Agnieszka Woronkowicz

Secular changes in height, body weight, body mass index and pubertal development in male children and adolescents in Krakow, Poland.

This study examined the secular changes in height, body weight, body mass index and pubertal development in male children and adolescents in Krakow (Poland) over the past 80 years, with an emphasis on the last decade (2000-2010). The survey of the population of Krakow is a continuation of observations conducted in that area for many years. The analysis aims to determine whether in the last decade Krakow still witnessed the secular trend, and what form the trend took. The body height and weight, and body mass index (BMI), of 1862 boys aged 3.5-18.5 years were analysed, against the background of a survey series from the years 1938 (N = 1801), 1971 (N = 2045), 1983 (N = 3124) and 2000 (N = 2328). The mean body height, in almost all age categories, was greater than in the past; however the final height over the last decade remained the same. The mean values of body weight and BMI increased, especially in the last decade. Also, an acceleration of puberty in boys was observed. The last 10 years saw an over 3-month decrease in the age of initial appearance of pubic hair in boys. In conclusion, the last decade saw cessation of the growing taller trend: maximum body height stabilized at approximately 179 cm, but weight and BMI increased. Also, a distinct acceleration of puberty was noticed. Lack of height increase, at the same time as weight gain and puberty acceleration, indicate a progressing developmental disharmony.

Physical development of girls from Krakow in the aspect of socioeconomical changes in Poland (1938-2010).

This survey aimed at analyzing secular changes in the development of girls from Krakow, in the first decade of the 21st century, against the background of transformations observed in the previous century.

Secular trends in body composition and frequency of overweight and obesity in boys aged 3–18 from krakow, Poland, within the last 30 years (from 1983 to 2010)

The aim of this study was to examine the changes in body composition (fatness and muscle and bone mass) and BMI in three cohorts of boys living in Krakow, Poland, over the last 30 years, and to assess how overweight and obesity frequencies have developed over the period. The anthropological survey was conducted in 2010, and comprised 1863 boys from Krakow aged 3-18 years. The analysis compared the latest measurements of selected skinfold thicknesses, BMI, total body muscle mass and bone mass with the results of surveys from 1983 (N=1934) and 2000 (N=2323). The frequency of overweight and obesity was assessed for the last survey series, and their trends determined for the years 1983-2000 and 2000-2010. The analysis of fat tissue distribution showed that the boys from the 2010 cohort, as compared with those examined in 2000, had a higher trunk adiposity, as manifested by greater thickness of subscapular and suprailiac skinfold thicknesses, and boasted a larger muscle mass and lower bone mass. The survey results also showed that, from 1983 to 2000, the percentage of overweight boys increased slightly (from 11.69% to 12.48%), whereas the frequency of obesity did not change. Over the last decade, the percentage of overweight people has increased to 15.94%, and the frequency of obesity has doubled, equalling 4.94% in 2010. The last decade has seen a minor trend in boys towards increased trunk adiposity, muscle mass, BMI and prevalence of overweight and obesity, and a slight decrease in bone mass.

Long-term changes in body composition and prevalence of overweight and obesity in girls (aged 3-18 years) from Kraków (Poland) from 1983, 2000 and 2010.

Abstract Background: Body mass disorders are an increasing problem, especially in industrialized countries. Aim: Determination of time- and age-related differences in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and in body composition in girls from 1983, 2000 and 2010. Subject and methods: In 2010 an anthropological study was conducted on 1970 girls aged 3–18 years living in Kraków (Poland). Data on selected skin-folds, BMI, muscle mass and bone mass were compared to two studies on analogous populations carried out in 1983 and 2000. Results: Compared to 1983, the share of overweight girls in 2010 had decreased (from 12.4% to 11.2%), while the obesity rate had increased slightly from 2.3% to 3.2%. Girls from 2010 had lower overall body fat content than their peers studied in 1983. However, in 2010 suprailiac adiposity prevalence was higher, while triceps, subscapular and abdominal adiposity rates were lower. They also had higher muscle mass and lower bone mass. Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight and obesity has not changed significantly over the last 30 years. However, significant changes have occurred in body composition. Girls measured in 2010 had lower total adipose tissue, although they also showed a tendency towards increased central adiposity.

Long-term changes in BMI and adiposity rebound among girls from Kraków (Poland) over the last 30 years (from 1983 to 2010)

Early adiposity rebound (AR, below 5 years) is an important predictor of adult obesity.

Sex differences in prevalence of overweight and obesity, and in extent of overweight index, in children and adolescents (3–18 years) from Kraków, Poland in 1983, 2000 and 2010

OBJECTIVE The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children is now an important health problem. This fact, however, does not reflect the scale of the problem. The aim of the present study was to find how much the BMI threshold was exceeded in a population from Kraków. DESIGN The study was based on three cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1983, 2000 and 2010. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated based on the International Obesity Task Force cut-off points. In addition to these, an extent of overweight (EOW) index was calculated. SETTING Poland. SUBJECTS Children aged 3-18 years (n 14 534) from Kraków. RESULTS Between the populations examined in 1983 and 2010, the EOW index in boys rose by almost 10 %, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity by 39 %. In girls, however, the EOW index decreased by 45 %, while the prevalence of overweight and obesity remained at similar levels. Analyses in separate age groups showed that the EOW index increased only among early adolescents (150 % for boys, 94 % for girls) and late adolescents (390 % and 64 %, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The observed increased prevalence of overweight and obesity mainly concerned boys and was accompanied by an increase in the amount by which the BMI threshold values were exceeded.

