Małgorzata Kowal

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.

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.

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 fat distribution in children and adolescents aged 3-18 from Krakow (Poland), within the last 30 years (from 1983 to 2010)

Abstract In Poland, even in the late twentieth century, the problem of obesity was not significant. However, recent studies have shown an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Socioeconomic changes, in last decades, approached Poland to Western Europe. A lifestyle of Poles (physical activity and diet) have changed radically. The aim of the study was to investigate changes in adiposity in children and adolescents over the last decades. Two cross-sectional studies were made in 1983 and 2010. The analysis included 10,324 children and adolescents aged 3-18 living in Krakow (Poland). Data on selected skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, abdominal, suprailiac, calf) were collected and compared between the series of studies. The total body fat (sum of 5 skinfolds) was higher in contemporary boys. In girls, there were not noticed such changes. In both sexes, the adiposity of triceps and supscapular region decreased. In the case of abdominal skinfold - there were no significant changes in boys, while contemporary girls had a smaller abdominal adiposity. In boys, there were noticed reduction in suprailiac skinfold thickness. In the case of girls, the reverse trend was reported - contemporary girls were characterized by higher suprailiac adiposity. Children studied in 2010 were characterized by greater calf skinfold. Changes in adiposity are worrying, especially in boys. The priority should therefore be effective prevention and intervention programs. They can prevent further deepening of the problem among Polish children, by the time it will be as severe as in Western Europe.

Intergenerational changes in limb circumferences in children and adolescents aged 3-18 from Kraków (Poland) from 1983 to 2010

Measurements of body circumferences are often used in anthropology. The research on this topic, however, rarely concerns limb girths or secular trends. The main aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of secular trends in selected limb circumferences among children and adolescents.

Overweight and obesity risk factors in children aged 3–7 years: a prospective study in the city of Kraków

Abstract Background: Early identified factors determining overweight and obesity in childhood may be important for preventive purposes. Aim: To evaluate the influence of the commonly accepted and hypothetical risk factors for overweight/obesity and their mutual relations, using the method of classification trees. Subjects and methods: The data were collected during anthropometric surveys carried out in 2010 in Kraków, Poland. The study involved 1042 pre-school children aged 3–7 years. BMI was calculated for all subjects classified as underweight, normal body weight and overweight, according to the IOTF cut-offs. In order to determine the correlation between genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors and the child’s BMI, this study used information from a questionnaire filled in by the mothers. Results: Relatively high birth weights, relatively long times of breastfeeding and father’s obesity were conducive to the appearance of overweight and obesity in boys. Other overweight risk factors included alcohol consumption by the mother, her low education level and a relatively low mother’s age at birth. Among girls, factors leading to overweight included high birth weight, high father’s BMI and family situation reported as below very good by their mothers. It was found that a moderate duration of breastfeeding is conducive to a normal weight of children at pre-school age, although in boys this regularity is better documented. Conclusions: The biological, social and lifestyle factors related to the child’s mother significantly determined the child’s BMI.