Obesity in Moscow School Age Students: Prevalence, Age- and Gender- Related Features

Abstract

Background: obesity in children and adolescents became one of the most globally challenging medical problems over the past decades. Method: School-age children and adolescents from the Moscow's schools were examined. Height and weight data were obtained from screening examination records found in school medical charts. BMI (body mass index) was calculated. Derived data was analyzed according to the World Health Organization growth charts, for gender and age. Results: We demonstrated that in Moscow students aged 5 to 16 years old, obesity occurs mostly in the prepuberty period: boys 10-13, and girls 9-10. At the same time obesity prevalence is significantly higher in male adolescents than in female. In older groups decline in obesity prevalence provides for decrease in overweight prevalence. Obesity in specific groups with its maximum prevalence shows unfavorable features due to the predominance of central obesity indices both in boys and in girls. The most significant growth registered in thickness of abdominal and subscupular skinfolds (ASF and SSF, respectively) which was found in boys (4.3 and 4 times greater). In males abdominal obesity prevails, whereas in females, distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue is more even. Conclusion: The value of ASF and SSF as a tool for cardiovascular pathology risk factors assessment in urban students ages 9-13 was confirmed by correlative analysis. These parameters have the strongest correlation with all the others evalu-ated in this investigation. Waist-to-hip ratio didn't show any significance in assessment of obesity in persons of prepuberty age.

Overweight and Obesity Prevalence and Physical Activity among Moscow Schoolchildren

“…In co mparison with the same monitoring of overweight and obesity prevalence in Moscow schoolchildren population we done 3 years ago [17], nu mber of boys with overweight and obesity seems to be the identical. In the same time, nu mber o f girls with overweight and obesity increase.…”

“…Boys are more obese than girls. Early we demonstrated prevalence of a central type of adipose tissue allocation related to weight increase is observed in investigated samples of peripuberty children [17]. Considering obvious economic g rowth in Russia during the last several years and a strong tendency for a western lifestyle the adopter of among the Russian population, especially those dwelling in cities, an increase in obesity rates might be expected.…”

Distance Mesuring of Physical Activity among Students and Workers of Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry

“…So, it might be concluded, that people active in one type of PA are usually active in another type of PA. Earlier we found that more than 20-30% of students have body mass which extended age norms [10][11]. PA seems to be the main risk factor of obesity development [2][3], and obesity itself is additional risk factor for NCDs [1][2].…”

Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Prevention in Russian Federation (RF)

“…Boys are more obese than girls ( Table 2, 3). Early we demonstrated prevalence of a central type of adipose tissue allocation related to weight increase is observed in investigated samples of peripuberty children [14]. Considering obvious economic growth in Russia during the last several years and a strong tendency for a western lifestyle the adopter of among the Russian population, especially those dwelling in cities, an increase in obesity rates might be expected.…”