Time trends in BMI, body fatness, and adiposity rebound among boys from Kraków (Poland) from 1983 to 2010

The prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing during the last decades in many countries, but less is known about secular trends in growth curves covering the whole childhood span. The main purpose of this study was to explore changes in body weight, height, BMI, percent body fat (%BF), adiposity rebound (AR), and pubertal timing in boys from Kraków between 1983 and 2010.

Wyrzynanie się zębów stałych: zmiany sekularne w populacji dzieci przedszkolnych z Krakowa w ostatnim półwieczu – badanie pilotażowe☆

Streszczenie Wstep W przeciwienstwie do akceleracji rozwoju fizycznego, istnienie trendu sekularnego dotyczące wymiany uzebienia jest dyskusyjne. Cel pracy Zbadanie czy w populacji dzieci przedszkolnych z Krakowa ma miejsce akceleracja wymiany uzebienia oraz czy tempo wymiany uzebienia, określone liczbą wyrznietych zebow stalych, jest warunkowane przez czynniki środowiskowe. Material i metody Wiosną 2007 r. określono ogolną liczbe wyrznietych zebow stalych u 364 chlopcow i 363 dziewcząt w wieku 3–7 lat, z losowo wybranych 18 przedszkoli z Krakowa i porownano z analogicznymi danymi dla serii badan z 1952 i 1983 r. Analizowano rowniez wplyw niektorych czynnikow środowiskowych, tj. poziom edukacji i pochodzenie spoleczne rodzicow, przebieg ciązy i porodu oraz kolejnośc urodzenia dziecka na rozwoj zebowy. Wyniki Pierwsze zeby stale pojawiają sie juz w wieku 4,5 lat. U chlopcow 5,5-letnich poziom rozwoju zebowego jest podobny do rowieśnikow z 1952 i 1983 r., natomiast badane dziewczeta, w porownaniu z obydwiema wcześniejszymi seriami badan, są bardziej zaawansowane rozwojowo. Wśrod 6,5-letnich dzieci, chlopcy takze nie wykazują zmian w przecietnej liczbie wyrznietych zebow stalych, natomiast u dziewcząt zaznacza sie sukcesywne zmniejszanie sie tej liczby sugerujące opoźnianie rozwoju zebowego. Poziom rozwoju zebowego nie wspolwystepuje z analizowanymi czynnikami środowiskowymi. Wnioski W populacji krakowskiej, w ciągu ostatnich 55 lat nie stwierdzono jednoznacznie akceleracji wyrzynania sie zebow stalych, zaobserwowano jedynie dalsze obnizenie dolnej granicy wieku, w ktorym rozpoczyna sie ten proces. Analiza wynikow badan wlasnych wykazala, iz tempo wymiany uzebienia nie jest związane z czynnikami socjoekonomicznymi lecz determinowane glownie genetycznie. To moze byc przyczyną braku zmian miedzygeneracyjnych w tym zakresie.

Physical fitness of overweight and underweight preschool children from southern Poland.

SUMMARY The main aim of this study was to assess differences in the level of physical fitness between children of preschool age with different BMI, as overweight and obesity are an increasing problem even in this age group. The study group consisted of 3,945 children aged 4 to 6 years living in southern Poland. Analysis included the results of body height and weight measurements (from which BMI was calculated) and motor skills tests: sit-and-reach test, standing broad jump and handgrip strength. Children were grouped according to the Obesity Task Force categories. Significant differences in body height were visible (i) between overweight and normal children and (ii) between overweight and underweight children. In terms of body weight and BMI, significant differences existed between all groups. With regard to fitness tests, the greatest differences were observed for handgrip strength and standing broad jump. The sit-and-reach test did not reveal any differences between the groups. The results showed that overall physical fitness was negatively correlated with relative weight; general fitness in overweight children was lower than in normal or underweight children. As it is obvious that physical activity is indispensable even for preschool children, any increase in physical activity could at least partially alleviate the problem of excessive weight and improve the general fitness of children. In the future this would reduce the incidence of diseases related to obesity and a lack of exercise.

Long-term changes in body proportions since 1952 to 2011 in children and adolescents from Kolkata (India)

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the intergenerational changes of the selected body proportions of children and adolescents from Kolkata (India). The analysis was based on anthropometric measurements of 7488 Bengali children (4222 boys and 3266 girls), aged 7-19, from the middle-class families. The cohorts from 1952-66 and 1999-2011, as well as series of boys from 1982-83, were compared in terms of body height, subischial leg length, biacromial width, biiliac width, reciprocal ponderal index (RPI), skelic index, pelvi-acromial index, shoulder-height ratio, pelvis-height ratio. The significance of the differences was determined by two-way ANOVA. All features, in both sexes, significantly differed between the 1952-66 and 1999-2011 cohorts. A general positive secular trend was observed for subischial leg length, biacromial width, and biiliac width and skelic index. Negative overall intergenerational changes were noted in the pelvi-acromial index, biacromial and biiliac width to body height ratio and RPI. In boys, the 1982-83 and 1999-2011 cohorts differed significantly only in the RPI. Between the 1952-66 and 1982-83 series the differences in subischial leg length, biacromial width, biiliac width (in older boys) and pelvi-acromial index (some age groups) were significant. Observed diversification of body proportions most likely results from the improvement of developmental conditions related to the socio-economic progress of India. However, increasing stoutness, visible in the RPI values, especially associated with its fatness, raises the risk of many health problems and diseases, even at the young age.