ANTHROPOMETRIC INDICATORS OF THINNESS AND OVERWEIGHT AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
Introduction. The prevalence of thinness and obesity among children is a serious public health problem. Countries face a double burden of malnutrition. The study of the prevalence of these conditions among children in the Republic of Kazakhstan and in the context of the country's regions is essential for healthy nutrition policy.
Aim. To study the prevalence of thinness, overweight and obesity among primary school children in the Republic of Kazakhstan and in the regions of the country.
Materials and methods. A cross sectional study was conducted in 2020. The height and weight of primary school children aged 6-9 years (boys: 49.6%) from a nationally representative sample (n=6851) were measured within Childhood obesity surveillance initiative (COSI) survey. The 2007 WHO cut-offs were used to calculate body mass index for age Z-scores and to estimate the prevalence of thinness, overweight and obesity.
Results. The prevalence of thinness in the Republic was 5.0%. In the context of regions, the highest indicators of thinness were found in Kyzylorda (8.3%), Almaty (7.7%) and Mangystau (7.7%) oblasts.
Overweight (including obesity) is more common among forms of malnutrition in Kazakhstan - 20.6%. The highest prevalence of overweight was found in Kostanay 29.3%, East Kazakhstan 27.1% oblasts, and the lowest - in Zhambyl oblast (11.3%).
The proportion of obese children was 6.6%, including 1.6% with severe obesity. The highest rates of obesity were found in North Kazakhstan (13.5%) and Kostanay (12.0%) oblasts.
Significant gender differences were revealed in the prevalence of overweight (23.6% boys and 17.6% girls), obesity (8.7% boys and 4.6% girls) and severe obesity (2.5% boys and 0.6% girls).
Conclusions. Overweight is a common phenomenon among children of primary school age in the Republic of Kazakhstan, especially among boys. Comparable prevalence rates of thinness and obesity suggest presence of a double burden of malnutrition. The survey results emphasize the need to respond to the malnutrition issue among children and develop policies to combat malnutrition and obesity at the national and local levels.
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Abdrakhmanova Sh.Z., Slazhnyova T.I., Adayeva A.А., Imasheva B.S., Aringazina A.M., Akimbayeva A.А., Suleimanova N.А. Anthropometric indicators of thinness and overweight among primary school children in the Republic of Kazakhstan // Nauka i Zdravookhranenie [Science & Healthcare]. 2021, (Vol.23) 6, pp. 76-87. doi 10.34689/SH.2021.23.6.009Related publications:
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