Undernutrition of children in Massachusetts.
Over the past 10 years, seven separate studies of children at risk from undernutrition in Massachusetts have been performed. The surveys have ranged from a statewide health center-based investigation to a house-to-house survey in a public housing project. All included children between 1 and 6 years of age. Chronic undernutrition was defined as a height-for-age less than the 5th percentile of the National Center for Health Statistics growth charts, and acute undernutrition was defined as a weight-for-height less than the 5th percentile. The prevalence of chronic undernutrition was greater than expected in four surveys, whereas no acute undernutrition was observed. The prevalence of obesity, defined as a weight for height greater than the 95th percentile, was increased in four of the seven surveys. These data suggest that chronic undernutrition is increased among children at risk in Massachusetts.
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New England Medical Center, Pediatric Gastroenterology/Nutrition, Boston, MA 02111.
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services; D005006:Ethnicity; D005380:Financing, Government; D005522:Food Services; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008404:Massachusetts; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status