[Influence of socioeconomic conditions in the nutritional changes and at rest metabolic rate in school children living in shantytowns of the city of São Paulo, Brazil].
OBJECTIVE
A cross-sectional study was carried out to characterize the alterations in the resting metabolic rate (RMR), and socioeconomic conditions of 15 stunted (DP= height/age < 95% and 110% (3) weight/height >90%) and 15 nonstunted (EU= height/age > 95% and 110% (3) weight/height >90%) school girls living in shantytowns of São Paulo.


METHODS
Resting metabolic rate was measured using indirect calorimetry. Socioeconomic data was collected during home visits by administration of a questionnaire.


RESULTS
The mildly stunted group had a higher RMR when expressed as Kcal/kg body weight (EU= 40,5 Kcal/kg/day; DP=44,4 Kcal/kg/day; p<0.05) and lean body mass (EU= 49, 2 Kcal/kg/day; DP=52,5 Kcal/kg/day; p<0.05). Stunting was associated with maternal illiteracy (EU= 13,3%; DP=57,1%; p<0.05), income per capita (EU=US$107,14; DP=US$54,40; p< 0.05), number of parasites per child (EU=0; DP=1; p<0.05), birth order (EU=2; DP=4; p< 0.05), and number of siblings (EU=4; DP=6; p<0.01). Stunting was best predicted by income per capita and maternal illiteracy by using multiple logistic regression.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the two groups had normal weight/height, the group with mild stunting showed socioeconomic and metabolic alterations, typical of a malnourished condition.
Grillo
L P
LP
Departamento de Fisiologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP.
Carvalho
L R
LR
Silva
A C
AC
Verreschi
I T
IT
Sawaya
A L
AL
D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012146:Rest; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors