GENDER COMPARISON OF BODY HEIGHT CHARACTERISTICS IN ALBANIAN CHILDREN AGED 6.5-15.5 YEARS OLD

Abstract

changes. The aim of this scientific paper is to create a references database on the current status on body height 
of Albanian children (6.5-15.5 years old) and to compare the current status of body height by gender. 
The study aimed at recruiting a large sample of Albanian children. The sample was between 6.3 and 15.7 
years old and originated from 23 schools in Albania (n = 10585). Body height was measured using a digital 
stadiometer/scale (Health O Meter Professional 500KL, Health O Meter Products Inc., Bedford Heights, OH, USA). Height was measures to the nearest 0.1 cm. The results of this study show that the comparison between boys and girls presents significant changes (p ≤ 0.05 ٭) for these age groups; boys taller than girls aged 7, 8, 8.5, 9; girls taller than boys aged 11.5- 12.5 years while boys taller than girls aged 13.5- 15.5 years, Comparison data by gender showed that boys have the highest value of the difference in the average increase in body height at the age of 15.5 years with a value of 10.5 cm (p ≤ 0.05 ٭) compared to girls while girls have the highest value of the difference in the increase in the average body height in age 11.5 years with a value of 2.6 cm (p ≤ 0.05 ٭) compared to boys.