Physical Growth Status Research Articles

Security of Attachment and Outcome of Preschoolers With Histories of Nonorganic Failure to Thrive

We assessed the relationship of security of attachment to psychological competence and physical status in children with early histories of nonorganic failure to thrive (NOFT). Securely attached children were rated as less rigid under stress, as having higher standards of performance, and as more competent, skillful, and creative at 42 months than insecurely attached children. Insecurely attached children with early histories of NOFT were rehospitalized nearly twice as often as securely attached children. Patterns of early attachment did not relate to physical growth status, frequency of accidents, or other ratings of psychological competence. Type of early intervention did not affect attachment patterns or subsequent psychological or physical status. These findings suggest that development of a secure attachment pattern may enhance the psychological competence of children with early histories of NOFT, whereas an insecure attachment may contribute to risk of rehospitalization.

Longitudinal studies of infectious diseases and physical growth of infants in Huascar, an underprivileged peri-urban community in Lima, Peru.

Longitudinal studies of morbidity from infectious diseases and physical growth were completed from July 1982-June 1984 for 153 Peruvian newborns during the first year of life. Admission to the cohort was restricted to infants with birth weights greater than 2,500 g. Surveillance workers inquired about symptoms of diarrheal, respiratory, and other illnesses during thrice-weekly home visits; anthropometrists measured weight and length each month to assess the infants' patterns of physical growth and relative nutritional status. During 48,209 child-days of observation, upper respiratory infections were present on 13,409 child-days (27.8% prevalence) and diarrhea on 7,466 child-days (15.5% prevalence). The diarrhea incidence rate averaged 9.8 episodes per child-year of observation; all children had at least one episode of diarrhea. Average weights approximated those of the National Center for Health Statistics reference population during the first five to six months, but declined thereafter in relation to reference data. Average lengths were less than the reference data at all ages. The average weights for age and lengths for age of girls were generally greater than those of boys relative to the reference population. Rates of stunting and wasting increased progressively during the first year of life.

A Study on the Physical Growth Status in the Korean School Girls from 7 to 10 Years of Age

A Study on the Physical Growth Status in the Korean School Girls from 7 to 10 Years of Age

Prediction of weight for height following intervention in three-year-old children with early histories of nonorganic failure to thrive

The present study assessed the weight for height outcomes of 59 3-year-old children who had been hospitalized for nonorganic failure to thrive (NOFT) as infants (average age of 5 months) and received time-limited outreach intervention. Although the majority of children attained normal weight for height, nearly one-third demonstrated at least mild wasting. Type of outreach intervention did not affect weight for height at outcome. The predictive efficacy of a variable set which included characteristics of NOFT (age of onset and duration), velocity of weight gain subsequent to diagnosis and environmental characteristics (income and home stimulation) was tested. Shorter duration of NOFT prior to diagnosis and greater initial rate of weight gain following hospitalization predicted weight for height at 36 months. The findings underscore the need for close monitoring of physical growth and nutritional status of NOFT children following hospitalization as well as comprehensive assessment and treatment for children who continue to demonstrate nutritional deficits. Additional studies of factors which affect the prognosis of NOFT children are needed.

Pediatric, adolescent, and young-adult nutrition issues in IDDM.

Although insulin is life sustaining for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), the meal plan is of critical importance for avoiding hyperglycemia, preventing hypoglycemia, and maintaining metabolic balance. Consistency, timing, composition, and caloric content of food intake and physical activity, age, sex, growth, and pubertal status alter meal-plan needs. Self-monitoring of blood glucose should be used to individualize the meal plan. The general American Diabetes Association recommendations suggest that 50-65% of total calories be from carbohydrates from foods with a lower glycemic index and/or high fiber content. Protein should contribute 12-20% of total calories and fat less than 30%, with less than 10% saturated fat and less than 300 mg/day cholesterol. More severe fat restriction should be considered in individuals with persistent lipid abnormalities when compared with sex- and age-adjusted values. Calories should be sufficient for growth and development, with growth data obtained several times a year and plotted on standardized weight, height, and velocity charts. Blood pressure should be similarly plotted on age- and sex-standardized curves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Growth status, age, and grade as predictors of school continuation for Guatemalan Indian children.

Schooling is considered by many researchers and agencies as an important contributor to individual and national development for populations living in the less developed countries. Accordingly, programs to increase school enrollment and continuation from grade to grade are being developed for many of these countries. This paper investigates the relationship of physical growth status (height, weight, and body composition), grade in school, and age to school continuation for a sample of Indian children living in a village near Guatemala City. It was found that physical growth status, a reflection of health and nutritional status, does not predict school continuation. A child's age and current grade in school do predict continuation. Most children leave school after reaching 9 years of age or after completing the second grade. It is suggested that children may learn enough to satisfy their parents' expectations by this age or grade. Also, the child's economic value to his or her family may be a significant reason for school drop-out.

A study on health status of school children in rural northeast Thailand--(1). Physical growth status and blood biochemical status

To clarify the health and nutritional status of inhabitants of rural Thailand, a medical survey study was carried out in a farm village with a population of about 1000 in northeast Thailand (near Kohn Kaen: Don Daeng village) in 1984 and 1985. In this report, the physical growth status and biochemical blood status of school children are presented.All physical parameters, i. e., body height, body weight, girth of chest, and skin fold thickness, were poor as compared with recent Japanese children (those of school children in the village are almost the same as those of Japanese from 1950-1955).From plasma and blood examination, the spread of infectious diseases including chronic hepatitis was presumed, and the nutritional status of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals was insufficient as compared to Japanese children. Therefore, it is postulated that there were many marginal nutritional deficiencies, i. e., thiamine, calcium, iron, etc. and that many diseases will be induced by these nutritional deficiencies.

The Relationship of Socioeconomic Status and Sex to Body Size, Skeletal Maturation, and Cognitive Status of Guatemala City Schoolchildren

Longitudinal data from a study of child development in Guatemala City were used to describe the influence of socioeconomic status and sex on physical and cognitive growth status. The correlation between the growth status variables was also analyzed. The sample included 144 Guatemalan children, 46 of low SES, 52 of middle SES, and 46 of high SES. The children were students in 5 urban primary schools. 3 physical variables, height, weight, and skeletal age, were measured annually from first to sixth grade. Two cognitive variables, general intelligence and reading ability, were measured in grades 1, 3, 4, or 5. Significant differences between SES groups existed for all variables. However, the differences in each grade were greater for the cognitive measures than for the physical measures. Compared with high SES children, middle SES boys and low SES boys and girls experienced significantly greater delayed growth in height than in weight or skeletal age. It is possible that these height delays may result in a permanent reduction in stature. The only consistently significant sex-related difference was for skeletal age; girls were more mature than boys in each grade. When SES was statistically controlled, there was no significant correlation between physical and cognitive growth status for girls and only a few moderate but statistically significant correlations for boys.

THE TALLEST AMERICAN BOYS

Brailsford Robertson, 1 who has given so much attention to growth, says: To compare groups of children in regard to physical welfare we should compare their average statures and the variabilities thereof. In a recent paper 2 offering to those who work with boarding and country day school boys averages compiled from observations on that special class of individual, the statement was made that the average exceed in stature the gifted children reported by Baldwin 3 as being above the best standards for American born children in physical growth status. Owing to the interest and importance attached to height, our statement is worth further evidence. In table 1, accordingly, are shown statistical constants reduced from our raw data, including the mean stature for each age as published in the paper just cited. For comparison we have translated Baldwin's means into metric equivalents and have computed the probable errors of those