The Comparison of the Body Composition of Children at the Early School Age from Urban and Rural Area in Southwestern Poland

Abstract

The aim of the study was to compare the segmental body composition with the use of fat–fat-free (FFF) index in children at early school age, depending on sex and place of residence, with particular emphasis on urban and rural areas. The study consisted of 329 children aged 7.78 (SD = 0.88; mean age in years). The study group was divided according to the place of residence and sex. The height and body mass, Body Mass Index (BMI), segmental body composition (Tanita BC-418MA), and FFF were calculated. A more frequent occurrence of excessive body weight was observed in children from rural areas (over 20%) compared to their peers from the urban area (10%). Statistically significant lower values of FFF index as well as in the lower limbs and torso were observed in the case of the examined children from the urban area as compared with their peers from the rural areas. The body composition of children living in metropolitan and rural areas is diverse. Lower values of FFF indexes were found in children from the city than in children living in villages. There are more children in the city with signs of being underweight and of normative body mass and paradoxically more overweight ones in the village.

Age and Sex-Related Differences in Anthropometric Characteristics and Body Composition in Primary School-Age Children

“…In this study, boys have a lower percentage of adipose tissue than girls. This is consistent with the results of available research (McCarthy et al, 2006, Halasi et al, 2018Taylor et al, 1997;Chwałczyńska et al, 2018). Zhang et al (2015) analysed fatness in Tibetan children.…”

“…Regarding Fat Free Mass (FFM) in our study, there is more in boys. This is also the case in the studies of Chwałczyńska et al (2018) and Sen & Mondal (2013). Also, Dencker et al (2007) found more Fat Free Mass (FFM) in boys (p <0.001).…”

“…The girls in our study had significantly higher adipose tissue mass than boys. In similar studies (Taylor et al, 1997;Dencker et al, 2007;Chwałczyńska et al, 2018) girls also have higher adipose tissue mass than boys. The study by Dencker et al (2006) on the 8 to 11-year-olds suggests that girls have a significantly higher fat mass (FatM) (.007 and .0008) and a significantly higher percentage of fat (FatP p<.001).…”

“…The boys in our study have a higher BMI than the girls and this is not the rule. In some studies, boys have a higher BMI (Đorđić et al, 2016;Chwałczyńska et al, 2018;), yet in other studies girls do (Halasi et al, 2018;Taylor et al, 1997, Basterfield et al, 2011 and in some cases they are . Age and sex related differences in anthropometric characteristics and body composition in primary school-age children.…”

“…The composition of the human body changes with ontogenetic development. The intensity of changes is determined by genetic factors and it is well influenced by environmental factors (Chwałczyńska et al, 2018). Economic power and social inequalities strongly influence the anthropological characteristics and physical composition of children.…”