Beverage consumption and anthropometric outcomes among schoolchildren in Guatemala.

This analysis explores the clustering of beverage patterns in a single day in private vs. public school children in urban Guatemala. This study is based on measurements taken from 356 third- and fourth-grade pupils from the highland city of Quetzaltenango. Height, weight and body mass index were assessed, and one day's intake of all foods and beverages using a pictorial workbook and dietician assisted recall. Mean differences in beverage consumption were compared for private vs. public school children and by anthropometric outcomes (stunting, overweight and obesity). Plain water was consumed by 30.9% of the children on the day intakes were measured, with higher proportions of water drinkers among private school children. Children having reported water intake on that day consumed 154 fewer kcal (-7.7%) compared with the energy intake of children not having reported water intake (P = 0.02). Significantly more children of high socio-economic status (SES) consumed dairy, fruit juice, commercial fruit juice, fruit drink and soda whereas low SES children consumed thin gruels and infusions. A key result from this study is the finding of a lower energy intake shown by children reporting water intake.

Nutritional status of urban schoolchildren of high and low socioeconomic status in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is growing in children in many developing countries, increasing chronic disease risk. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of stunting, underweight, overweight, and obesity in schoolchildren 8 to 10 years old who were of high or low socioeconomic status (SES) in Quetzaltenango, which is the second largest city in Guatemala. METHODS: Between April and June 2005 we conducted a cross-sectional survey among 583 children in private and public elementary schools, in which we measured height and weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 height-for-age z-scores, weight-for-age z-scores, and body mass index-for-age centiles were used to define stunting, underweight, overweight, and obesity. RESULTS: Mean height, weight, and body mass index were significantly higher in the 327 children of high SES than in the 256 children of low SES, across sexes and age groups. The prevalence of stunting was significantly higher in low-SES children than in high-SES ones (27.0% vs. 7.3%, P < 0.01) , and this was also true for underweight (14.1% versus 4.6%, P < 0.01). In contrast, the prevalence of overweight (17.7% versus 10.5%, P < 0.01) was higher in high-SES children than in low-SES ones; the same was true for obesity (14.4% versus 2.3%, P < 0.01). The prevalence of stunting among children of low SES, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children of high SES far exceeded the CDC 2000 reference ranges. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of both stunting and excess body weight was found in this urban Guatemalan population, with notable contrasts between social classes. The obesity among high-income children indicates that the city is undergoing the nutrition transition, with further implications for future risks related to chronic disease. Nutrition and health interventions are needed to reduce these risks.

Determination of central body fat by measuring natural waist and umbilical abdominal circumference in Guatemalan schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Obesity prevalence is rising in many developing countries, also among children. Waist circumference (WC) is a good measure of central obesity. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to compare umbilical waist circumference (UWC) and natural waist circumference (NWC) in children between socio-economic status (SES) and between sex; to describe correlations between body mass index (BMI), UWC and NWC; and to compare waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) between stunted and non-stunted children. STUDY POPULATION AND METHODS: We measured height, weight and waist circumference at the natural and at the umbilical level in 583 boys and girls aged 8 to 10 years of two different social strata in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. RESULTS: Mean UWC and mean NWC (cm) were significantly larger in high SES than in low SES children (66.6 vs. 62.7, p<0.001, and 62.6 vs. 59.8, p<0.001, respectively). Boys had a larger mean NWC than girls (62.8 vs. 60.3, p<0.001). The mean difference between UWC and NWC (UWC-NWC) was larger in high SES and in boys. Overall, Pearson correlation of BMI vs. NWC is high (r=0.902, p<0.001), of BMI vs. UWC is higher (r=0.919, p<0.001) and of NWC vs. UWC is highest (r=0.965, p<0.001). The proportion of WHtR>/=0.500 was significantly higher in non-stunted than in stunted boys (p=0.03) and in high SES as compared with low SES children (p<0.001). Results for mean WHtR were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, in Quetzaltenango high SES, non-stunted schoolchildren are most likely to have a centralized body fat pattern.

