Impact of socio-economic level differences on anthropometric structures of students at the age of 8-10

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to compare anthropometric characteristics of students attending the third grade of primary schools and having different socio-economic structures. The study covered 197 students with a low level of income (Group 1), 205 students with a middle level of income (Group 2) and 158 students with a high level of income (Group 3) on voluntary basis (560 students in total). Participants were measured for their anthropometric characteristics. Comparison of the groups was made by means of the student t test for independent groups. The study revealed that the girth of shoulders, chest, upper arm, lower arm, wrist, femur, knees, lower leg and ankles as well as the length of upper arm, lower arm and lower leg were higher in Group 3 whereas the circumference of waist and hip as well as the length of bust and upper leg were higher in Group 2 and the difference was statistically significant. It was also found that body height and weight was the lowest in Group 1. As a conclusion, life qualities and nutritional habits are considered to be influential in the differences in anthropometric characteristics of students with different socioeconomic structures. Nevertheless, further studies with multiple repetitions and more subjects are needed. © IDOSI Publications, 2014.