Double burden of malnutrition in rural and urban Guatemalan schoolchildren
Abstract
Introduction: Guatemala has been experiencing a lifestyle transition. While chronic malnutrition remains prevalent obesity, has increased substantially. Objective: The study aimed to provide current information on nutritional status trends in Guatemala. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two different regions of Guatemala. A random sample of 392 children and adolescents (aged 5-18 years), stratified by geographical location (rural and urban), sex and age, was selected. Results: Approximately 62% of the children and adolescents in the urban sample are overweight, whilst 13.8% are obese. Amongst urban participants the prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in the 5-10 year age group. In the rural sample, the prevalence of overweight was 23.8% with 1.1% obesity. The highest prevalence of overweight and obesity was found in the 11-14 year age group. The urban group shows a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity compared to any of the age categories of the rural group (except in the 15-18 year age group where obesity in the rural group is slightly higer). A significantly higher prevalence of stunting was observed in the rural group than in the urban group, except in 15-18 year age group. Underweight was significantly higher in the 5-10 year age category of the rural group (25 vs. 1.2 %). The prevalence of thinness was also significantly higher in rural areas for all age groups except the 5-10 year age group. Conclusion: A double burden of malnutrition and a high prevalence of underweight and overweight exist among children and adolescents in Guatemala.
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