Nutritional status of urban schoolchildren of high and low socioeconomic status in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala / Estado nutricional de escolares urbanos de niveles socioeconómicos alto y bajo en Quetzaltenango, Guatemala

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is growing in children in many developing countries, increasing chronic disease risk. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of stunting, underweight, overweight, and obesity in schoolchildren 8 to 10 years old who were of high or low socioeconomic status (SES) in Quetzaltenango, which is the second largest city in Guatemala METHODS: Between April and June 2005 we conducted a cross-sectional survey among 583 children in private and public elementary schools, in which we measured height and weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 height-for-age z-scores, weight-for-age z-scores, and body mass index-for-age centiles were used to define stunting, underweight, overweight, and obesity. RESULTS: Mean height, weight, and body mass index were significantly higher in the 327 children of high SES than in the 256 children of low SES, across sexes and age groups. The prevalence of stunting was significantly higher in low-SES children than in high-SES ones (27.0 percent vs. 7.3 percent, P < 0.01) , and this was also true for underweight (14.1 percent versus 4.6 percent, P < 0.01). In contrast, the prevalence of overweight (17.7 percent versus 10.5 percent, P < 0.01) was higher in high-SES children than in low-SES ones; the same was true for obesity (14.4 percent versus 2.3 percent, P < 0.01). The prevalence of stunting among children of low SES, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children of high SES far exceeded the CDC 2000 reference ranges. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of both stunting and excess body weight was found in this urban Guatemalan population, with notable contrasts between social classes. The obesity among high-income children indicates that the city is undergoing the nutrition transition, with further implications for future risks related to chronic disease. Nutrition and health interventions are needed to reduce these risks.

OBJETIVO: En muchos países en desarrollo se elevan las prevalencias de sobrepeso y de obesidad en niños, con el incremento del riesgo de enfermedades crónicas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar las prevalencias de retraso en el crecimiento, peso bajo, sobrepeso y obesidad en escolares de 8 a 10 años de edad de niveles socioeconómicos (NSE) alto o bajo en Quetzaltenango, la segunda mayor ciudad de Guatemala. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal entre abril y junio de 2005 en el que se midió el peso y la talla de 583 niños de escuelas primarias privadas y públicas. Para evaluar el retraso en el crecimiento, el peso bajo, el sobrepeso y la obesidad se utilizaron como referencias las puntuaciones z de la talla para la edad y del peso para la edad y los centiles de los índices de masa corporal para la edad, propuestos por los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de las Enfermedades (CDC) de los Estados Unidos de América en 2000. RESULTADOS: La talla, el peso y el índice de masa corporal medios fueron significativamente mayores en los 327 niños de NSE alto que en los 256 niños de NSE bajo en todos los grupos de edad y sexo. La prevalencia de retraso en el crecimiento fue significativamente mayor en los niños con NSE bajo que en los de NSE alto (27,0 por ciento frente a 7,3 por ciento; P < 0,01), al igual que la prevalencia de peso bajo (14,1 por ciento frente a 4,6 por ciento, P < 0,01). En contraste, la prevalencia de sobrepeso fue mayor en los niños con NSE alto que en los de NSE bajo (17,7 por ciento frente a 10,5 por ciento, P < 0,01), al igual que la prevalencia de obesidad (14,4 por ciento frente a 2,3 por ciento, P < 0,01). Las prevalencias de retraso en el crecimiento en los niños de NSE bajo y de sobrepeso y obesidad en los de NSE alto fueron mucho mayores que las referencias establecidas por los CDC en el año 2000. CONCLUSIONES: Se encontraron elevadas prevalencias de retraso en el crecimiento y de peso corporal excesivo en esta población urbana de Guatemala, con notables contrastes entre las clases sociales. La obesidad en los niños de familias con ingresos elevados indica que la ciudad está experimentando la transición nutricional, con las implicaciones que con lleva para los riesgos de enfermedades crónicas en el futuro. Se requieren intervenciones nutricionales y de salud para reducir esos riesgos.