689 Overweight and Obesity in High School Students of 15-18 ages. A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The aim of study was to to determine the characteristics of the age groups of adolescents in terms of the relationship between body mass and height, especially the relative number of overweight and obese. A cross-sectional study of the health status (overweight and obesity) of students was conducted on a sample of 400 subjects, (186 boys and 214 girls, aged 15 to 18.  Anthropometric data including body height (BH), body weight (TM), age and Body Mass Index (BMI).  Participants' BMI was estimated using the Percentile BMI calculator for children and teenagers aged 2 to 19 years. Study adolescents were defined as underweight, normal (healthy) weight, overweight, and obese according to the CDC child growth characteristics for age, sex, and BMI. 26 respondent (6.5%) were overweight, while 17 (4.25%) were obese, which is a total of 10.75% of students. The analysis of the individual results of male and female subjects points to increased values of the body mass of males (18.81%), compared to female pupils (3%). Out of a total of 186 male students, 10.75% were in the overweight category, and 8.06% were categorized as obese, while 2.80% of the girls were overweight and (1%<) in the obese category, which is an extremely good result, where obesity practically does not exist. Even 87.5% students are in the healthy weight category 149 male (80.10%) and 201 female (93.92%) respondents. Only 7 or (2%<) students were categorized as malnourished, while in relation to gender, there were more malnourished girls (2.33%) compared to boys (1%<). Among high school students in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the number of children with overweight and obesity is relatively low compared to data from other countriesș it requires the development of evidence-based recommendations for physical activity and dietary habits that are most appropriate for both this country and other countries.