title: Relative height and weight among children and adolescents of rural southwestern Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are few data describing the relative height and weight patterns of children and adolescents in rural Nigeria, despite a prevalence of stunting of over 38% among children younger than 5 years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study documented the height and weight patterns relative to international standards among children and adolescents aged 5-20 years in rural Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children 5-20 years of age were enrolled from two rural villages. Height and weight were measured; body composition was estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. z-scores and centiles for height and body mass index were calculated; prevalences of low relative height (i.e.>2 standard deviations below mean for age and sex) and weight by sex and age were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 623 participants (326 male and 297 female) were enrolled. The mean height-for-age z-score for males younger than 19 years was -2.1 and prevalence of low relative height was 50%. Among females, the mean height-for-age z-score was -1.2 during adolescence; only 15% of adolescent females were of low relative height. Based on BMI-for-age, 37% of the adolescent males and 23% of females were underweight. No children or adolescents were overweight based on BMI-for-age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low relative height and underweight occur in a large proportion of children and adolescents in rural Nigeria, with the lowest relative heights and weights occurring in mid-adolescence and among males.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics/Institute of Child Health, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Omolola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ayoola
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ebersole
authors.forename: Olayemi O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Omotade
authors.forename: Bamidele O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Tayo
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Brieger
authors.forename: Kabiru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salami
authors.forename: Lara R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Dugas
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012015:Reference Standards; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*