Introduction: Anthropometric indices are used for assessing the nutrition status of people and societies. The indices determine the growth of the child’s nutrition status, his socioeconomic status and his quality of life. This research aims to study the anthropometric indices of elementary school children in the Iranian city of Piranshahr using the Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference in the first six months of 2011. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, 1803 students aged between 7 and 11 in Piranshahr were studied. Multi-stage cluster sampling was used. The research setting was an elementary school in Piranshahr. Demographic data were collected through interviews and record in questionnaires. A Secca stadiometer was used to measure the height of each student standing without shoes (accuracy of 0.1 centimeter). The weight was measured using a spring scale with an accuracy of 0.1 kilogram with the least possible clothes on. The weight was divided by the square of height (square meter) to calculate BMI. To determine overweight and obesity, BMI percentiles of Center for Disease Control (CDC) were used. In order to use appropriate tests, the normality and equality of variances were measured by Leven and K-S tests, respectively. Results: The study found that 231 children (12.8%) were at risk of overweight and 96 children (5.3%) were overweight. Conclusion: There was a meaningful difference between boys and girls in terms of nutrition status of BMI, father’s higher education level, shortness, abdominal obesity and family history of obesity, and father’s jobs (P < 0.0001).
KeywordsAnthropometricSocioeconomic FactorsNutrition StatusElementary School ChildrenPiranshahrIran
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