HEIGHTS AND WEIGHTS OF URBAN AND RURAL SCHOOL CHILDREN IN IRAN

Abstract

Anthropometric Measurements is a simple and reliable tool for assessment of nutritional status of children. In this study height and weight of 23,170 middle class school children of 6-14 years in the city of Shiraz and four rural areas were measured. Results showed no difference among the rural and urban children. They were close to the third percentile of Boston standard for height and weight for the age. While height and weight of middle class school children in Tehran are reported to be close to fiftieth percentile of the Boston standard, similar patterns of growth have been reported from similar countries. Our results confirm close correlation between socio-economic development and child physical growth. Evaluation of weight for height in our sample showed that 19.3 per cent of children in the city and 16.8 per cent in rural areas were nutritionally at risk. And relative risk was higher below ten years of age. Therefore twenty bottom percent of younger school children in provinces are to be given highest priority in nutrition intervention programs in school.