THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POSTURAL AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN

The aim of the research is to determine the postural status, nutritional status, and their interrelationship, as well as to identify differences in relation to gender dimorphism. The research methods used in this study are observational and descriptive with a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from a sample of 177 participants from the preschool institutions in the city of Bijeljina. The study included 92 female partici-pants and 85 male participants, aged six years (6±0.5). The postural status was asse-ssed using the Napoleon Wolanski method and nutritional status using standardized calibrated instruments that served to calculate the BMI. To determine the relationship between nutritional and postural status, the Spearman correlation coefficient was used, while the chi-square test was applied to determine differences in postural status with regard to gender dimorphism. The study found no significant relationship between nutritional and postural status in preschoolage children, regardless of gender dimorphism. However, it revealed a high prevalence of postural disorders and overweight among the children. Participating in appropriate and organized physical activity during preschool and leisure time is crucial for children's health, requiring consistent observation and evaluation of relevant factors.