Secular trends in growth and nutritional status of Mozambican school-aged children and adolescents

Fernanda Karina Dos Santos, José A.R. Maia, Thayse Natacha Q.F. Gomes, Timóteo Daca, Aspacia Madeira, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, António Prista

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine secular changes in growth and nutritional status of Mozambican children and adolescents between 1992, 1999 and 2012.

Methods: 3374 subjects (1600 boys, 1774 girls), distributed across the three time points (523 subjects in 1992;1565 in 1999; and 1286 in 2012), were studied. Height and weight were measured, BMI was computed, and WHO cut-points were used to define nutritional status. ANCOVA models were used to compare height, weight and BMI across study years; chi-square was used to determine differences in the nutritional status prevalence across the years.

Results: Significant differences for boys were found for height and weight (p<0.05) across the three time points, where those from 2012 were the heaviest, but those in 1999 were the tallest, and for BMI the highest value was observed in 2012 (1992<2012, 1999<2012). Among girls, those from 1999 were the tallest (1992<1999, 1999<2012), and those from 2012 had the highest BMI (1999<2012). In general, similar patterns were observed when mean values were analyzed by age. A positive trend was observed for overweight and obesity prevalences, whereas a negative trend emerged for wasting, stunting-wasting (in boys), and normal-weight (in girls); no clear trend was evident for stunting.

Conclusion: Significant positive changes in growth and nutritional status were observed among Mozambican youth from 1992 to 2012, which are associated with economic, social and cultural transitional processes, expressing a dual burden in this population, with reduction in malnourished youth in association with an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere114068
Pages (from-to)e114068
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume9
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Dec 2014
Externally publishedYes

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