title: The stunted child with an overweight mother as a growing public health concern in resource-poor environments: a case study from Guatemala.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overweight and obesity are emerging at alarming rates in low income women in many countries. Guatemala has the additional burden of a high prevalence of chronic under-nutrition (stunting) in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this paper is to explore the dual burden of infant and child (5-23 months) under-nutrition and maternal over-weight and obesity in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anthropometric measures were collected in 446 mother-infant dyads in a metropolitan population of mixed indigenous (Maya) and non-indigenous descent in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Children were identified as stunted based on a height for age <-2 below the WHO reference median and maternal overweight/obesity defined as a BMI ≥25. Stunted children with an overweight/obese mother were compared to other children who were not stunted and/or who did not have an overweight/obese mother.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalences of stunting (38%) and maternal overweight/obesity (45%) were high, but just 17% of the mother and child pairs were dual burden. The socio-demographic characteristics of stunted children were not influenced by maternal overweight or obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Policies are needed to address under-nutrition as well as preventing obesity and obesity-related chronic disease risks of stunted children and their mothers.
authors: a Health Sciences, VU University , Amsterdam , The Netherlands and.
authors: Colleen M
authors: CM
authors: Doak
authors: a Health Sciences, VU University , Amsterdam , The Netherlands and.
authors: Maiza
authors: M
authors: Campos Ponce
authors: b Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism (CeSSIAM) , Guatemala City , Guatemala.
authors: Marieke
authors: M
authors: Vossenaar
authors: b Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism (CeSSIAM) , Guatemala City , Guatemala.
authors: Noel W
authors: NW
authors: Solomons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006166:Guatemala; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Guatemala; SCOM; nutritional dual burden; overweight; stunting