Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Studying Brain Function in Children Using Magnetoencephalography
Published on: April 8, 2019
Weight Trajectory in Refugee Children after Resettling in the United States: A Pilot Study
Akhila Shapiro1, George A Datto2, Jobayer Hossain3
1Department of General Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA.
Background:
The objective of this study is to describe the weight trajectory of refugee children after resettlement in the US.
Methods:
A pilot study was conducted, utilizing longitudinal data obtained from the electronic health record of 129 children between 2 and 18 years of age (54% female, mean age 10 years) from the 3 primary countries of origin presenting to a refugee clinic (Bhutan, N = 71; Burma, N = 36, and Iraq, N = 22).. Mixed effects model analyses were utilized to characterize weight trajectory with calculation of a per year change in BMI-z score, adjusting for baseline BMI-z score, age, and time.
Results:
There was a significant increase in BMI-z (mean 0.15 units/year, p=0.04) among refugee children during their initial period after resettlement. Female children from Bhutan demonstrated the most rapid increase in weight, with a mean BMI-z gain of 1.00 units/year.
Conclusion:
Female children from Bhutan demonstrated rapid weight gain after resettlement in the US. Further studies are needed to describe weight trajectory trends and evaluate possible reasons for rapid weight gain in this population.
Related Concept Videos
Pilot and Numeric Relaying
Measurement: Derived Units
Weighted Mean
For example, consider the number of goals scored in the matches of a tournament. While computing the average number of goals scored in the tournament, it may be more important to...
Measurement: Standard Units
Mass and Weight
Atomic Weight

