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Comparison of trunk‐to‐leg ratio as assessed by photographic imaging in shorter and taller preschool children of the Western Highlands of Guatemala: Implications regarding the biology of stunting
Author(s) -
Beintema Joni Jade Serena,
Solomons Noel W,
GarcíaMeza Rosario,
Orozco Mónica N.,
Gwaltney Rebecca,
Doak Colleen M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.890.3
Subject(s) - trunk , medicine , population , sagittal plane , body height , limits of agreement , demography , nuclear medicine , anatomy , body weight , biology , ecology , environmental health , sociology
Background Linear growth is very dependent on the differential elongation of the two major body components: trunk and legs. Photographic imaging could help to improve accuracy and limit subject burden. This study aimed to apply photographic images to quantify body segments in preschool children in 2 settings differing by socio‐economic status (SES) in the Western Highlands of Guatemala Methods We measured standing height in children, aged 4–7 y from a lower SES (predominately Mayan‐ascent) and a higher SES (largely European‐ascent) from Sololá and Quetzaltenango, respectively. Height for age z‐scores were calculated using the WHO Growth Standards to identify stunting (as ≤ −2 height for age z‐score). A standard sagittal photograph with the child standing in erect posture with the Frankfort Gaze was taken from a 3‐m distance with a digital camera. The length of the trunk and of the legs was measured in mm from printed images and used to calculate trunk‐to‐leg ratios and to compare between settings. Results The Quetzaltenango children were on average 7.0 cm taller than their Sololá‐counterparts, 5.2 cm of the difference was attributed to leg length. Children in Sololá have a higher prevalence of stunting than children in Quetzaltenango (46.1% vs. 5.9%). The median trunk‐to‐leg ratio was higher in Sololá (0.82) than in Quetzaltenango (0.76). Conclusion Photographic imaging show the key population differences in these settings relates to the shorter relative leg lengths in Sololá. These findings are congruent with population differences in child stunting as well as ethnicity.