POSTURAL AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF STUDENTS FROM URBAN AND SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT

Ksenija Radaković, Branka Protić-Gava, Tijana Šćepanović, Mića Radaković, Maja Batez and Milan Kojić
Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia


Abstract

Monitoring postural and nutritional status is very useful for sheding light on problems in the
process of growth and development of children. The aim of this study was to determine the
difference in postural status of younger-aged school children of urban and suburban
environment according to their nutrition.
Research sample included 497 male and female pupils from Novi Sad (251) and suburban
environment (246), aged 11 and 12. Postural status was assessed using the method of
somatoscopy and nutrition level with BMI calculator. The relation between the category of
nutrition and the incidence of postural disorders was tested using a chi-square test at the
significance level of p≤0.05.
The results show a statisticaly significant difference in pupils in terms of sagittal spine plane,
chest and feet according to their nutritional status. Lordotic bad posture (p=0.008), right
lumbar scoliosis (p=0.007), high arch foot (p=0.043) and flat feet (p=0.007) were the most
frequent postural disorders in the normal weight pupils. The incidence of kypholordotic
posture (p=0.005) and flat-chest (p=0.002) was significantly higher among pupils from
suburban environment. The incidence of kypholordotic posture (p=0.012) was significantly
higher in over-nourished pupils from the suburban environment.
Postural disorders and nutritional abnormalities significantly increase in children of the urban
and suburban environment. Therefore, it is necessary to provide adequate conditions and
include them in an organized physical exercise in order to prevent the occurrence of postural
disorders and disorders of the nutritional status.

Key words: postural disorders, nutritional status, elementary school, urban and suburban
environment.



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