Variations in Estimates of Underweight, Stunting, Wasting, Overweight and Obesity in Children from Argentina Comparing Three Growth Charts

PADULA G; SEOANE AI; SALCEDA SA

PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION.

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2011

1368-9800

Objective: To compare estimates of underweight, stunting, wasting, overweight and obesity based on three growth charts. Design: Cross-sectional study to estimate weight-for-age, length/height-for-age and weight-for-height comparing the World Health Organization Standard (WHO, 2006), the National Center for Health Statistics Reference (NCHS/WHO, 1977) and the Argentine Pediatric Society Committe of Growth and Development Reference (APS, 1987). Cut-off points were defined as mean values ± 2 standard deviations. Epi Info 6.0 software was used for statistical evaluations (P = 0.05). Setting: Greater La Plata conurbation, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Subjects: A total of 2644 healthy, full-term children from 0 to 5 years of age. Results: Prevalence was higher based on the WHO standard than with the APS and NCHS references (underweight, 2.31 and 2.94; stunting, 1.49 and 1.71; P < 0.001). Prevalence of wasted (1.79; P < 0.05), overweight (4.96; P < 0.001) and obese (3.63; P < 0.01) children was also higher when comparing the WHO standard with the NCHS reference. Conclusion: Total prevalence differed substantially according to the set of references used. The new WHO growth charts would be more reliable, allowing the earlier detection of nutritional problems.