Evaluation of the Predictive Factors of Anthropometric Indices in Boys Aged 9 to 11 years in Isfahan City, Iran, during the Years 2015 and 2016

Obesity in children and adolescents is a complicated health problem that causes serious complications at younger and older ages, including diabetes and heart diseases. Obesity depends on many factors at an early age. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the predictive factors of anthropometric indices in boys aged 9 to 11 years in Isfahan City, Iran, during the years 2015 and 2016.
This study was carried out on 282 students aged 9 to 11 years. After obtaining student's satisfaction and recording demographic data, their height and weight were measured and their body mass index (BMI) was recorded. Besides, indicators of physical activity, socioeconomic status, and nutritional status were also recorded. Chi-square and ANOVA tests were used to compare the data.
Findings: 41 (14.5%), 171 (60.6%), 42 (14.9%), and 28 students (9.9%) had body mass index of less of than 5, 5 to 85, 85-95 (overweight), and over 95 percentiles (obese), respectively. It was also found that only high socioeconomic and high levels of education for parents, as much as the self-employment of fathers had significant correlation with obesity and overweight in children (P Considering the high prevalence of obesity and overweight in children aged 9 to 11 years, the identification and screening of risk factors in children is very important in order to prevent obesity and overweight among them.