CHANGES IN HEIGHT, WEIGHT, AND BMI AMONG ALBANIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN: A COMPARISON BETWEEN 2013 AND 2024
CHANGES IN HEIGHT, WEIGHT, AND BMI AMONG ALBANIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN: A COMPARISON BETWEEN 2013 AND 2024

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the anthropometric parameters (body height, body weight, and BMI) over an 11-year period (2013 and 2024) on boys and girls in elementary school children in Tirana, Albania. Data was collected (third and fourth grade) from a total of 139 children in 2013 (71 boys and 68 girls) and 138 children in 2024 (66 boys and 72 girls). Statistical analysis revealed that for boys, there were no significant differences in body height, body weight, or BMI across the two years’ generations (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). In contrast, for girls, significant increases were observed in body height (p = 0.000) and body weight (p = 0.003) in the fourth grade between 2013 and 2024, though BMI did not show significant differences (p > 0.05). In summary, although both boys and girls have shown increases in body weight, the changes seem to be more noticeable in younger boys (third grade) and older girls (fourth grade). The notable rise in height among females in the fourth grade raises the possibility that current cohorts are growing earlier or more quickly than those in 2013. Nonetheless, the fact that BMI has not changed significantly suggests that the proportionate link between height and weight has stayed mostly constant.

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