[Infant malnutrition and obesity in two population-based birth cohort studies in southern Brazil: trends and differences]
Prevalence of anthropometric deficits and of obesity were studied in two population-based birth cohort studies in the city of Pelotas in Southern Brazil, in 1982 and 1993. All hospital delivered babies in each one-year period were identified, and samples of approximately 20% were visited at home at around 12 months of age, totalling 1,449 children submitted to anthropometric examination in 1982 and 1,359 in 1993. Losses and refusals accounted for 20% of the children in 1982 and 7% in 1993. In this 11-year period, prevalence of weight/age deficits (below -2 standard deviations of the NCHS reference) fell from 5.4% to 3.8%, while that of weight/height dropped from 1.3% to 0.8%. Height/age deficits increased slightly, from 5.3% to 6.1%, while the proportion of obese children increased from 4.0% to 6.7%. The increase in weight at 12 months was due to a more rapid weight gain in the first year, since birthweights remained unchanged. About 10% of the children from the lowest income group had weight/age or height/age deficits, compared to 3% or less of those with a high family income. On the other hand, obesity showed a direct association with income, except for the wealthiest group, where the prevalence dropped, possibly due to concern among these families about the consequences of infant obesity.
Post
CL
Departamentos de Nutrição e Medicina Social, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, 96001-970, Brasil.
Victora
CG
Barros
FC
Horta
BL
Guimarães
PR