Anthropometric characteristics of Indian school children living in Bahrain

A cross-sectional study was carried out among Indian school children residing in Bahrain to assess their physical growth. The total sample of 1,437 Indian school children (718 males and 719 females) aged 6-18 years were selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Anthropometric measurements included measurement of height, weight, mid-arm circumference, biceps, triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac skinfold thickness.

Median height of the boys was between the 10th and 25th percentile of the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) standard growth charts. In girls, the height varied between the 5th and 25th percentile, dipping to nearly the 5th percentile at 14 years. Median weight of the boys fluctuated between the 25th and the 50th percentile of the standard data and in girls, weight fluctuated between the 25th and 50th percentile. Girls had a higher mean body mass index (BMI) and body fat compared with the males at all age groups. The median BMI for both groups was between the 50th and 75th percentile of the standard charts. The median triceps skinfold in males was above the 85th percentile at 17 years, whereas in females, skinfold thickness was steady between the 50th and 85th percentiles of the growth charts.

Compared with their Bahraini counterparts, two distinct growth patterns were evident. When compared with early data, the Indian children were taller and heavier than their Bahraini counterparts. However, comparison with later data showed a reversal, whereby the Bahraini children were taller and heavier with a corresponding higher BMI.