Obesity as a risk factor for artherial hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: Today's lifestyle is characterized by increased intake of calories with reduced physical activity, which benefits a real epidemic of obesity in the population. The increase in the prevalence of hypertension in the population follows a significant increase in the prevalence of obesity. Parallel to the trend of increasing the number of older population with increased cardiovascular disease. THE AIM: The aim of our study was to determine the value of body mass index and determine the correlation of obesity and arterial hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in family medicine Clinic of the Primary Health Care Center Zenica. Out of 600 patients of both sexes aged over 18 years, randomly are formed groups of 188 patients with hypertension and 189 patients without hypertension of the same gender and same age. The study included patients with primary or essential hypertension, and excluded patients with secondary hypertension, hypertension due to renal disease, pheochromocytoma, coarctation of the aorta, as a result of taking oral contraceptives, corticosteroids, and cocaine. We used the method of anthropometric measurements (body weight, body height from which is calculated the body mass index) measurement of blood pressure with the statistical data processing at the significance level of p <0.05. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The increased value of BMI in the sample with hypertension are present in much higher percentage (87.23%), compared to the tested sample without hypertension (60.10%). In patients with hypertension, the highest percentage (51.06%) of the respondents has the BMI in range between 25 and 30, then BMI in the range between 30 and 35 (25%). BMI of 35-40 have 6.38% of patients, and 3.72 patients BMI over 40. In patients without hypertension was significantly smaller percentage of respondents in the previous group (39.15%) with a BMI in the range 25-30, then BMI in the range between 30 and 35 (18.51%). BMI of 35-40 had 3.17% of respondents, and 1.05% of patients had BMI over 40. Correlation between groups of patients with and without hypertension compared to the value of BMI indicate the presence of strong positive correlation (Rho = 0.737). Correlation between groups of subjects with hypertension and without hypertension compared to triglycerides was statistically significant (Rho = 0.123).

[Knowledge and practice of dietary salt usage]. / Znanje i praksa koristenja soli u ishrani.

AIM: In this study, we investigated current knowledge and practice of dietary salt usage in patients treated at Sarajevo University Hospital Center. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 300 patients were interviewed by use of a questionnaire containing 22 questions. RESULTS: One-member and two-member families used mainly 200 grams salt per month, three-member and bigger families used 500 grams salt monthly. Different types of seasoning blend (like Vegeta) were used in quantities of 100 grams in one-member families, and 200-500 grams in bigger families. Considering that a healthy individual takes about 10.0% of salt through natural foods, 75.0% through treated foods and 15.0% by adding salt at the table, we decided to conduct this study by use of a questionnaire. Considering the consumption of salted and smoked meat, there was some variation: 26.0% (mainly one-member families) did not consume this kind of meal at all, whereas 16.6% (six-member families) consumed salted and smoked meat 4 times or more per week; 60.3% of study subjects associated salt with kidney diseases, hypertension, heart diseases, thyroid gland and diabetes. As a food supplement, salt is very important for healthy digestion, regulation of body fluid and nervous system functioning, while as a iodine carrier salt plays an important role in the prevention of goiter. The average quantity of salt for normal population is 6 grams daily, but some authorities suggest less, i.e. 3-4 grams daily. Lower salt means lower risk of hypertension and osteoporosis development. CONCLUSION: The average quantity of salt per family member varies and decreases with family growth, but is generally higher than recommended by the WHO. This problem has to be addressed through education, health education and additional research.

[Characteristics of nutrition status of elementary age of Tuzla's region]. / Osobitosti nutritivnog statusa osnovnoskolske djece na podrucju Tuzlanskog kantona.

Nutrition status is a reflection nutrition process. For assessment of the nutrition status most valuable data are the physical weight, height and the skin pleat thickness. It is quiet impossible to review the influence of malnutrition on health by medical statistics, because the nutritive deficits are mostly not followed by medical interventions or consultations. For qualitative assessment of the nutrition status we depend to use a large number of methods, because one method only can not give realistic picture of real nutrition status. Final goal is to determinate value of the parameters which speaks for nutrition status of elementary school children for the Canton of Tuzla, give a assessment of nutrition status depending of dietary anamnesis, determinate the relation of increased BMI and nutrition, and finally predict the need for preventive activity. Research has been with 1.554 examinees, by the age of 8, 10, and 14 years, on four counties of Canton of Tuzla, which were picked up randomly. For examination anthropometric measurements were used, a questionnaire. For both sexes is characteristic that there is an increase of height and weight between the age of 10 and 14. It shows that female examinees by the age of 14 are smaller, but heavier than male examinees. Female examinees of any age have a higher value of skin pleat thickness around biceps, triceps, subscapular and abdomen muscles, just like the BMI. T-test did not show any significant difference (P > 0.05) of average values of physical weigh, height, skin pleats between male and female. Based on questionnaire we concluded that 21 % examinees are suffering malnutrition, dietary nutrition have 48.3% examines and 30.5% have normal nutrition. Implication of malnutrition which leads ton increase of BMI is significant for female examinees. Using all measured parameters and questionnaires about nutrition, we concluded that females suffer a higher risk of diseases related to increase of BMI, so preventive activities are mending to start in early age diseases related to increase of BMI, so preventive activities are mending to start in early age.

[BMI of the children attending elementary schools in Tuzla Canton]. / BMI kod djece osnovnoskolskog uzrasta na podrucju tuzlanskog kantona.

