A Study on Pre-School Children’s Body Mass Index
T.Mukunthan
P.SenevirathnaDept. Early Childhood and Primary Education
Faculty of Education
The Open University of Sri Lanka
31.03.2012
Out Line
• Introduction
• Problem
• Objectives
• Sample
• Data Collection
• Findings
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
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Introduction
• Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height
• BMI = Weight in Kilograms (Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters)
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Introduction ( Continue)
• BMI is a reliable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens
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Introduction (Cont.)
Category BMI RangeUnder Weight less than 18.5
Normal Weight 18.5 to 24.9
Over Weight 25 to 29.9
obesity more than 30
Problem
• Overweight in children has become a matter of growing concern
• In developed societies, several studies have shown increasing numbers of overweight children
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Objectives
• To find the pre-school children’s BMI category
• To find the relationship between the students’ BMI and their family background.
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Sample(Children belong to 4 years and 5 years age range)
Gender Pre school
Boys Girls Total
1 31 34 65
2 29 32 61
Total 60 32 126
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Data Collection Methods
The children’s weight and height were measured in kilo gram (kg) and meter
BMI calculated used the formulaBMI = Weight in Kilograms
(Height in Meters) x (Height in Meters)
Students Social information collected by the interview of the parents and teachers
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Findings BMI BOYS GIRLS TOTAL
Under Weight
40(31%) 51(40%) 91(71%)
Normal 18(14%) 13(10%) 31(24%)
Over Weight
02(1.6%) 04(3.4%) 06(5%)
Total 60 68 12804/12/23 Faculty of Education-OUSL 10
BMI Category Pecentage
Under Weight
Normal Weight
Over Weight
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71%24%
5%
BMI Category and Gender
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Low Weight Normal Weight Over Weight
Boys
Girls
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BMI Vs. Social background
• 85% of the children out of the low weight stay at the day care centres after the school hours. Both parents these children are go to work
• Only 2% of the children out of the underweight categories are staying at the daycare centers
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BMI Vs. Social background
• 92% of the children under low weight category come from high socio-economic states family
• 82% of the children from the normal weight category are from the low income families
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Conclusions
• These results indicate that, more students are in the underweight category
• Most of the children staying at the daycare centres are in the underweight category
• Children’s BMI is not dependent in family income
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Recommendations
• Conduct awareness Programme to the Parents with the help officials from the MOH office.
• Prepare diet list for children and give to the parents
THANK YOU
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