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Undernutrition of children in Massachusetts
1New England Medical Center, Pediatric Gastroenterology/Nutrition, Boston, MA 02111.
Insights
Chronic undernutrition is prevalent in at-risk children in Massachusetts, with studies showing increased rates in height-for-age. Acute undernutrition was not observed, but obesity increased in some surveys.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Seven studies assessed child undernutrition in Massachusetts over 10 years.
- Surveys covered diverse populations, from statewide to public housing projects.
- Included children aged 1-6 years at nutritional risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of chronic and acute undernutrition in at-risk children.
- To identify trends in undernutrition and obesity within this population.
- To inform public health interventions for child nutrition.
Main Methods:
- Defined chronic undernutrition as height-for-age below the 5th percentile (National Center for Health Statistics).
- Defined acute undernutrition as weight-for-height below the 5th percentile.
- Defined obesity as weight-for-height above the 95th percentile.
Main Results:
- Chronic undernutrition prevalence exceeded expectations in four of seven surveys.
- No cases of acute undernutrition were detected across the studies.
- Increased obesity prevalence was observed in four of the seven surveys.
Conclusions:
- Chronic undernutrition is a significant issue among at-risk children in Massachusetts.
- Public health strategies may need to address both undernutrition and rising obesity rates.
- Continued monitoring of child nutritional status is essential.
Abstract:
Over the past 10 years, seven separate studies of children at risk from undernutrition in Massachusetts have been performed. The surveys have ranged from a statewide health center-based investigation to a house-to-house survey in a public housing project. All included children between 1 and 6 years of age. Chronic undernutrition was defined as a height-for-age less than the 5th percentile of the National Center for Health Statistics growth charts, and acute undernutrition was defined as a weight-for-height less than the 5th percentile. The prevalence of chronic undernutrition was greater than expected in four surveys, whereas no acute undernutrition was observed. The prevalence of obesity, defined as a weight for height greater than the 95th percentile, was increased in four of the seven surveys. These data suggest that chronic undernutrition is increased among children at risk in Massachusetts.