The Incidence of Developmental Disorders Linked to Stature and Weight in the Case of Secondary School Pupils

Introduction. The development of stature and weight during puberty represents the results of complex interactions between a series of intrinsic and extrinsic factors which determine the accelerated change of the anthropometric parameters and indexes. The purpose of this study is to determine the quality of physical development in the case of secondary school pupils (in puberty) and to identify the ways in which one can intervene to improve it. Material and method. The study group consisted of a representative lot from a school in Timisoara who underwent a questionnaire with questions oriented mostly towards lifestyle, level of physical activities conducted and nutritional habits, as well as a complex protocol of somatoscopic and somatometric evaluation. Results: the values of the anthropometric parameters and indexes are situated as average values within the normal limits according to the age and gender of those investigated; still, there is a relatively high percentage of deviations from these values (concerning both dimensions), both in regard to nutritional state and in regard to the stature’s development; even though these deviations can be partially explained by the fact that the evaluated pupils were in various stages of puberty, still the presence of some unfavourable influences due to nutritional habits, a low level of physical activity and passive resting in the case of many of the pupils questioned is remarkable. Conclusions: an important part of the study group is aware of the existence of some negative aspects related to physical aspect, nutritional habits, physical activity conducted, and is willing to be counselled by specialists in these areas; there is also a small percentage of pupils who have acknowledged their problems upon being questioned for this study and is willing to address them.