%0 Journal Article
%T Estado nutricional de ni£¿os de Antioquia, Colombia, seg¨²n dos sistemas de referencia
%A ¨¢lvarez
%A Martha Cecilia
%A L¨®pez
%A Amalia
%A Estrada
%A Alejandro
%J Revista Panamericana de Salud P¨²blica
%D 2009
%I Organizaci¨®n Panamericana de la Salud
%R 10.1590/S1020-49892009000300002
%X objective: to compare the anthropometric and nutritional indicators of a group of children in antioquia, colombia, according to the reference standards of the world health organization and of the national health statistics (nchs), united states of america. methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative, random sample of 2 290 children participating in the supplementary food program mana in antioquia, colombia. a comparison was made of the 50th percentile (p50) for weight and length/height, the nutritional status (weight-for-age, length/height-for-age, and weight-for-length/height), and the mean z scores according to the reference values established by who and by nchs. student t and ¦Ö2 tests were performed, each using 95% confidence intervals (95%ci). results: the prevalence of general malnutrition was significantly lower when following who standards (5.3%; 95%ci: 4.42-6.30) versus nchs standards (7.6%; 95%ci: 6.56-8.78; p = 0.0014). chronic malnutrition was greater with the who standards (17.6%; 95%ci: 16.03-19.19) than with nchs's (12.8%; 95%ci: 11.46-14.25; p < 0.001), and severe malnutrition was similar for both (2.0%; 95%ci: 1.49-2.69 and 2.3%; 95%ci: 1.71-2.99, respectively; p = 0.477). the prevalence of overweight was greater with who standards (3.8%; 95%ci: 3.07-4.69) than with nchs standards (2.3%; 95%ci: 1.75-3.04; p = 0.0035). conclusion: when who standards are applied, overweight and chronic malnutrition are more easily detected, than with nchs'; furthermore, the prevalence rate of general malnutrition decreases beginning at 6 months age, while the overall chronic malnutrition prevalence increases. these new standards constitute an appropriate tool for assessing growth and establishing more objective values for malnutrition prevalence. the antioqu¨ªa department should establish policies for health, food, and nutrition that will improve the nutritional status of its children.
%K reference standards
%K nutritional status
%K malnutrition
%K overweight
%K obesity
%K child health
%K colombia.
%U http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&pid=S1020-49892009000300002&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en