ANTHROPOMETRIC AND NUTRITIONAL-EVALUATION OF SHORT STATURED CHILDREN FROM LOW SOCIOECONOMIC-CLASS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric paramet ers of short statured children examined in our outpatient clinic. 367 children were evaluated. Body weight for age, weight for height, heigh t for age and body mass index of subjects were expressed as percent of standards. Wasting and stunting were established according to Waterlo w's criteria /4/. Of 367 children, 27.8% were wasted and stunted; 59.1 % were stunted; 3.8% had constitutional delay of growth and 9.3% had g rowth hormone deficiency. Ninety-seven percent of growth hormone defic ient children had deficiency in weight as well as height. This study i ndicates that most short statured children and some growth hormone def icient children present with anthropometric indices of chronic. nutrit ional deficiency in a country where nutritional deprivation is frequen t.