Prevalence of extreme anthropometric measurements in children from Alagoas, Northeastern Brazil

Authors

  • Haroldo da Silva Ferreira Universidade Federal de Alagoas; Faculdade de Nutrição (FANUT); Laboratório de Nutrição Básica e Aplicada
  • Sandra Cristina Moraes Luciano UFAL; FANUT

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102010005000001

Keywords:

Child, Body Weights and Measures, Growth, Child Development, Nutritional Transition, Cross-Sectional Studies

Abstract

The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of extreme anthropometric measurements in children indicative of their nutritional status. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a random sample of 1,386 children under five in the state of Alagoas, northeastern Brazil. The prevalence of deficits (z <-2; WHO-2006 standard) for weight-for-age (underweight), weight-for-height (wasting) and height-for-age (stunting) were 2.9% (n = 40), 1.2% (n = 17), and 10.3% (n = 144), respectively. Excess of weight-for-height (overweight) was seen in 135 children (9.7%). In conclusion, the prevalences of underweight and wasting are epidemiologically irrelevant and stunting and overweight have a similar prevalence.

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Published

2010-04-01

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 2 (2010)

Section

Brief Communications

How to Cite

Ferreira, H. da S., & Luciano, S. C. M. (2010). Prevalence of extreme anthropometric measurements in children from Alagoas, Northeastern Brazil . Revista De Saúde Pública, 44(2), 377-380. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102010005000001