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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Physical activity and anthropometric and functional characteristics of mildly malnourished Senegalese children
1Centre ORSTOM de Dakar, Senegal, West Africa.
Insights
Chronic malnutrition negatively impacts physical performance in Senegalese children, affecting their functional capacities. This has serious implications for their future subsistence, which relies on physical labor.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Human Physiology
- Child Development
Background:
- Chronic malnutrition is prevalent in the Sahelian Region.
- Understanding its impact on children's physical capabilities is crucial for public health.
- Limited data exists on functional capacities and physical activity in undernourished children in this region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of chronic malnutrition on functional capacities and physical activity patterns.
- To compare the performance of malnourished versus well-nourished children.
- To assess the implications for physical labor in the Sahelian Region.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 100 Senegalese children (10-13 years) underwent anthropometric measurements.
- Functional assessments included a sub-maximal step test, spirometry, and motor skill tests (running, jumping, throwing, gripping).
- Physical activity was monitored via heart rate recording for 6 hours.
Main Results:
- Two-thirds of children fell below WHO/NCHS weight-for-age norms.
- Malnourished children exhibited inferior functional performances compared to well-nourished peers.
- No significant difference in physical activity intensity was observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Chronic malnutrition significantly impairs children's physical performance.
- These deficits pose a threat to subsistence in regions dependent on physical labor.
- Interventions to address childhood malnutrition are vital for long-term community well-being.
Abstract:
This study examines the effects of chronic malnutrition on the functional capacities and physical activity patterns of a group of 100 healthy Senegalese children between the ages of 10 and 13 years. Anthropometric measurements, a sub-maximal step test, spirometric tests and testing of four motor skills (foot races, jumping, throwing, gripping) were conducted and their physical activity was monitored by recording of heart rate every minute for 6 hours. The weights of two-thirds of these children fell below -1 SD from the WHO/NCHS* norm for their ages, their test results were inferior to those of Western children, and the level of their physical activity appeared also to be low. When these children are divided on the basis of weight deficits for age into well nourished and malnourished groups, malnourished children register poorer functional performances than well nourished children, but no difference exists with respect to the intensity of physical activity. These results highlight the negative effect of malnutrition on children's physical performance. The consequences are disturbing as the subsistence in the Sahelian Region depends on substantial physical labour.
