title: Evolution of the nutritional situation of indigenous and non-indigenous Chilean schoolchildren.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Latin American countries show accelerated but ethnically or socially differentiated changes in their epidemiological profiles.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study examined the evolution of the nutritional situation (1997-2005) in Chilean schoolchildren as related to ethnical origin (Mapuche).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using official databases, stunting (height/age <or= - 2 z-scores), undernutrition (body mass index (BMI) <or= - 2 z-scores) and obesity (BMI >or=95 percentile) were ascribed in first-grade schoolchildren. Ethnic groups were assigned by native parents' surnames (none, one and two).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on 1 757 155 children (average age: 76.3 months), in 1997 stunting reached 8.4%, 4.8% and 3.1% in children with two, one and no Mapuche surnames, respectively. In 2005 it fell to 3.7%, 3.1% and 2.6% - a marked decrease in those with two Mapuche surnames (p<0.001). Obesity in 1997 was 11.8%, 12.8% and 13.3%, whilst in 2005 it changed to 17.5, 18.5 and 18.6%, respectively, demonstrating a similar trend to obesity in all groups (p=0.153). Undernutrition was rare (<1.1%) and stable. Poverty decreased clearly among the Mapuche population in this period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The marked decrease in stunting in children with a strong indigenous background seems related to a decrease in poverty over the period. Yet, the increase of obesity in all groups deserves further analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. pbustos@med.uchile.cl
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bustos
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amigo
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population; D012922:Social Change; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*