropometric Profiles of 8-11 year Old Children from a Low-income Setting in South Africa

Overview

Journal BMC Public Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2019 Mar 20

PMID 30885162

Citations 6

Authors

Sandra S Pretorius

Natalia Neophytou

Estelle D Watson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Communities in low-to-middle income countries undergoing rapid urbanisation as well as nutrition transition are particularly at risk for associated health issues such as overweight and obesity. South Africa has a double-burden of both under- and over-nutrition, creating some uncertainty as to where to direct healthcare interventions. Therefore, providing anthropometric data in vulnerable populations, such as in early childhood, is much needed.

Methods: This observational study assessed height, weight, head circumference and age-adjusted BMI in 1785 Grade 4 (9.5 ± 0.7 years old) learners from 12 schools in two different areas in South Africa.

Results: Overall, the results of this study found a higher prevalence of overnutrition (>95th percentile for age-adjusted BMI) than undernutrition (<15th percentile for age-adjusted BMI), 27.3% versus 12.4% respectively. Although the boys were significantly older and taller than the girls in this sample, there were no significant sex differences between boys and girls for BMI (19.9 kg/m ± 6.0 vs 20 kg/m ± 5.8, p = 0.59). Significant differences were found between peri-urban and urban areas for undernutrition (16.1% versus 9.5%, p < 0.001) and overnutrition (9.7% versus 41.2%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: South African children living in urban areas are particularly vulnerable to high rates of overweight and obesity. Therefore, interventions that are area and context specific are needed to address the issues of malnutrition in South Africa.

Citing Articles

Differences in Anthropometric Parameters of Children in Six European Countries.

Semanova C, Szollosi G, Ilyes I, Cardon G, Latomme J, Iotova V Children (Basel). 2023; 10(6).

PMID: 37371214 PMC: 10297030. DOI: 10.3390/children10060983.

Relationship between Body Mass Index and Physical Activity among Children from Low-Income Communities in Gqeberha, South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Dolley D, Randt R, Puhse U, Gerber M, Bosma J, Aerts A Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(2).

PMID: 36674182 PMC: 9864586. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021428.

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, Weight Status, and Body Composition among South African Primary Schoolchildren.

Gerber M, Lang C, Beckmann J, Randt R, Long K, Muller I Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(18).

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Prevalence, incidence, and trends of childhood overweight/obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic scoping review.

Danquah F, Ansu-Mensah M, Bawontuo V, Yeboah M, Kuupiel D Arch Public Health. 2020; 78(1):109.

PMID: 33292679 PMC: 7599109. DOI: 10.1186/s13690-020-00491-2.

Risk factors and morbidities associated with childhood obesity in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic scoping review.

Danquah F, Ansu-Mensah M, Bawontuo V, Yeboah M, Udoh R, Tahiru M BMC Nutr. 2020; 6:37.

PMID: 32884829 PMC: 7460801. DOI: 10.1186/s40795-020-00364-5.

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