ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN ADOLESCENTS FROM REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA

Biljana Stojanoska Bojadzieva; Niki Matveeva; Biljana Zafirova; Elizabeta Chadikovska; Biljana Trpkovska; Jovana Kordoska; Irina Angelovska; Sava Pejkovska; Ivana Kavecan; Anita Dimcheva; Emilija Antova

Biljana Stojanoska Bojadzieva 1Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University – Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Niki Matveeva Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University – Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Biljana Zafirova Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Elizabeta Chadikovska Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University – Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Biljana Trpkovska Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University – Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Jovana Kordoska Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University – Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Irina Angelovska 2University Clinic of pulmonology and allergology-Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Sava Pejkovska 2University Clinic of pulmonology and allergology-Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Ivana Kavecan Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
Anita Dimcheva Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Skopje,Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Emilija Antova University Clinic of Cardiology, Skopje, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate ethnic differences of nutritional status among the adolescents from Republic of North Macedonia. This study included 2386 adolescents (1762 of Macedonian ethnic group and 624 of Albanian ethnic group) of both sexes, at the age from 11 to 18 years. Body height and weight were measured using standard equipment and measurement technique. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated (kg/m²) as anthropometric indicator for evaluating nutritional status in adolescents.We found ethnic differences in nutritional status in both male and female adolescents of both Macedonian and Albanian ethnic group. The percent of underweight adolescents in the first group at the age from 11 to 14 years and in the second group at the age from 15 to 18 years was higher in Albanian adolescents in both sexes.On the other hand males and females of Macedonian ethnic group were with higher percent with risk of obesity and overweightwith BMI>95^thpercentile. There were statistically significant differences in nutritional status in adolescents of both ethnic groups in Republic of North Macedonia and the obtained values in our study are recommended to be applied for better understanding of deviations in growth and nutrition in both ethnic groups.

Key words: adolescents, ethnic groups, nutritional anthropometry, body height, body weight

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