Objectives: This study's purpose was to compare physical growth (PG) patterns of children and adolescents living at high elevations with those of other geographic regions, relate body adiposity indicators, and develop percentile reference tables for assessing physical growth and body adiposity. Methods: The sample included 1536 children and adolescents ages 5.0 to 17.9 years from Puno (Peru) located between 3821 and 4349 m above sea level. Weight, height, arm and waist circumferences (WC), and three skinfolds measurements were recorded. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-height Index (WHI) were calculated. Results: PG patterns for children living at a high altitude reflected similar values for weight, height, and arm circumference (AC) to those of their counterparts living in Puno (Peru) and La Paz (Bolivia). When compared with children living at moderate altitudes in Peru, they showed slightly lower PG values. BMI explained between 41% and 64% of the variance in sum of the skinfolds, while WC explained between 47% and 66%. HWI was not a strong predictor of variation in sum of skinfolds. Percentiles were generated for WC and the sum of skinfolds. Conclusion: Weight, height, and, arm and waist circumference patterns for children and adolescents living at high altitudes were similar to those of La Paz (Bolivia). WC and the sum of the skinfolds were better indicators for analyzing abdominal obesity compared to BMI and WHI. The percentiles proposed may be a useful tool for identifying high risk of developing overweight disorders in pediatric populations living at high altitudes.

IntroductionThe period of adolescence is characterized by marked changes relevant to adult life. The goals of this study were (a) to analyze the psychometric properties of the physical self-concept questionnaire (PSC) in adolescents and (b) to develop percentiles for evaluation by age and sex.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in adolescents aged 11 to 17 years from an altitude region of Peru (3,812 m above sea level). The sample size was 1,263 schoolchildren (609 males and 654 females). The PSC was measured through the survey technique. The questionnaire proposed by Fox and Corbin (1989), composed of five dimensions (totaling 30 questions), was applied. Validity was assessed by means of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and reliability by means of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha). Percentiles were calculated using the LMS method (lambda: skewness, median; M and S: coefficient of variation).Results and DiscussionIn the CFA, factor loadings (communalities) were satisfactory for the model. Values ranged from (0.30 to 0.60), in addition, the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin sample adequacy test was 0.89, X2 = 3401.086 (gl: 395, p<0.00), CFI (0.898), RMSEA (0.078) and % variation 47%. The reliability values (Cronbach’s alpha) per question evidenced values from r = 0.80 to 0.81 and the total scale r = 0.81. Percentiles were calculated: p3, p5, p10, p15, p25, p50, p75, p80, p85, p90, and p95. This study concludes that the psychometric properties of the PSC questionnaire applied to adolescents living in an altitude region of Peru were valid and reliable. The proposed percentiles can be used to categorize and monitor PSC by age and sex. These results suggest their use and application in the school system.