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Growth status of Mexican American children and youths: Historical trends and contemporary issues
Author(s) -
Malina Robert M.,
Martorell Reynaldo,
Mendoza Fernando
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
american journal of physical anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.146
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1096-8644
pISSN - 0002-9483
DOI - 10.1002/ajpa.1330290503
Subject(s) - overnutrition , socioeconomic status , national health and nutrition examination survey , mexican americans , context (archaeology) , body mass index , demography , malnutrition , secular variation , environmental health , gerontology , medicine , geography , population , ethnic group , political science , sociology , archaeology , pathology , law
The growth status of Mexican American children and youths is reviewed in a historical perspective that begins in the 1920s. The early studies were more concerned with growth status as an indicator of undernutrition and associated growth stunting, while the more recent studies have overnutrition and excess fatness as a primary focus. Evidence from recent studies suggests a relatively large number of short but heavy Mexican American children and youths. The growth status of Mexican American children and youths is then discussed in the context of socioeconomic variation; the relationship between weight for stature or the body mass index and body proportions; skinfolds, body composition, and fat patterning; secular trends; and recent national health surveys including the National Health and Nutrition Examination surveys and the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.