CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AND CONICITY INDEX: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY AMONG NORMAL WEIGHT, OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE SCHOOL GOING BOYS (10-12 YEARS)

Tejashree A. Joshi; Prajakta J. Nande

Volume : VI, Issue : XI, November - 2017

CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH AND CONICITY INDEX: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY AMONG NORMAL WEIGHT, OVERWEIGHT AND OBESE SCHOOL GOING BOYS (10-12 YEARS)

Tejashree A. Joshi, Prajakta J. Nande

Abstract :

The purpose of the study was to observe the difference in blood pressure and conicity index among normal weight (NW), overweight (OW) and obese (O) school going boys between the age of 10 yrs, 11 yrs and 12 yrs. Male children were purposively selected from schools in Mumbai, Nashik, Nagpur and Pune cities in Maharashtra. A total of 450 boys (50 boys from NW, OW & O category from each age group) was selected. Anthropometric measurements included standing height, body weight and waist circumference; Cooper�s 12 minute�s run-walk test was used to derive VO₂max of subjects. Blood pressure was recorded at rest. Conicity index was derived. Based on three day�s dietary recall, carbohydrates, proteins and fat intake of subjects was calculated. Energy intake was derived. The results suggest that the mean values of standing height of OW and O boys of all age groups (10 yrs, 11 yrs and 12 yrs) were lower as compared with NW boys. Mean values of waist circumference and blood pressure of OW and O boys were greater than NW boys. The OW & O subjects showed reduced aerobic work capacity. The study concluded that there is a vast difference among the school going male children between 10 yrs, 11 yrs and 12 yrs of age as far as blood pressure parameters and conicity index are concerned & conicity index was directly correlated with the blood pressure. From a public health perspective, observations in the present study suggest the importance of primary prevention of obesity from early childhood with continuation of health promotion activities throughout the course of life to control cardiovascular risks associated with overweight and obesity.