BMI Patterns and Academic Progression: A Study of Primary School Boys

Introduction: Childhood obesity is a global health concern, necessitating research on Body Mass Index (BMI) patterns among primary school children. This study investigates BMI trends across academic progression among primary school boys in Jashore District, Bangladesh. The study aims to analyze BMI patterns and their association with academic progression among primary school boys, informing interventions for obesity prevention and management. Method: Data were collected from 300 boys in Classes 1 to 5 across urban, suburban, and rural schools. Height, weight, and BMI were measured using standardized methods. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, tests of normality, and non-parametric tests. Results: The findings revealed a progressive increase in weight with advancing academic classes. Significant differences were observed between Class 1 and all other classes (p < .05), indicating that weight varied significantly across academic levels. Additionally, significant differences were found between Class 2 and Classes 3, 4, and 5, as well as between Class 3 and Classes 4 and 5. However, the difference between Class 3 and Class 4 was not statistically significant (p = .095). Similar to weight, height exhibited a progressive pattern with increasing academic classes. Significant differences were detected between Class 1 and all other classes (p < .05), indicating significant variation in height across academic levels. Furthermore, significant differences were observed between several pairs of classes, except for Class 2 and Class 3, where the difference was not statistically significant (p = .192). The study also found a progressive trend in BMI growth with higher academic classes. Significant differences were observed between Class 1 and all other classes (p < .05), as well as between Class 2 and Classes 4 and 5, and between Class 2 and Class 3. However, no significant difference was found between Class 3 and Class 4 (p = .914). Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of monitoring BMI trends to inform interventions promoting healthy growth and development among primary school boys. This research contributes valuable insights for obesity prevention and management strategies in Jashore District.