title: Effectiveness of a supplementary feeding program in child weight gain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of a governmental supplementary feeding program in child weight gain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study including secondary data on 25,433 low-income children aged between six and 24 months, participating in a fortified milk distribution program known as Projeto Vivaleite, was performed in the state of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, between 2003 and 2008. Weight gain was measured using weight-for-age z-score values, calculated according to the World Health Organization standards (2007). These values were obtained in the program routine, when a child started it and every four months during their stay. Children were divided into three z-score groups when starting the program: weight gain not compromised (z>-1); risk of low weight (-2< or =z <-1); and low weight (z<-2). Multilevel linear regression (mixed model) was used, enabling the comparison, at each age, of adjusted mean z-scores between children starting the program and those who had been participating for at least four months, adjusted for correlation between repeated measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The program had a positive effect on child weight gain, varying according to child nutritional status when starting this program; among those who started it with weight gain not compromised, the mean adjusted gain z-score was 0.183; among those with risk of low weight, 0.566; and among those with low weight, 1.005.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The program is effective for weight gain in children younger than two years, with a more pronounced effect on children who start the program under less favorable weight conditions.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. rosanut@usp.br
authors.forename: Rosângela Aparecida
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Augusto
authors.forename: José Maria Pacheco de
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009313:National Health Programs; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A; D014807:Vitamin D