Abstract
© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. 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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 304-315 |
Journal | Annals of Human Biology |
Volume | 43 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Jul 2016 |
Keywords
- Growth faltering
- public health
- social epidemiology
- stunting
- Tsimane’