Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Childhood growth stunting is negatively associated with cognitive and health outcomes, and is claimed to be irreversible after age 2.Aim
To estimate growth rates for children aged 2-7 who were stunted (sex-age standardised z-score [HAZ] <-2), marginally-stunted (-2 ≤ HAZ ≤-1) or not-stunted (HAZ >-1) at baseline and tracked annually until age 11; frequency of movement among height categories; and variation in height predicted by early childhood height.Subjects and methods
This study used a 9-year annual panel (2002-2010) from a native Amazonian society of horticulturalists-foragers (Tsimane'; n = 174 girls; 179 boys at baseline). Descriptive statistics and random-effect regressions were used.Results
This study found some evidence of catch-up growth in HAZ, but persistent height deficits. Children stunted at baseline improved 1 HAZ unit by age 11 and had higher annual growth rates than non-stunted children. Marginally-stunted boys had a 0.1 HAZ units higher annual growth rate than non-stunted boys. Despite some catch up, ∼ 80% of marginally-stunted children at baseline remained marginally-stunted by age 11. The height deficit increased from age 2 to 11. Modest year-to-year movement was found between height categories.Conclusions
The prevalence of growth faltering among the Tsimane' has declined, but hurdles still substantially lock children into height categories.
SUBMITTER: Zhang R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5392255 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Annals of human biology 20160629 4
<h4>Background</h4>Childhood growth stunting is negatively associated with cognitive and health outcomes, and is claimed to be irreversible after age 2.<h4>Aim</h4>To estimate growth rates for children aged 2-7 who were stunted (sex-age standardised z-score [HAZ] <-2), marginally-stunted (-2 ≤ HAZ ≤-1) or not-stunted (HAZ >-1) at baseline and tracked annually until age 11; frequency of movement among height categories; and variation in height predicted by early childhood height.<h4>Subjects and ...[more]