Anthropometry of height, weight, arm, wrist, abdominal circumference and body mass index, for Bolivian adolescents 12 to 18 years: Bolivian adolescent percentile values from the MESA study

Anthropometry is important as clinical tool for individual follow-up as well as for planning and health policy-making at population level. Recent references of Bolivian Adolescents are not available. The aim of this cross sectional study was to provide age and sex specific centile values and charts of Body Mass Index, height, weight, arm, wrist and abdominal circumference from Bolivian Adolescents. Data from the MEtabolic Syndrome in Adolescents (MESA) study was used. Thirty-two Bolivian clusters from urban and rural areas were selected randomly considering population proportions, 3445 school going adolescents, 12 to 18 y, 45% males; 55% females underwent anthropometric evaluation by trained personnel using standardized protocols for all interviews and examinations. Weight, height, wrist, arm and abdominal circumference data were collected. Body Mass Index was calculated. Smoothed age- and gender specific 3(rd), 5(th), 10(th), 25(th), 50(th) 75(th), 85(th), 90(th), 95(th) and 97(th) Bolivian adolescent percentiles(BAP) and Charts(BAC) where derived using LMS regression. Percentile-based reference data for the antropometrics of for Bolivian Adolescents are presented for the first time

Prevalence of overweight in Bolivia : data on women and adolescents

Secondary analysis of Bolivian Demographic and Health Surveys 1994, 1998 and 2003 revealed a steady raising trend in levels of overweight and obesity among women in childbearing age (20–45 years), reaching 30% and 15% respectively in 2003. Adolescents' cross-sectional data suggest that overweight and obesity are mainly found in urban areas. Applying the Bolivian body mass index-for-age reference, obesity reached 5% in adolescents, while overweight affects 9% of adolescents. This overview highlights the importance of including the prevention of weight gain among the public health nutrition policies in Bolivia