Modeling of Longitudinal Factors Under-Age Five Children Body Mass Index at Bahir Dar Districts: First Order Transition Model

The body mass index (BMI) is calculated as weight in kilograms divided by square height in meters ( $$ \frac{\text{kg}}{{{\text{m}}^{2} }} $$ kg m 2 ). Its formula was developed by Belgium Statistician Adolphe Quetelet, and was known as the Quetelet Index (Adolphe Quetelet in BMI formula was developed. Belgium Statistician, 1796–1874. http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_bmi/about_childrens_bmi.htm ). It provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen weight categories that may lead to health problems. BMI is an internationally used measure of health status of an individual. This study was modeling of longitudinal factors under-age five children BMI at Bahir Dar Districts using First Order Transition Model. This study was based on data from 1900 pre four visits (475 per individual) children enrolled in the first 4 visits of the 4-year Longitudinal data of children in Bahir Dar Districts. First order transition model was used to describe the relationships between children BMI and some covariates accounting for the correlation among the repeated observations for a given children. There were statistically significant (P value 0.05) effect on children BMI. According to the findings of this study about 29.28% were normal weight, 67% were under weight, 2.52% were overweight and only 1.21% were obesity. Consequently, the study suggests that concerned bodies should focus on awareness creation to bring enough food to under-age five children in Bahir Dar Districts especially in rural areas.