Stunting is associated with wasting in children from the semiarid region of Alagoas, Brazil

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2008-06, Vol.28 (6), p.364-367
• Main Authors: Ferreira, Haroldo S, Florêncio, Telma M.M.T, Vieira, Evla F, Assunção, Monica L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropometry; Biological and medical sciences; body mass index; Body Size - physiology; Brazil - epidemiology; Chi-Square Distribution; child nutrition; Child Nutrition Disorders - complications; Child Nutrition Disorders - epidemiology; Child, Preschool; diet-related diseases; Failure to Thrive - complications; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; growth retardation; health status; Humans; Infant; kwashiorkor; Malnutrition - complications; North-eastern Brazil; Nutritional status; overweight; Overweight - complications; Overweight - epidemiology; Preschool children; semiarid zones; Socioeconomic Factors; Stunting; toddlers; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Wasting; wasting syndrome; Wasting Syndrome - complications
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2008.03.006

Abstract Stunting is one of the most widespread forms of undernutrition found in Brazilian children. Some studies have revealed an association between this condition and overweight, whereas others report an association with wasting. The objective of this work was to test the hypothesis that stunted children who live in the semiarid region of Alagoas (Brazil), one of the poorest areas of the country, tend to exhibit wasting and not overweight. The study followed a transversal design that involved a probability sample (n = 480 children