EVALUATION OF ANTHROPOMETRIC CHANGES IN 9-10 YEARS OLD CHILDREN IN TIRANA

Introduction: Childhood is a fundamental phase shaping in human development. The aim of this study is to evaluate anthropometrics growth in children aged 9-10 years old in height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) in 5 schools city Tirana of Albania and to compare them with World Health Organization references from 2007 for children's BMI. In this study we have involved 5 primary schools in Tirana, with the representative sample of 456 students (aged 9-10 years), where 196 were boys and 260 girls. Assessments of Body Height (BH cm), Body Wight (BW kg) and Body Mass Index kg/m2 (BMI) of participants were performed. Results: We have found out growth in height, weight, and body mass index for all the children 9-10 years that we have measure, which are part of the schools around the city center of Tirana, the capital of Albania. The results of this study show that the comparison between boys and girls presents significant changes (p ≤ 0.05 ٭ (for these age groups. In Conclusion we can say that growth charts are a benchmark for following trends in cities and are also an optimal clinical tool for health care. We recommend that this type of study is important to be extended in all the schools in Tirana city and to be implemented in every school year at the beginning and in the and of the academic year in order that the researcher to have more data`s related to children growth.