Body composition indicators of 7-14 year Andibila children in Oju, Nigeria

Abstract

Anthropometry provides a useful indicator, both for growth and nutritional assessment. The Andibila is an isolated population living at the Andibila mountain characterized by aboriginal lifestyle. Their anthropometrical profile is undocumented. This study presents the anthropometric and body composition profiles of Andibila children living on a mountain in Oju, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 76 boys and 44 girls aged 7-14 years. Anthropometric measurements, including body mass, stature and skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, supraspinale and medial calf) were taken. Body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM) and subscapular/triceps skinfold ratios (STR) were calculated. The mean values for triceps, subscapular, supraspinale and medial calf skinfolds were significantly (p = 0.001; p < 0.05) higher in girls compared to the boys. Percentage body fat, fat mass and sum of skinfolds were significantly higher (p = 0.001; p < 0.05) in girls compared to the boys. The STR as an index of fat patterning did not yield any significant gender difference (p = 0.346; p > 0.05). The prevalence of overweight was 1.2% and underweight 36.3%. Andibila children have a low level of adiposity whether assessed by BMI, skinfold percent body fat or STR. Obesity was absent, and only few were overweight. The data of the present study could serve as baseline data for further studies on anthropometric and body composition of Andibila children.

Keywords: Body mass index, overweight, body composition, rural children.