RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN WASTING AND LINEAR GROWTH IN STUNTED CHILDREN

Height-for-age and weight-for-height are commonly used indicators of n utritional status; however, their precise interrelationship remains un clear. We examined the relationship between weight-for-height and line ar growth in 127 stunted Jamaican children aged 9-24 months. The child ren were measured every 6 months over a 2-year period. The initial wei ght-for-height status was positively associated with linear growth in the following 6-month interval. The change in weight-for-height in the preceding interval was a better predictor of linear growth in the nex t interval than attained weight-for-height at the beginning of the int erval. The results suggest that variations in weight-for-height may in fluence the rate of linear growth.