BMI is frequently used in different studies as indicator of nutritional status. When BMI exceeds the limit values then it represents the risk factor leading to different diseases; therefore it is important to calculate BMI for young persons. In cases when BMI differs from the recommended value it is necessary to apply different measures in order to prevent diseases. The aim of this paper was to assess the present status and on the basis of the result obtained to assess the need for eventual preventive activities leading to healthy life stytes. This study was performed on a sample of 1544 school boys and girls aged eight, ten and fourteen attending first, third and seventh class of elementary school. The study covered four municipalities of Tuzla Canton: Tuzla, Lukavac, Gradanica and Kladanj, and both urban and rural areas. We used the method of anthropometric measurement (IBP International Biological Program) of body mass and body height, followed by calculation of BMI and statistical evaluation. This study found that the average BMI of girls and boys is increasinglongitudinally with the age, with significant change between 10 years and 14 years, without significant gen der difference. Boys aged eight have BMI 15.76, len years 16.52 and are similar to the BMI of girls aged eight 15.44 and ten years 16.59. Fourteen-year-old girls have BMI which is 19.54, higher than the BMI of boys at the same age which is 18.75. Having in mind the range of BMI percentile values for normal nutritional status (from 5 to 85) the values for eight years old boys ranged from 14.1 to 19.4, for ten-year-old boys from 13.4 to 19.2, and for fourteen-year-old boys from 13.6 to 19.5. The values for girls showed the following results; for eight-year-old girls the value ranged from 13.9 to 20.6; for ten-year-old girls t'rom 13.5 to 20.5 and fourteen-year-old girls from 13.7 to 19.6. In the sample there was 6.6% underweight children, and 15.2% overweight children, but the portion of overweight individuals is bigger in the sample of fourteen-year-old children. This fact leads to the need for permanent education of the overall population, focusing on children and youth and healthy life styles highlighting correction of diet.

[Trends in diet and nutritional status in elementary school children in the Tuzla Canton]. / Trendovi u ishrani i nutritivni status osnovnoskolske omladine na podrucju Tuzlanskog kantona.

Harmonious physical and mental development of children and youngsters depend on the proper diet as one of the basic conditions of growth and development. Feeding to a great extent effects children's health and their future working capability. Feeding process can be perceived through nutritive status whose most valuable and accessive data are on body mass, height and thickness of skin wrinkles. On the basis of BMI, i.e. its centile values, critical values of overweight and obesity can be easily determined. The research aim was to see nutritional status and habits in the secondary school children in Tuzla Canton, then to analyze anthropometric parameters (body weight, body height); to determine BMI values, to standardize curves, to establish obesity frequency in children. The research was performed on the sample of 1544 children both sexes, in the first, third and seventh class involving four Tuzla-Canton municipalities: Tuzla, Lukavac, Gracanica and Kladanj. The research was performed by a questionnaire and anthropometric measurements in respect to IBP (International Biological Programme). Presence of brown bread in the primary school pupils' food is insufficient (5.8-10.7%). They consume fruit and vegetables mostly two times a day, milk is not consumed by 7.5-12.3% of boys and 8.4-28.4% of girls. As for meat, chicken is mostly consumed, fish a little and insufficient. Period between the third and seventh class is characterized by expressive increase in height and weight, what is the outcome of the adolescent jump. BMI value increases with age and exceeds limits of normal weight, thus obesity increases with age. In the seventh class obesity is present in 48.35% of boys and in 30.77% of girls. The above discussed trends in nutrition and obesity presence as the risk factors, require an urgent pass of the Action Programme for food and feeding on the state level, which would give a special importance to health promotion from this point of view.

Birth order influence on the anthropometric properties of the boys from Tuzla region (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Birth order and its effect on growth and development of children and youths have rarely been studied so far. The objective of this research was an analysis of the birth order effects on some anthropometric properties of the boys 11-16 years old. The sample consisted of 748 boys from the Tuzla region. As the sample included very few boys born as the third, forth, or fifth child, we decided to consider only the differences in the mean values for some anthropometric parameters between the groups of the first- and the second-born. Measurements were taken according to IBP and the following parameters were investigated: body height, body mass, chest circumference, upper arm circumference, upper leg circumference, sitting height, arm length, leg length, pelvis width, shoulders width, length and width of head. We established that in most generations the firstborn boys have larger mean values for most anthropometric variables in comparison to the second-born.

Mother's age effect on the boys' anthropometric properties in the Region of Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Our objective was to establish if mother's age affects the anthropometric properties their 11 and 16 years old sons, and if the boys' BMI is satisfactory. Cross-sections, questionnaires, and statistics were used for data processing BMI (kg/m2) was presented according to the scale Quetelet's index nutritional status. Twelve anthropometric properties were researched. It was established that mother's age affects anthropometric properties in adolescent boys. The younger mothers' boys come to puberty with significantly higher mean values for most anthropometric parameters. In the course of adolescent jump, older mothers' boys have significantly higher anthropometric measures in comparison to their age boys delivered by younger mothers. After the completion of their intensive growth and development anthropometric measures in both category boys are equal or insignificantly higher in younger mothers' sons. Mother's age affects their sons' anthropometric properties of growth and development, particularly in prepuberty and puberty. After puberty that effect is not significant. According to BMI, the boys coming from the researched region make the group of underfed children. That is probably the outcome of bad living conditions, irregular and insufficient diet, stress, etc. in the course of four year aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina.