Trends in anthropometric measurements among Mescalero Apache Indian preschool children. 1968 through 1988
F. R. Hauck, M. M. Gallaher, M. Yang-Oshida and M. K. Serdula
Division of Nutrition, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
OBJECTIVE--To determine if there were trends in underweight, short stature,
and obesity among 1- through 5-year-old Mescalero (NM) Apache Indian
children from 1968 through 1988. DESIGN--Cross-sectional review of hospital
clinic charts for five cohorts. SETTING--General pediatric outpatient
clinic at the Mescalero Indian Health Service Hospital.
PARTICIPANTS--Sixty-nine patients aged 1 through 5 years in 1968, 1973,
1978, 1983, or 1988 for whom weight and height were recorded during a
well-child visit that occurred in the respective year. SELECTION
PROCEDURES--Approximately half the charts were screened for eligibility
through systematic sampling for all years except 1988; for 1988 all
available charts were screened for eligibility for the study.
INTERVENTIONS--None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS--We found trends of
decreasing prevalence of both underweight (defined as weight-for-height
below the fifth percentile) and short stature (defined as height-for-age
below the fifth percentile) based on the Centers for Disease Control/World
Health Organization growth reference. We found no secular trends in obesity
(weight-for-height above the 95th percentile), although the prevalences
throughout the 21-year period were as much as two to four times higher than
expected when compared with the Centers for Disease Control/World Health
Organization reference. There has been an upward shift in both
weight-for-height and height-for-age distributions since 1968, indicating
that Mescalero children today are, on average, heavier and taller.
CONCLUSIONS--Underweight and short stature decreased among Mescalero
preschool children from 1968 through 1988, suggesting nutritional
improvements. However, given the current high prevalence of obesity, it is
recommended that surveillance of nutritional status be continued and
appropriate interventions be developed to treat and prevent obesity in this
population.
