Trends in growth and obesity in ethnic groups in Britain.

AIM: To estimate trends in growth for 5 to 11 year old ethnic minority and inner city children and comparative representative samples from 1983 to 1994. DESIGN: Mixed longitudinal. SUBJECTS: At each of six surveys, more than 2000 inner city white, 1500 Urdu or Punjabi speaking, 5000 English representative white, 3000 Scottish representative white, and around 1000 Afro-Caribbean, 500 falling to 300 Gujarati speaking, and 260 increasing to 300 other Indian children. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Height, weight for height, and triceps skinfold thickness. RESULTS: Height increased in all inner city groups by approximately 1.5 cm, but group differences were maintained. Trends in triceps skinfold varied, but increased by 4-12% in Indian subcontinent girls. Weight for height increased generally. Inner city white children showed conflicting trends in weight for height and fatness. CONCLUSIONS: Afro-Caribbean children are maintaining their tall, slim build, but other groups emphasise the diversity of obesity patterns in a multi-ethnic society, with a predominant trend towards greater obesity. Monitoring of these groups should continue.

Etiology of childhood diarrhea and oral rehydration therapy in northeastern Brazil.

PIP: This study was conducted from January 1977 to June 1978 in Fortaleza, Brazil, to evaluate the oral rehydration treatment recommended by the World Health Organization for children admitted with acute diarrhea; admission peaked in January-March of both years and children treated came from the lowest socioeconomic strata of the popultion. Initial treatment consisted of intravenous administration of normal saline or 5% glucose with saline solution; intravenous therapy was continued until objective signs of improvement were evident. Of the 53 children observed 24 continued with intravenous therapy, and 29 were administered oral rehydration therapy with a glucose-electrolyte solution containing 90 milliequivalent per liter of sodium ion. Mean age in the intravenous and in the oral groups were 10 and 8 months, respectively. The major symptoms were feverishness and vomiting. Stools from 37 patients were examined for disease agents; enterotoxigenic E. coli were identified in stools from 27% of these patients; ST-producing E. coli in 21.6%, and LT-producing E. coli in the remaining 5.4%. During the initial rehydration period there were no significant differences between the 2 groups as to duration of therapy or amount of fluid given. During the subsequent study period members of the oral treatment group required significantly less fluid and less treatment than members of the intravenous group, average amount of fluid required per kg of body weight being 67.3 ml in the intravenous group, and 32.3 ml in the oral group. Progress toward a normal level of consciousness was significantly greater among members of the oral rehydration group; the mothers of the children were able to administer the oral therapy quite effectively, thus saving time for physicians and nurses.^ieng