Physical growth and nutritional status of Mexican infants from newborn to two years of age

OBJECTIVE: To determine the nutritional status of Mexican infants under two years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five nutritional surveys, three being representative of the nation, were assessed using several anthropometric indicators, with reference to the WHO 2006 growth standard. RESULTS: From national surveys, the incidence of low birth weight ranged from 8.9 to 8.1% and was higher in rural areas. At two years of age, the prevalences of stunted growth, wasting and being overweight ranged from 25.6 to 16.1%, 4.5 to 1.9% and 6.3 to 10.8%, respectively, between 1988 and 2006. The combination of being overweight with stunted growth increased with age, particularly in rural areas. Figures presented in non-national surveys compared with national surveys demonstrate a lower incidence of low birth weight, similar levels of stunted growth, being overweight and obesity, and a little higher for wasting. CONCLUSION: Policies are required to be implemented to prevent nutritional diseases associated with stunted growth, being overweight and obesity.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Flores-Huerta,Samuel, Klünder-Klünder,Miguel, Muñoz-Hernández,Onofre
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública 2012
Online Access:http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0036-36342012000700011
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