The changes of body mass index, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 4-7-year-old Belarusian children during 1990-2000
To follow the dynamics of body mass index, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 4-7-year-old Belarusian children: time dynamics (the years 1990-2000) and space dynamics (in different cities in comparison with the world trends). The calculations and analysis were done on the base of the data on body length and mass of 1285 4-7-year-old children, who were examined at the beginning of the 1990 (in Minsk, Grodno, Brest, Baranovichi, Pinsk); and the same data in 2020 children, who were examined at the beginning of the 2000 (in Minsk, Zhodino, Krichev, Buda-Koshelevo, Ivenets). Anthropometry was done according to the standard measurement procedure. The diagnostics of overweight and obesity was done with the help of percentile tables of body mass index, worked out by T. J. Cole et al. (IOTF) and M. F. Rolland-Cachera et al. (ECOG). The comparison was done using t-criterion by Student and ч <sup>2</sup>-criterion. According to the data of 1990-2000 there was no increase of prevalence of overweight and obesity among 4-7-year-old children in Belarus. Moreover, for the past 20 years there is observed the opposite tendency - decrease of the number of children with overweight and obesity. In 2000 in different regions of the world there were observed different trends: significant increase of the number of children with overweight and stabilization of the situation. There was also the tendency to decrease as in Belarus. Among the world and European countries Belarus may refer to those where the level of overweight and obesity is quite low (Lithuania, Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden). The problem is very sharp in Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Greece, Cyprus), in southern Poland (Krakow) and in the countries of North America (the USA, Canada). BMI reaches critical values in girls more often than in boys, and more often it is observed in boys of the younger age groups (4-5 year old). Gender differences are the same in other countries: overweight and obesity are more typical for girls. At the same time age peaks of overweight prevalence significantly vary in different authors. Evidently, this problem should be considered in a larger age interval (for ex., from 3 to 18 years and so on). The level of prevalence of overweight and obesity in 4-7-year-old children from different regions of Belarus tended to decrease during 1990-2000. It is one of the lowest levels among European and world countries. Further monitoring of the situation is needed.