Growth performance of affluent Indian children is similar to that in developed countries.
OBJECTIVE
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in order to determine whether an affluent population in south Delhi had a growth performance similar to that in developed countries and to identify socioeconomic factors that militated against optimal growth in this group.


METHODS
The weights and lengths of 395 children aged 12-23 months and the heights of 331 mothers and 153 grandmothers were measured and information was obtained on family socioeconomic status and child-feeding practices. Children born prematurely, i.e. before 37 weeks of gestation, and those with illness adversely affecting growth, were excluded from the analysis, as with the NCHS/WHO reference population.


RESULTS
In 341 children included in the analysis, the mean Z-scores for weight-for-age, length-for-age and weight-for-length were -0.45, -0.28 and -0.32 respectively. About 6% of the children were underweight (weight-for-age Z-score < or =-2), 3% were stunted (length-for-age Z-score < or =-2), and 4% were wasted (weight-for-length Z-score < or =-2). The factors that were significantly associated with higher length-for-age were one or both parents having 17 years or more of education (mean length-for-age Z-score -0.17) and non-vegetarian diet (mean length-for-age Z-score - 0.18). No socioeconomic factors were associated with mean weight-for-length.


CONCLUSIONS
The children in this affluent population were close to the NCHS/WHO reference population with regard to anthropometric indicators. The subpopulation with higher parental education had even better growth. It is intended to include this subpopulation in the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study.
Bhandari
Nita
N
Department of Paediatrics, Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease and Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India. community.research@cih.uib.no
Bahl
Rajiv
R
Taneja
Sunita
S
de Onis
Mercedes
M
Bhan
Maharaj K
MK
D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors