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Height, weight and body mass index of Wichí children from Formosa, Argentina

Marta P Alfonso-Durruty1,2, Claudia R Valeggia3

  • 1Departamento de Antropología, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Chile. marta.alfonso7@gmail.com.

Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria
|September 12, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study assessed the growth and nutritional status of 194 Wichi children in Argentina. While most parameters were normal, a concerning percentage of children were overweight, suggesting lifestyle changes.

Area of Science:

  • Anthropometry
  • Indigenous Health
  • Nutritional Epidemiology

Background:

  • The Wichi population in Formosa, Argentina, faces unique health challenges.
  • Understanding the anthropometric profile of indigenous children is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To document the growth and nutritional status of Wichi children aged 0-18 years.
  • To identify potential health concerns related to diet and physical activity in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Descriptive study involving 194 Wichi children.
  • Collection of anthropometric data: weight, height, and body mass index (BMI).
  • Estimation of Z-scores using national and international reference standards.

Main Results:

  • Most anthropometric parameters were within the normal range for the studied age group.
  • A significant percentage of Wichi children exhibited overweight status.
  • Z-score analysis indicated deviations from reference standards in a subset of the population.

Conclusions:

  • While overall growth may appear normal, the high prevalence of overweight children is a public health concern.
  • This trend may signal a transition towards westernized lifestyles, characterized by processed food consumption and reduced physical activity.
  • Further research and targeted interventions are needed to address the evolving nutritional challenges in the Wichi community.

Keywords:
Body mass indexBody weightHeightWichi

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