title: Brain development and scholastic achievement in the Education Quality Measurement System tests in Chilean school-aged children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Head circumference (HC), the anthropometric index of both brain development and nutritional background, has been described to be significantly associated with scholastic achievement (SA). The aim of this study was to determine the impact of nutritional background and current nutritional status parameters on SA in the Education Quality Measurement System (SIMCE) tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of 33 schools was randomly chosen in the Metropolitan Region of Chile. The sample consisted of 1,353 school-aged children of both sexes, from the fifth grade of elementary school and from the first grade of high school who in 2009 took the SIMCE tests. Nutritional status was assessed through anthropometric parameters. Brain development was measured through the HC expressed as HC-for-age Z-score (Z-HC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students with Z-HC < -2 SD and >2 SD obtained low and high SA, respectively, both in the language and the mathematics tests (P < 0.001). In general, in both grades, those students with Z-HC ≥ 0 SD increase more than double the probability to obtain language and mathematics SA scores ≥ the median (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm the hypothesis that HC is the most relevant physical index associated with SA; therefore, children with the lowest scores in the SIMCE tests probably have lower brain development.
authors: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Daniza M
authors: DM
authors: Ivanovic
authors: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Camila V
authors: CV
authors: Ibaceta
authors: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Paulina B
authors: PB
authors: Correa
authors: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Yasna Z
authors: YZ
authors: Orellana
authors: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Patricio M
authors: PM
authors: Calderón
authors: Public Health Department, University of La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
authors: Gladys I
authors: GI
authors: Morales
authors: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Bárbara D
authors: BD
authors: Leyton
authors: Laboratory of Physical Anthropology and Human Anatomy, Institute of Biology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile.
authors: Atilio F
authors: AF
authors: Almagià
authors: Laboratory of Physical Anthropology and Human Anatomy, Institute of Biology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaiso, Chile.
authors: Pablo A
authors: PA
authors: Lizana
authors: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Raquel A
authors: RA
authors: Burrows
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000886:Anthropometry; D001077:Aptitude Tests; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002677:Chile; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students