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Growth velocity and stunting in rural Nepal

A M Costello1

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|October 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Nepali children under two years old experienced reduced height and weight growth, indicating stunting originates in infancy. Interventions after age two are unlikely to reverse linear growth retardation in these communities.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Childhood stunting is a significant global health issue.
  • Understanding growth patterns in resource-limited settings is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess growth velocity in Nepali children aged 0-6 years.
  • To compare Nepali children's growth with American centile standards.
  • To identify critical periods for stunting and inform intervention timing.

Main Methods:

  • Community-based study involving 441 Nepali children (0-6 years).
  • Measurement of height and weight increments before harvest and six months later.
  • Comparison with centile standards from American children.

Main Results:

  • Low mean growth velocities for height observed in children under 2 years.
  • Reduced weight velocity noted in the first 18 months.
  • Thin children exhibited reciprocal effects, catching up weight at the expense of height.
  • Mean height-for-age standard deviation score was -2.8 for 12-23 months old children.

Conclusions:

  • Stunting is primarily caused by reduced growth velocity during the infantile phase.
  • Impaired growth hormone-dependent growth occurs in early childhood, especially in thin children.
  • Nutritional interventions after age two are unlikely to significantly alter linear growth retardation.
  • Growth velocity is a more sensitive indicator than static anthropometry for intervention impact assessment.

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