SECULAR TRENDS IN HEIGHT AND WEIGHT AMONG CHILDREN FROM NOVI SAD (SERBIA), 1971 – 2017

Tatjana Pavlica; Rada S Rakić; Boris K Popović; Valerija P Puškaš; Verica S Božić-Krstić

doi:10.5937/gads53-18722

Tatjana Pavlica University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department for Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad
Rada S Rakić University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department for Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad
Boris K Popović Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad
Valerija P Puškaš Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad
Verica S Božić-Krstić Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/gads53-18722

Abstract

The secular trend is biological indicator for assessing the degree of socio-economic development of a country. The study aims to analyze the secular trend of height and weight of 3-11 aged children in the city of Novi Sad (Serbia) in the period between 1971 and 2017. An anthropometric investigation was conducted in six time periods. The data are presented for a total of 13037 children (6969 boys; 6068 girls) on the territory of Novi Sad. The results point to a positive secular trend, although this is not observable in all ages and decades. The mean height of preschool boys and girls increased 0.21 cm and 0.11 cm per decade respectively, while in school boys and girls an increase was 0.70 cm and 0.55 cm per decade. The mean weight of preschool boys and girls increased 0.1 kg and 0.03 cm per decade respectively, while in school boys and girls an increase was 0.69 kg and 0.57 kg per decade. The magnitude of secular changes in body height and weight was not stable. These results possibly reflect a very turbulent socio-economic and political situation in the country, which began in the 1990s.

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