EVALUATION OF SEX-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES OF ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABLES THAT WERE USED AS INDICATORS OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN MACEDONIAN CHILDREN

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluatesex-specific differences of anthropometric varibalesthat were used as indicators of nutritional status in Macedonian children aged 5.The study included 226(113boys and 113girls) Macedonianchildren aged 5. We selected 5 anthropometrical parameters to measure (body weight, height, mid upper arm circumferences-MUAC, skinfolds thickness triceps–SFTr and subscapular-SFSc) and in addition according to the standard formulas we calculated: weight-for-age (BW), height-for-age (BH), body mass index-for-age (BMI)mid-upper-arm circumference-for-age (MUAC)and skifolds thikness (SFTr-for-age, SFSc-for-age).In general results have shown sex-specific differences in the examined parameters (BH, BW, BMI) in favour of the boys, with exception of skin-foldsthicknessthatwere higher in girls. Values of the 50th percentile in boys were as follows: 21kg for BW, 115cm for BH, 15.48kg/m2 for BMI,15.5 cm for MUAC, 7mm for SFTr and 4.1mm for SFSc.The values of these parameters in girls were: 20kg for BW,113.5 cm for BH, 15.01kg/m2 for BMI, 7.8mm for SFTrand 4.7 for SFScrespectively.These results can be used as criteria for assessment and detection of deviations in the nutritional status in Macedonian children aged 5.