Jovica Peulić1, Borko Katanic2, Nataša Jovanović3, Dusko Bjelica4
1Preschool Institution "My Childhood", Čačak, Serbia
2Montenegrin Sports Academy, Podgorica, Montenegro
3Children’s Dispensary of the Health Center Čačak, Serbia
4University of Montenegro, Faculty for Sports and Physical Education, Niksic, Montenegro
Exploring anthropometric characteristics, weight status, and posture among preschool children in Serbia
J. Anthr. Sport Phys. Educ. 2024, 8(2), 19-24 | DOI: 10.26773/jaspe.240404
Abstract
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the anthropometric characteristics, weight status, and posture of 6- and 7-year-old preschool-aged children. The sample of 922 children was divided by gender and age (monthly quartiles). Anthropometric characteristics were assessed using a battery of three variables: body height (BH), body mass (BM), and body mass index (BMI). BMI was categorized based on the World Health Organization (WHO) cutoff values, determining the degree of children’s weight status. Postural status was assessed by evaluating the following postural parameters: foot status, scoliosis, and dropped shoulders. Independent samples t-test showed no differences in anthropometric characteristics between boys and girls. According to ANOVA test, all three older groups (III, IV, and V) had significantly higher values in body height than the first two younger groups. In terms of body mass, IV and V groups had higher values than group I, and V had higher values than group II. Normal-weight children constituted 73.5%, while 14.4% were overweight and 8.8% were obese. Chi-square test revealed no difference in the degree of weight status by gender. Regarding postural status, 24.1% of children had scoliosis, 75.4% had abnormal foot status, and 59.8% had dropped shoulders. Chi-square test showed no difference between gender and postural deviations, except for foot status where boys significantly had more deviations than girls. This study contributed to diagnosing the anthropometric characteristics and posture of children and can be considered significant as the first study in this part of Serbia, serving as a starting point for future practical and research steps.
Keywords
morphological characteristics, BMI status, postural status, prevalence of obesity, preschoolers
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