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Stunted children gain less lean body mass and more fat mass than their non-stunted counterparts: a prospective study

P A Martins1, D J Hoffman, M T B Fernandes

  • 1Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, CEP 04023-060, Brazil.

The British Journal of Nutrition
|November 10, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Children with stunted growth due to early undernutrition tend to accumulate more body fat. This study tracked body composition changes in stunted Brazilian children over three years, revealing significant fat accumulation and reduced lean mass gain.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutritional Science
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Early life undernutrition is a global health concern, particularly in low-income populations.
  • Stunting, a consequence of chronic undernutrition, may have long-term metabolic implications.
  • Understanding body composition changes in stunted children is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze body composition changes in stunted children over a 3-year follow-up period.
  • To investigate the hypothesis that early undernutrition leads to increased fat accumulation.
  • To compare body composition trajectories between stunted and normal stature children.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study involving 50 children (11-15 years) in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  • Participants categorized as stunted (n=20) or normal stature (n=30).
  • Body composition assessed using anthropometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 3-year follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Stunted boys showed greater fat mass percentage increase (1.62%) and less lean mass gain (-1.46%) compared to non-stunted boys.
  • Stunted girls exhibited reduced lean mass gain (7.87 kg vs. 11.96 kg) and significantly higher fat mass percentage at follow-up.
  • Non-stunted girls had no significant change in fat mass percentage over time.

Conclusions:

  • Early life stunting is associated with a long-term tendency for increased body fat accumulation.
  • These findings highlight a potential metabolic consequence of childhood undernutrition, linking it to later obesity risk.
  • Understanding these body composition shifts is vital for addressing the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in vulnerable populations.

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