Secular trends in BMI, excess weight and body fat skinfolds in Peruvian children living at high altitude

Background: There is limited evidence on secular trends in adiposity among high-altitude children. Aims: To describe secular trends in body mass index (BMI), excess weight and body fat skinfolds (SKF) among Peruvian children living at high altitude and to investigate the risk for excess weight in 2019 relative to 2009. Subjects and methods: We sampled 1585 Peruvians aged 6–11 years from the Junín region. Height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated. WHO cut-offs were used to classify children by weight status. The sum of SKF was used for analysis. BMI and sum SKF were log-transformed. Two-factor ANOVA and post-hoc contrasts were used together with trend plots for BMI_log and SKF_log. Relative risks for excess weight were estimated with 95% confidence intervals. All analyses were done in STATA. Results: BMI_log and SKF_log means increased in both sexes from 2009 to 2019, with age-specific variation. Between 2009 and 2019, BMI values shifted from near P50 to P75 on WHO percentiles for both sexes in most age groups. The risk of excess weight was not significantly higher for most children in 2019 compared to 2009. Conclusions: Positive secular trends in BMI_log and SKF_log were observed, with significant increases at specific ages.