Weight and height percentiles calculated by the LMS method in Argentinean schoolchildren. A comparative references study.

BACKGROUND: The Argentinean population is characterized by ethnic, cultural and socio-economic diversity. AIM: To calculate the percentiles of weight-for-age (W/A) and height-for-age (H/A) of schoolchildren from Argentina employing the LMS method; and to compare the obtained percentiles with those of the international and national references. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Anthropometric data of 18 698 students (8672 girls and 10 026 boys) of 3-13 years old were collected (2003-2008) from Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chubut, Jujuy, La Pampa and Mendoza. Percentiles of W/A and H/A were obtained with the LMS method. Statistical and graphical comparisons were established with the WHO (international reference) and with that published by the Argentinean Paediatric Society (national reference). RESULTS: Differences in W/A and H/A, regarding the references, were negative and greater at the highest percentiles and in most of the age groups. On average, the differences were greater for boys than girls and for national than international references. CONCLUSION: The distribution of weight and height of schoolchildren, coming from most regions of the country, differs from those of national and international references. It should be advisable to establish a new national reference based on internationally recognized methodological criteria that adequately reflect the biological and cultural diversity of the Argentinean populations.

Estudio antropométrico en escolares de sectores periféricos de la capital de Catamarca, Argentina / Anthropometric study in school-children of peripheric areas of Catamarca city, Argentina

Introducción.Las condiciones socio-económicas son factores que influyen sobre el crecimiento infantil,aceptándose en general que los niños que crecen bajo situaciones restrictivas alcanzan un crecimiento menor al de aquéllos que pertenecen a grupo socio-económicos más acomodados.El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el crecimiento en niños de escasos recursos de la ciudad capital de la provincia de Catamarca.Material y métodos.Se realizó un estudio antropométrico transversal en colegiales comprendidos entre 6 y 12 años de edad,de ambos sexos,provenientes de barrios periféricos de la capital provincial.Se revelaron las medidas de peso,estatura sentado y perímetro cefálico en una muestra compuesta por 483 varones y 365 mujeres.Se obtuvieron los promedios y desvíos estándar.Se convirtieron los valores a puntaje Z y fueron comparados con estándares nacionales de referencia.Resultados.Se observó disminución en el peso y la estatura,no así en estatura sentado y perímetro cefálico.El comportamiento de las variables fue similar en ambos sexos,distribuyéndose los valores de peso entre -0,5 y -1 desvíos estándar de puntaje Z.Conclusión.Los niños de sectores periféricos de la ciudad capital de la provincia de catamarca tienen valores medios de peso y estatura total inferiores a los estándares nacionales

Growth assessment in school children of Villa Cubas, Catamarca, Argentina

An anthropometric study of the growth in schoolchildren aged 5 to 14 years, belonging to the Villa Cubas district of the capital of the province of Catamarca, has been carried out. Villa Cubas presents average/low socioeconomic characteristics and is situated in a peripheral sector to the Center of the Capital. Male and female students have been evaluated. The measurements were turned to "Z" scores. The aims of this work were: 1) To determinate the state of growth in comparison with the national reference standards and 2) To analyze the competence of the use of such standards in the clinical and nutrition assesment in the province of Catamarca. The results showed that the body weight and height had no difference with the standards, while the siting presented higher values than the standards. The results are interpreted as a consequence of the food deficit that affected the height and the inferior height part. The standards of reference are considered to be out-of-date and inappropriate for the clinic assessment in the province of Catamarca, inasmuch as they do not show the changes that have taken place in the population in the last 20 years.