Children (Jul 2021)

Longitudinal Analysis (1994–2020) of Prevalence and Trends of Underweight in Polish Children

  • Aleksandra Lemanowicz-Kustra,
  • Anna Borkowska,
  • Michał Brzeziński,
  • Adam Wyszomirski,
  • Agnieszka Szlagatys-Sidorkiewicz

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/children8080643
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 8
p. 643

Abstract

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Nutritional status disorders are a worldwide problem. Approximately 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year, and 45% of these deaths are related to malnutrition. The aim of the study was to analyse the prevalence of underweight children aged between 6 and 7 years old, living in the Gdańsk, Poland, in the years 1994–2020. The anthropometric parameters of 67,842 children were analysed. BMI (Body Mass Index) value p p = 0.670). The occurrence of underweight indviduals in the studied group slightly increased in the years 1994–2020. We found a statistically significant increasing linear trend in the analysis of underweight children in our group (p p p = 0.603; OLAF p = 0.787). This points to the need to conduct regular screening systems for children and adolescents.

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