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Updated: Sep 30, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

[Interpretation of anthropometric indices in children in Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico]

Edgar Manuel Vásquez-Garibay1, Enrique Romero-Velarde, Francisco Nápoles-Rodríguez

  • 1Instituto de Nutrición Humana, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. inhu@cucs.udg.mx

Salud Publica De Mexico
|June 11, 2002
PubMed

Insights

The Mexican Official Norm Classification (NOM-SSA) criteria overestimate infant malnutrition prevalence compared to WHO standards. WHO criteria, specifically weight/height and height/age indices, are more useful for assessing acute and chronic malnutrition in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science
  • Public Health

Context:

  • Assessing child nutritional status is crucial for public health interventions.
  • Mexico utilizes specific criteria (NOM-SSA) for classifying infant malnutrition.
  • Previous studies highlight variations in diagnostic criteria and their impact.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate the nutritional status of children at the Instituto Alteño para el Desarrollo de Jalisco (Inadej).
  • To compare the Mexican Official Norm Classification (NOM-SSA) with World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for infant malnutrition.
  • To discuss the classification criteria for infant malnutrition in Mexico.

Summary:

  • A cross-sectional study of 775 children (12-120 months) at Inadej compared WHO and NOM-SSA malnutrition criteria.
  • NOM-SSA criteria significantly overestimated malnutrition prevalence across weight/age, height/age, and weight/height indices compared to WHO.
  • Low parental education and income were noted.

Impact:

  • The study indicates that NOM-SSA criteria and the weight/age index overestimate malnutrition prevalence.
  • WHO criteria, particularly weight/height (acute) and height/age (chronic), are more effective for accurate diagnosis and international comparison.
  • Findings can inform policy on malnutrition assessment and intervention strategies in Mexico.
Abstract

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