Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (Jan 2008)
A Study on 6-18 years-old girl students a bout weight and height in Sari
Abstract
(Received 19 May, 2008; Accepted 14 Jan, 2008) Abstract Background and purpose: Measurement of height and weight of children and adolescents are important sources of information and the best index for evaluation of their growth and nutritional and health status of society. This study performed to evaluate weight, height and pubertal stage of girls in sari. Materials and methods: This cross – sectional study was performed on 1320 6-18 years old school girls in elementary guidance and high school of Sari. Their height, weight and pubertal stage were evaluated and recorded by educated personas . Also Body Mass Index was calculated and recorded. Then Z score (SDS) of weight, height and the Body Mass Index studied people was compared by using calculated standard curve and findings in NCHS curve and findings of 1997 in Sari.For analyzing data, descriptive statistics, Mean±SD, Frequency and percent were used.Results: By using NCHS curve 1256 persons ( 95. 2 % ) from total persons that were studied , had normal height ( 5 – 95 percentile ) and the weight of 1254 persons ( 95 % ) were in 5 - 95 percentile . 2/5 centemers increasing in height and 2.5 Kg increasing in weight were seen in comparison to 1997 study .BMI of persons in all age groups ( expect 17 year old with ± 0.05 SD )were over than 50 percentile and mean age of beginning of menarche was 11.4 ± 1.1 .Conclusion: Our study in Sari shows the improvement in growth index in comparison to 1997 study which become near to standard curve in developed country.
