Anthropometric assessment of lactating mothers attending public clinics in the Guatemalan highlands in metropolitan Quetzaltenango

Abstract

BackgroundEarly linear growth in Guatemala has historically been compromised, resulting in adults of short stature. A progressive maternal weight change from delivery through lactation has been described.ObjectiveTo assess maternal height and BMI in highland Guatemalan mothers at various periods of lactation.MethodsMaternal weight and height were collected in 543 lactating mothers of infant and toddlers, with subsequent classification of mothers for low‐stature (relative to WHO/NCHS 1985 smoothed curve median) and for underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25–30 kg/m2) or obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2).ResultsMothers ranged in age from 15 to 48 y. The mean stature for the sample was 149.1±5.9 cm, with a median of 149.0 cm and a range, 136.0–169.0 cm. Women classified of Mayan ascent were significantly (p<0.001) shorter (146.9±5.1 cm) than others (150.3±5.9 cm). In terms of height percentiles for the adult reference, 423 (78%) of mothers were below the 5th percentile; 46 (8%) between the 5th and 10th percentile; and only 7 (1%) reached the median. Respective partition for underweight; normal weight; overweight; and obesity was: 4%; 49%; 37% and 10%. Variation in BMI with respect to the age of the offspring was not significant.ConclusionHighland Guatemalan women remain short, with no lactation‐duration effects on BMI.Funded by the Nestlé Foundation and Sight and Life, Switzerland