ABSTRACT
RESUMEN En este trabajo se determina el estado nutricional de adolescentes de Extremadura y la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en función del tamaño de la localidad de procedencia. Se realizó un estudio con 816 estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria y Bachillerato, de ambos sexos, con edades de 13 a 18 años. Los centros educativos pertenecían a municipios de una Región española, Extremadura, de diferentes tamaños (de menos de 5.000 a más de 60.000 habitantes). Se recogieron datos antropométricos y, siguiendo criterios nacionales e internacionales, se determinaron los porcentajes de sobrepeso y obesidad en función del tamaño de las localidades. Los alumnos de localidades rurales (menores de 5.000 habitantes) tienden a presentar valores de diferentes parámetros antropométricos que se relacionan con un menor desarrollo corporal. Aunque hubo variaciones en la prevalecía de sobrepeso y obesidad en función de los criterios utilizados, las localidades de más de 60.000 habitantes presentaron los mayores porcentajes medios de exceso de peso y las rurales, los menores.
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status and estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents from different size towns in the Extremadura Region of Spain. A sample of 816 secondary school students of both sexes between 13 and 18 years of age were evaluated. The educative centers selected belonged to different size towns (populations between <5,000 and >60,000 inhabitants). Different anthropometric measures were taken. The percentage of teenagers with overweight and obesity was calculated following national and international standards and compared by town size. Students from rural towns, <5,000 inhabitants, had the lowest values in some of the anthropometric measures; results that are associated with a lower body development. There were differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity based on the criteria used, but, in general, adolescents from larger towns (>60,000 inhabitants) showed the highest percentages of overweight, whereas rural populations showed the lowest percentages.
Subject(s)
Humans , Rural Areas , Nutritional Status , Adolescent , Overweight , Obesity , Body Weights and MeasuresABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Nutrition is one of the pillars for proper body development and optimal nutritional status. Anthropometric methods are most commonly used for body composition analysis and are an essential part in the assessment of the nutritional status of individuals and population groups. This study aims to assess the nutritional status of adolescents from Extremadura (Spain); to determine variations in body composition according to the percentiles obtained; and to propose these values as a reference to the nutritional status of the adolescent population in Extremadura. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross sectional study in the community of Extremadura was performed, including a total of 816 students of Secondary School Education of both sexes; and of all ages in the adolescence stage. The selected secondary schools belonged to populations of different sizes (less than 5,000 to more than 60,000 inhabitants). From the measurements taken, different anthropometric indices were determined and the percentiles 3, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95 and 97 for weight, height and complexion were found. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There were significant gender differences for height, weight, triceps skinfold, arm muscle area and arm fat area. Boys showed greater figures for height, weight and arm muscle area; however, the triceps skinfold and arm fat area was higher in girls. When compared to other national studies, the average height of our population was lower by about 3 cm in both sexes; the average weight was similar, but our adolescents had a higher proportion of fat in the arm. Extremadura girls seem to have a faster growth, reaching final height at an earlier age than the national average, although this height is below average. The boys had a continuous growth in all ages, maintaining national averages.
Antropometría. Composición corporal. Adolescentes. Percentiles. Estado nutricional.
Subject(s)
Anthropometry , Nutritional Status/physiology , Adolescent , Body Composition , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Spain/epidemiology , StudentsABSTRACT
Antecedentes y objetivos: Una correcta alimentación es uno de los pilares para un adecuado desarrollo corporal y un estado nutricional óptimo. Los métodos antropométricos son los más utilizados para el análisis de la composición corporal y constituyen una parte fundamental en la valoración del estado nutricional de individuos y poblaciones. Este estudio tiene como objetivo valorar el estado nutricional de adolescentes extremeños, determinar las variaciones en la composición corporal de acuerdo a los percentiles obtenidos, y proponer esos valores como referencia del estado nutricional de la población adolescente en Extremadura. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico en la Comunidad Extremeña, incluyendo un total de 816 estudiantes de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria y Bachillerato, de ambos sexos y de todas las edades que comprende la adolescencia. Los centros educativos seleccionados pertenecían a poblaciones de diferentes tamaños (de menos de 5.000 a más de 60.000 habitantes). A partir de las medidas tomadas, se determinaron distintos índices antropométricos y se hallaron los percentiles 3, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95 y 97 del peso, la talla y la complexión. Resultados y conclusiones: Se encontraron diferencias significativas en varios parámetros en función del sexo. Los chicos presentaban una mayor altura, peso y área muscular del brazo; por el contrario, el pliegue tricipital y el área grasa del brazo fue mayor en las chicas. Al comparar con estudios nacionales, la altura media de nuestra población era inferior en unos 3 cm en ambos sexos. El peso fue similar, pero presentaban una mayor proporción de grasa en el brazo. Las chicas extremeñas parecen tener un crecimiento más rápido, alcanzando la altura definitiva a una edad más temprana que la media nacional; sin embargo, la talla final es menor a la media. Los chicos presentaban un crecimiento más continuado en todas las edades, con medias en altura similares a las nacionales (AU)
Introduction and objectives: Nutrition is one of the pillars for proper body development and optimal nutritional status. Anthropometric methods are most commonly used for body composition analysis and are an essential part in the assessment of the nutritional status of individuals and population groups. This study aims to assess the nutritional status of adolescents from Extremadura (Spain); to determine variations in body composition according to the percentiles obtained; and to propose these values as a reference to the nutritional status of the adolescent population in Extremadura. Material and methods: A cross sectional study in the community of Extremadura was performed, including a total of 816 students of Secondary School Education of both sexes; and of all ages in the adolescence stage. The selected secondary schools belonged to populations of different sizes (less than 5,000 to more than 60,000 inhabitants). From the measurements taken, different anthropometric indices were determined and the percentiles 3, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95 and 97 for weight, height and complexion were found. Results and conclusions: There were significant gender differences for height, weight, triceps skinfold, arm muscle area and arm fat area. Boys showed greater figures for height, weight and arm muscle area; however, the triceps skinfold and arm fat area was higher in girls. When compared to other national studies, the average height of our population was lower by about 3 cm in both sexes; the average weight was similar, but our adolescents had a higher proportion of fat in the arm. Extremadura girls seem to have a faster growth, reaching final height at an earlier age than the national average, although this height is below average. The boys had a continuous growth in all ages, maintaining national averages (AU)
