The epidemic of obesity affected most of the countries by the beginning of the 21st century. However, the data on the prevalence of obesity among children in Russia are insufficient and were obtained using different methods. Objective. To assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children from Russia and neighboring countries using metaanalysis. Materials and methods. We analyzed 56 publications that involved 355,905 children and adolescents aged 1–19 years from Russia and neighboring countries in accordance with the Child Growth Standards, 2006 and WHO Growth Reference 2007. Data analysis was performed using the MS Excel and MedCalc software. We calculated proportions with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and odds ratios (ORs); differences were considered significant at р < 0.05. Results. More than a quarter of study participants (25.3%) were overweight or obese. Children under 7 years of age were less likely to be overweight/obese than those aged 8–19 years (р < 0.001); boys were more prone to overweight/obesity than girls (р < 0.001). Overweight was observed in 18.8% of children and was more common in boys than in girls (р < 0.001). Obesity was more prevalent among children aged >7 years than among young children (р < 0.001); it was more frequently observed in boys than in girls (р < 0.001). The prevalence of overweight varied between 3.9% and 29.1% in different groups of children depending on their age, sex, and living conditions. The prevalence of obesity varied between 1.2% and 25.3%. Conclusion. The trend in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Russian children and adolescents is consistent with the global epidemiological situation and requires more effective preventive measures. Key words: obesity, overweight, prevalence, children, adolescents, Russia

Anthropometric evaluation is an essential feature of pediatric evaluation. Different countries use different approaches in pediatric growth assessment. The article presents a comparative analysis of the body length (BL) indicators of modern school-age children in St. Petersburg with regional standards (1991) and international standards (WHO Growth Reference 2007). Anthropometric evaluation was conducted among 6207 children aged 7 to 17 years; the median, standard deviation and centile distribution of the BL values of school-age children were determined. We found that the values of BL of modern school-age children are higher than that their peers had thirty years ago; in boys, the maximum difference is found during the pubertal growth spurt; Non-parametric and parametric indicators of BL in senior pupils of St. Petersburg are higher than in the standards of the World Health Organization; in junior schoolchildren no difference was found. The data we obtained create the prerequisites for the development of modern regional standards for growth assessment of children and school-age children in St. Petersburg and their practical use for pediatric examinations.

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С целью оценки роста и развития школьников, проживающих в условиях мегаполиса, обследовано в Санкт-Петербурге 809 мальчиков в возрасте от 12 до 15 лет. Характеристика показателей физического развития дана по нормативам «WHO Growth Reference 2007»; уровня полового созревания -с помощью фенотипической оценки по методике М.В. Максимовой. Выявлена высокая распространенность у школьников избыточной массы тела (13,3%) и ожирения (12,5%). Отмечено, что инициация полового созревания у мальчиков происходит в более ранние сроки по сравнению с приведенными в литературе данными. Ключевые слова: физическое и половое развитие, мальчики, школьники. V.L. GRITSINSKAYA, S.M. MAMEDOVA, I.L. NIKITINA «Almazov National Medical Research Centre» of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Saint-Petersburg, Russia EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND ADRENARCHE LEVEL OF PUBERTY AGE BOYS IN ST. PETERSBURG In order to assess the growth and development of schoolchildren living in a metropolis, 809 boys aged 12 to 15 years were examined in St. Petersburg. Characteristics of indicators of physical development are given according to the norms of «WHO Growth Reference 2007»; the level of puberty -with the help of a phenotypic evaluation according to the method of M.V. Maksimova. The high prevalence of overweight (13.3%) and obesity (12.5%) among schoolchildren was revealed. It is noted that the initiation of the boys' puberty occurs at the earlier time compared with the data given in the literature.

The indicators of the physical development of 3225 schoolboys from St. Petersburg from 7 to 17 years old were studied. Assessment of the level and harmony of physical development was carried out in accordance with the WHO standards («WHO Growth Reference 2007») using the program «WHO AnthroPlus». The asymmetry of body length indices with a significant representation of tall school children (1.9– 10.9 %) is established. The high level of disharmonious variants of physical development, caused by overweight and obesity (16.4-38.2%) was revealed in the schoolchildren surveyed. The necessity of developing a complex of preventive programs aimed at the formation of a healthy lifestyle, balanced nutrition and increasing the motor activity of the younger generation is substantiated.