Double burden of nutritional disorders in young Iranian children: findings of a nationwide screening survey.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the national prevalence of short stature, underweight, overweight and obesity in 6-year-old Iranian children before school entry.


METHODS
Cross-sectional nationwide survey.


METHODS
Mandatory national screening programme before entrance to elementary school in 2008 in Iran.


METHODS
All Iranian children entering public and private elementary schools.


RESULTS
The study population comprised 862,433 children (48.4% girls, 77.2% urban resident). Overall, 6.5% of children had short stature, 19.1% were underweight, 12.8% were overweight and 3.4% were obese. There was no significant difference in terms of gender, but considerably larger differences were documented among various provinces.


CONCLUSIONS
The double burden of nutritional disorders among young children warrants a multi-faceted national policy with evidence-based local programmes. Such planning needs a comprehensive surveillance system and centralized data registry for children's growth.
Motlagh
Mohammad E
ME
Department of Pediatric Preventive Cardiology, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 81465-1148, Isfahan, Iran.
Kelishadi
Roya
R
Amirkhani
Mohammad A
MA
Ziaoddini
Hasan
H
Dashti
Marziyeh
M
Aminaee
Tahereh
T
Ardalan
Gelayol
G
Mirmoghtadaee
Parisa
P
Keshavarz
Sousan
S
Poursafa
Parinaz
P
D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*