Secular Changes in Growth in the Maya Village of Yalcoba: 1986-2023

To analyze the changes in children's height, weight, BMI and rates of stunting and overweight and obesity over three periods: 1986-1987, 1996-1998, and 2023 for the community of Yalcoba in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Four hundred forty (6-to-15 years) children measured in 2023 were compared with data obtained in 1986-1987 (n = 675) and 1996-1998 (n = 628). Z-scores of height and BMI were calculated to estimate percentages of stunting and high BMI-for-age (overweight and obesity). Comparisons of anthropometric parameters by sex and age groups between years of measurement were performed through one way ANOVAs.

Differences in anthropometric parameters were significant in all age groups of both sexes. Boys measured in 2023 were, on average, 6.4 and 3.3 cm taller than boys measured in the 1980s and 1990s, respectively. Increases in girls were 12 and 7.3 cm, respectively. Average increases in weight of boys measured in 2023 were 7.9 kg compared to the 1980s and 5.8 kg compared to 1990s. Average increases in girls measured in 2023 were 11.3 kg compared to the 1980s, and 7.6 kg compared to the 1990s. Stunting between the 1980s and 1990s decreased by 15 percentage points and between the 1990s and 2023 decreased by 47 percentage points. The percent of children deemed overweight/obese during these periods increased from 8 to 12-50 by 2023.

Results reflect the overall trends seen in the Yucatan where stunting has decreased substantially but the numbers of overweight/obese youths have increased dramatically in the past 30 years.