ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT BY THE PROGRAM WHO ANTHROPLUS OF CHILDREN OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN IN HEALTH INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

In order to study the characteristics of the physical development of schoolchildren in the Republic of Tatarstan, 897 secondary school students (415 boys and 482 girls) aged from 7 to 17 years were examined. During the stay of schoolchildren in the summer health center, somatometry (body length and weight) was carried out, the mass-height index (BMI) was calculated and an assessment of the physical development of students was given using the anthropometric calculator WHO AnthroPlus. It was revealed that from 26.2 to 37.5% of students have deviations in body length from the average age-sex standards; mainly due to growth above average and to a greater extent in boys (p=0.015). Deviations in nutritional status were observed from 27.1 to 43.7% of the surveyed schoolchildren. The prevalence of overweight (5.5–13.7%) and obesity (2.6–9.1%) among students corresponds to the global trend. However, attention should be paid to the high prevalence of body weight deficit, especially below the 5th percentile (7.8–14.1%), which corresponds to protein-energy malnutrition. The results obtained require a more in-depth analysis of the nutrition of children in the Republic and the development of preventive measures.