Abstract

COSSIO-BOLANOS, Marco et al. Parameters of physical growth of children living at moderate altitude. Rev Med Hered [online]. 2012, vol.23, n.2, pp.96-105. ISSN 1018-130X.

The development of physical growth depends on genetic background, nutritional, socioeconomic conditions, environmental, secular trend, physical activity and level of altitude. Objective: To determine the parameters of physical growth of children living at moderate altitude according gender and compared with reference patterns CDC and NHANAS-USA. Methods: We selected 795 children from socio-economic status mean, by probabilistic sampling (stratified); 394 males and 401 women from public school of urban area of Arequipa city, Peru (2320msnm). We evaluated body weight (kg), height (m), triceps skinfold (mm) and relaxed arm circumference (cm). Results: We found similar values of body weight (p> 0.005) and lower values of stature (p <0.005) in both genders when compared with CDC reference. In the triceps skinfold, there was similar values in both genders when compared with the reference National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)-USA. Values of arm circumference was lower in both gender in comparison with reference NHANES-USA. Conclusions: The results suggest delay in linear growth may be related to altitude and with poor reserves of protein observed in arm circumference.

Keywords : Growth; altitude; child; anthropometry.

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