Abstract
Preview: well-balanced body proportions characterize good health; weight to height ratio, used with a power of 2 (BMI=kg/m2), is considered a good anthropometric index.
Aim: to know data about the pattern of BMI distribution. Sample size: 2858 children (1440/M-1418/F), aged 6-14 years; data collected in 1991.
Analysis method: 1) calculation of values for Body-Mass index in kg/m2 by eight class of age (as BMI varies with age) and each sex; 2) calculation of Z-score, using the following formula: Z=(Q-M)/SD on which Q is the observed weight/height2 index, M is the median, SD is S x M when S is the coefficient of variation; 3) division of the sample for each of the eight class of age in seven Z-score subgroups, according to the following out off points: a) < −3; b) ≥ −3 < −2; c) ge; −2 and < −1; d) ≥ −1 and ≤ +1; e) > +1 and ≤−2 f) > −2 and ≥ −1.3; g) > +3.
Results: hitograms of BMI distribution data, accorting to the above method, have been showed in the figures.
Discussion: the data analyzed in the presence of severe “over” stoutness ones. Comment about the analysis method: anthropometric data are not often normally distributed, tending to be skew, usually with the right tail of the distribution longer than the left. As the above method does not take in account the degree of skewness, the overweight conditions could have been over-estimated. Additional analysis in this way should be undertaken.
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Zannolll, R., Chiarelli, F. & Morgese, G. DISTRIBUTION OF BMI IM 2858 CHILDREN AGED 6–14. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S79 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00456
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00456