La presente investigación se fundamenta en un estudio exploratorio-descriptivo, de corte transversal o sincrónico, sobre el crecimiento somático y composición corporal en escolares de educación básica en el municipio de Pereira (Risaralda), que tuvo por objeto determinar, con el beneficio de la antropometría, el perfil somatométrico característico de la población en estudio. A partir de allí, caracterizar morfológicamente al escolar pereirano y, a la vez, diseñar y/o implementar estrategias que permitan aminorar las diferencias somáticas o de composición corporal interindividuales encontradas entre los grupos escolares estudiados. Se tuvieron en cuenta variables básicas antropométricas (masa corporal, talla, diámetros biacromial y bicrestal, perímetro de muslo en las niñas y de antebrazo en niños) y se aplicó el protocolo de Wutschrek (1973) modificado por Siret y colaboradores (1990) en cuanto está demostrado que las diferencias del tamaño corporal de los individuos que pertenecen a una misma población o a poblaciones distintas, representan uno de los aspectos más importantes en el estudio del desarrollo humano.This research is based on an exploratory-descriptive, cross-sectional or synchronic, on somatic growth and body composition in primary school children in the town of Pereira (Risaralda), which was designed to determine the benefit of anthropometry, somatometric characteristic profile of the population under study. From there, Pereira, morphologically characterize the school and, in turn, design
and / or implement strategies to reduce somatic interindividual differences or body composition found among school groups studied. Were taken into anthropometric basic variables (body mass, height, biacromial and biiliac diameters, thigh girth in girls and forearm in children) account and protocol Wutschrek (1973) as amended by Siret et al (1990) was applied as it is shown that differences in body size of the individuals belonging to the same population or different populations, represent one of the most important in the study of human development aspects. The study was conducted with a sample, statistically representative, random, school population of 578 children belonging as public education sector, the level of basic education, the biological development is part of the childhood stage comprising 6-12 years of chronological age, fragmented into two subgroups according to gender (347 boys and 231 girls). The results found in anthropometric indicators show among girls regarding age,
prevalence of wasting and obesity for both groups being highest in the first group of girls (0.17%) than in children (0.052%) . The results found here are challenges to social and educational policies in order to protect and improve the health status of school children in the region
