Abstract

FLORES-HUERTA, Samuel; KLUNDER-KLUNDER, Miguel  and  MUNOZ-HERNANDEZ, Onofre. Physical growth and nutritional status of Mexican infants from newborn to two years of age. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2012, vol.54, suppl.1, pp.s82-s89. ISSN 0036-3634.

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.

Keywords : low birth weight; nutritional status; overweight and obesity; Mexico.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in English     · English ( pdf )