Stunted Growth - Example

Example

One study conducted in a rural area in Zimbabwe illustrates the impact malnutrition has on growth. The area is known for poor farming conditions and prevalent malnourishment. Children ages 6–17 in the area were assessed for height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). The data recorded was compared with both American and other African countries average heights. Compared with the American averages, the Zimbabwean boys' height and weight dropped as low as the 10th percentile in some age groups and showed no sign of catch-up growth during the mid-teens. Zimbabwean girls' height and weight were not as low, but did drop as low as the 25th percentile. However, catch-up growth did occur during mid-teens and by 16 and 17, the girls average was close to the 50th percentile. Olivier, Semproli, Pettener, and Toselli, sums it up by saying that "the adverse socioeconomic environment and the low levels of food availability compromise and probably delay the physical development of the affected children in all phases of growth." Also, these data support the theory that lower than average size at early ages could be due to an adaptive mechanism reacting to low food intake.