Physical growth of schoolchildren from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil: Comparison with the CDC-2000 reference using the LMS method.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the physical growth of a representative school population sample from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in comparison with the reference proposed by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-2000).


METHODS
The sample was composed of 5100 individuals (2730 girls and 2370 boys), aged 6-18 years. Body weight-for-age and height-for-age percentiles were obtained using the LMS method. Statistical and graphical comparisons were made with the corresponding percentiles of the CDC-2000 reference, estimated using the same method.


RESULTS
Overall, the calculated values of the L (asymmetry) and the S (variability) parameters were quite similar to the CDC-2000 reference values. However, M (median) was substantially different from the reference used in the study, mainly in schoolchildren over 12-13 years of age of both genders. The magnitude of the deficits of height-for-age and body weight-for-age observed in the schoolchildren from the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, varied from 4 to 6 cm and from 3 to 6 kg, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The body weight-for-age and height-for-age percentiles of schoolchildren population in the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil differed substantially from those referenced.
Guedes
Dartagnan Pinto
DP
State University of Londrina, Paraná, Brasil. darta@sercomtel.com.br
De Matos
José Arlen Beltrão
JA
Lopes
Vitor Pires
VP
Ferreirinha
José Eduardo
JE
Silva
António José
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001938:Brazil; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002648:Child; D005843:Geography; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D012574:Schools; D014481:United States