Proposal of percentiles to evaluate physical growth and body adiposity as a function of maturity status in chilean children and adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: during childhood and adolescence there is great individual variability in growth and biological maturation, resulting in differences in size, shape and body composition in children and adolescents of similar age. Objective: to propose percentiles to assess physical growth and body adiposity as a function of maturity status (SM) in Chilean children and adolescents. Methods: a descriptive (cross-sectional) study was designed in 7,292 children and adolescents (4214 boys and 3084 girls) from the Maule region (Chile). The age range was 6.0 to 17.9 years. Weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were evaluated. Body mass index (BMI), waist-height index (WHtR) and SM were calculated through a non-invasive anthropometric technique based on chronological age and standing height. The LMS method was used to calculate percentiles. Results: the SM calculated in boys was observed at 13.7 ± 0.6 APHV (years of peak growth speed) and in girls at 12.1 ± 0.6 APHV. Percentiles were created for weight, height, WC, BMI, and WHtR. All anthropometric variables increase as MS increases in PHV years. Conclusion: the proposed percentiles are an alternative to evaluate physical growth and body adiposity as a function of SM in Chilean children and adolescents. The results suggest the use of this non-invasive technique to be applied in clinical and epidemiological contexts.