EVALUATION OF SEX-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES OF ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABLES THAT WERE USED AS INDICATORS OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN MACEDONIAN CHILDREN

Aim. Evaluation of sex-specific differences of anthropometric varibales that were used as indicators of  nutritional status in Macedonian children aged 5. Materials and Methods. The study included 226.(113 boys and 113 girls) Macedonian children aged 5. We selected 5 anthropometrical parameters to measure (body weight, height, mid upper arm circumferences-MUAC, skinfolds thickness triceps–SFTr and subscapular-SFSc) and in addition according to the standard formulas we calculated: weight-for-age (BW), height-for-age (BH), body mass index-for-age (BMI) mid-upper-arm circumference-for-age (MUAC) and skifolds thikness (SFTr-for-age, SFSc-for-age). Results. In general results  have shown sex-specific differences in the examined parameters (BH, BW, BMI) in favour of the boys, with exception of skin-folds thickness that were higher in girls. Values of the 50th percentile in boys were as follows: 21 kg for BW, 115cm for BH, 15.48 kg/m2 for BMI, 15.5 cm for MUAC, 7mm for SFTr and 4.1mm for SFSc. The values of these parameters in girls were: 20kg for BW, 113.5 cm for BH, 15.01 kg/m2 for BMI, 7.8mm for  SFTr and 4.7 for SFSc respectively. Conclusion. These results can be used as criteria for assessment and detection of deviations in the nutritional status in Macedonian children aged 5