Almost every fifth child and adolescent participating in organized sports displayed critically low body fat levels. Body fat needs to be assessed regularly in young athletes, to prevent negative consequences on health.

SUMMARYAim: To determine the main anthropometric parameters and their changes during the 20th and early 21st centuries for children aged 5-6 and to analyze the nutritional level of the population based on percentage.Methods: 536 healthy Latvian 5 and 6 year old children were randomly selected and a cross sectional survey was carried out. To collect anthropometric data, the height and weight of each child was measured and BMI calculated. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov Goodness-of-Fit test was used to assess the distribution of data; it was concluded, that the data for both boys and girls in both analyzed age groups fits a normal distribution. Using a t-test statistical tool, the results were compared to our previous study (1998/1999) and to the most significant national anthropometric investigations of the 20th century.Results: During the last decade, the mean values of height and weight (for both boys and girls) have increased in both age groups. The mean BMI value increase for 6 year old boys and girls was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The BMI mean values for 5 year old boys and girls have decreased (p<0.05). In both age groups the highest percentage of children are of normal weight. In the past 10 years the proportion of 5 year old underweight children has increased, but the proportion of overweight children has decreased percentage-wise. In all analyzed age groups a little tendency towards increase of the percentage of obese children can be observed. Conclusion: Positive secular changes were observed in body height and weight during the past decade (p<0.01) and century. The increase in BMI at the beginning of the 21st century in comparison to the end of the 20th century may possibly be facilitated by the increased occurrence of overweight, obesity and related diseases in Latvian children. However, the number of underweight children has increased in the last decade as well.

Background and Objective. According to the data of epidemiologic research, the prevalence of both excessive and insufficient body weight is increasing in a pediatric population leading to the growing burden of health problems due to these changes. The aim of the study was to understand the current situation of physical development of 9- and 10-year-old boys and girls in Latvia and to estimate the prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obesity among young adolescents. Material and Methods. During 2007–2009, a random sample of healthy 9-year-old (n=184) and 10-year-old (n=320) children from all regions and different socioeconomic groups of Latvia was surveyed in a cross-sectional study. The anthropometric measurements of height, weight, 3 circumferences, and 5 skinfolds were performed. The percentage of body fat was calculated by the equation of Slaughter et al. Body mass index and fat mass index were calculated for each respondent. Children were divided into groups according to these indexes. At the age of 9 years, 69.5% of boys had a normal nutritional level either by BMI or FMI, and 54.5% and 72.2% of the girls of the same age had a normal nutritional level by BMI and by FMI, respectively. Obesity according to BMI in 9-year-old boys was found to be 4.7% and in girls 6.1%; according to FMI, 3.7% and 2.3%, respectively. A similar trend was also observed in the cohort of 10-year-old children. Conclusions. The results of the research showed that the problem of high prevalence of Latvian children with underweight is not smaller than the problem of children with obesity. Evaluation of physical development in children based only body mass index may lead to overdiagnosis of obesity.

Physical activities are important for everyone in order to keep the physical preparedness and support an adequate level of life quality. Physical activities of young people -students are basis for keeping health capacity, working ability, developing business and carrier, and providing economic and social stability. Sport activities are very popular nowadays. Anyone can choose various sport activities that are suitable and available, that favour physical fitness and increase health status. Physical activities usually are planned during leisure time and weekends. We have provided a questionnaire about physical activities of student groups in period from 2012 till 2016. Studies have indicated the number of smokers, assessed results of questionnaire about physical activity, the body mass, body heights, and anthropometric indices. Results reflected that general physical activity level (in scores) in examined groups -part time studentswere low for female and moderate for male. Recent research suggests that a significant percentage of students didn't get adequate physical activity. We fixed increased numbers of individuals of both genders who have no any sports activity in the last years. The mean value of body mass index (BMI) for male was above standard. The amount of physical activity of working people has dropped and the resulting poor physical condition is becoming a threat to their working ability, health and well-being. Contemporary life style is connected to full time job that reduces the time dedicated to physical activities. The consequences of physical inactivity are associated to multiple health related problems. Musculoskeletal pathology is one of the most common work-related health problem, as well as an important cause of morbidity for population. It is an inflammatory and degenerative ailment that affects all individuals in working age. The aim of the study is to determine and evaluate the daily physical activities and their general level for the part-time students, give characteristic of anthropometric parameters for part time students.Keywords: physical activity of students, body mass index value, health and fitness of students, adult education.

The compulsory part of the individual life is physical activity. The physical activity is important for maintenance health capacity. Physical activity includes various kinds of components: physical activity during the leisure time (during the week days and weekend days), physical activity at home and in working place and physical activity during the transference from home to other place. Intensity of the physical activity could also be various from low to moderate and till high. Respondent of study groups were partly time students from Riga Medical College (RMC), n = 41, and from Riga Teacher Training and Education Management Academy (RTTEMA), n = 37. Respondents were students of both genders aged from 19 years till 53 years. We have provided the assessment of the principal anthropometric characteristics (height and body mass) as well the anthropometric indices (body mass index (BMI)) and physical activity level questionnaire for students. Analysis of the data of physical activity questionnaire revealed that the average physical activity for students from RMC corresponded to low level of physical activity. The respondents from RRTEMA have moderate level of physical activity.