engleski

Overweight as a burden for cardiovascular disease in schoolchildren

Introduction and objective: Overweight is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to asses nutritional status of schoolchildren using different criteria, as a precondition of intervention. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted on 1925 children in elementary (1st and 8th grade) and 944 students in high school (3rd year). International (1) and national (2) age and gender specific criteria for body mass index (kg/m2) were used to determine normal weight, overweight and obesity. Results: According to international (1) vrs. national (<95th percentile) (2) criteria, 78% vrs. 91% boys, 82% vrs. 92% girls in 1st, 82% vrs. 93% boys, 85% vrs. 90% girls in 8th grade and 79% vrs. 89% boys, 91% vrs. 94% girls in 3rd year had normal weight. Out of children with normal weight according to national standards, 14% boys and 11% girls in 1st, 12% boys and 5% girls in 8th grade and 11% boys and 3% girls in 3rd year were recognized as overweight according to international criteria. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed importance of national criteria for assessment of nutritional status, in order to recognize schoolchildren with objective risk and involve them in CVD preventive programs. References: 1. Cole TJ, Bellizzi MC, Flegal KM, Dietz WH. Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ. 2000 ; 320:1240-3. 2. Jureša V, Musil V, Kujundžić Tiljak M. Croatian reference values of body mass index for children aged from 6.5 to 18.5 years. Available at: http://www.mef.hr/druga.php?grupa=020331050100

overweight; cardiovascular risks; school children

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