title: Geographical altitude, size, mass and body surface area in children (1-4 years) in the Province of Jujuy (Argentina).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Highland child populations show low growth rates.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the variation of size, mass and body surface area of Jujenean infants (1-4 years) as a function of geographic altitude.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutritional status of 8059 healthy infants was determined based on weight and height data; body mass index, ponderal index, body surface area, body surface area/mass and ectomorphy were calculated. Variables were standardized with a provincial mean and WHO references. Data were grouped by age, sex and geographic altitude: Highlands (≥2500 masl) and Lowlands (<2500 masl). Chi-square, correlation and t-tests were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Highlands infants had higher prevalence of stunting, reduced height, weight, body surface area and ectomorphy; also higher body mass index, ponderal index and body surface area/mass. The population average z-score for height, weight and body surface area was positive in Lowlands and negative in Highlands. The opposite happened with body mass index, ponderal index and body surface area/mass. In Highlands and Lowlands the average z-score reference was negative for weight and height and positive for body mass index. Correlations between indices were high and significant, higher in Highlands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Jujenean children differ in size, mass and body surface area based on the geographical altitude and adverse nutritional and socioeconomic factors.
authors.affiliation: a Instituto de Biología de la Altura, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy (UNJu), San Salvador de Jujuy , Jujuy , Argentina .|b CIT JUJUY - CONICET, San Salvador de Jujuy , Argentina .
authors.forename: Estela María
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Román
authors.affiliation: c Unidad de Investigación en Antropología Biológica, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, San Salvador de Jujuy , Jujuy , Argentina .
authors.forename: Ignacio Felipe
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Bejarano
authors.affiliation: a Instituto de Biología de la Altura, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy (UNJu), San Salvador de Jujuy , Jujuy , Argentina .|b CIT JUJUY - CONICET, San Salvador de Jujuy , Argentina .|c Unidad de Investigación en Antropología Biológica, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, San Salvador de Jujuy , Jujuy , Argentina .|d Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias , UNJu, San Salvador de Jujuy , Jujuy , Argentina , and.
authors.forename: Emma Laura
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Alfaro
authors.affiliation: d Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias , UNJu, San Salvador de Jujuy , Jujuy , Argentina , and.|e Programa Pro-Huerta , Jujuy , Argentina.
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abdo
authors.affiliation: a Instituto de Biología de la Altura, Universidad Nacional de Jujuy (UNJu), San Salvador de Jujuy , Jujuy , Argentina .|b CIT JUJUY - CONICET, San Salvador de Jujuy , Argentina .|c Unidad de Investigación en Antropología Biológica, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, San Salvador de Jujuy , Jujuy , Argentina .
authors.forename: José Edgardo
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dipierri
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000531:Altitude; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D048788:Growth and Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Body mass; Jujuy; body size; body surface area; geographical altitude; infants