T. Giay et Hh. Khoi, USE OF BODY-MASS INDEX IN THE ASSESSMENT OF ADULT NUTRITIONAL-STATUS IN VIETNAM, European journal of clinical nutrition, 48, 1994, pp. 124-130
The authors have used body mass index (BMI: kg/m2) to assess the Vietn
amese adult nutritional status and classified the population into diff
erent grades of chronic energy deficiency (CED). CED is prevalent in V
ietnamese adults (average 40%). The mean value of BMI of the age group
26-40 years is 19.7 but it decreases thereafter except in urban areas
. The BMI curve of distribution is different between adults living in
rural, urban and mountainous areas. There seems to be a relation betwe
en BMI of mothers and the nutritional status of their <5-year-old chil
dren. The survey also revealed a relation between maternal BMI and bir
th weight, and between CED and the health status of the population.