Persistence of growth stunting in a Peruvian high altitude community, 1964-1999.

The growth of children living in Nuñoa, a Peruvian high-altitude community, was studied over a 35-year period using data collected in 1964 and 1999. There had been evidence of a secular trend in growth in the mid-1980s, but this was before a period of sociopolitical upheaval lasting until the late 1990s partly linked to the activities of the Shining Path group and the Peruvian government's response. Anthropometric data for 576 children examined in 1964-1966 were compared with data from 361 children examined in 1999.

Oxygen saturation and heart rate in healthy school children and adolescents living at high altitude.

This study was conducted to establish reference values for percent oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SaO2, %) and heart rate (HR, bpm) in children living at high altitude (4,100 m) and to relate possible differences in the variables with ethnic origin. Healthy children from a mine-located school (Tintaya, n = 417), a nearby school (Marquiri, n = 474), and a rural Andean community (Nuñoa, n = 373) were investigated. The samples included different ethnic combinations, with the Nuñoa children having a predominant Quechua ancestry.

Growth of children in two economically diverse Peruvian high-altitude communities.

The growth of children living in two high-altitude communities associated with an active copper mine in southern Peru was examined. In the community directly associated with mining operations, nutritional and health conditions were believed to be relatively favorable as a result of the substantial mine-related infrastructure that had developed over the previous 12 years. In contrast, few such benefits were available in the other community, which provides limited part-time labor at the mine.

Influence of maternal body habitus and glucose tolerance on birth weight.

Many physicians believe that macrosomia is a hallmark of a pregnancy complicated by glucose intolerance. Because the prevalence of obesity is increased among women with gestational diabetes, fetal overgrowth may be attributable at least in part to maternal obesity. We studied 2069 black, Latina, Chinese, and white mother-infant pairs to determine the interaction between maternal body habitus, maternal glucose homeostasis, and certain indices of fetal growth.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in US Hispanic populations.

Previous studies showed that Hispanics have higher levels of overweight and obesity than do US whites. The Hispanic Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (1982-1984) provides the basis for examining the physical characteristics of this population on a wider scale than previously possible. Data for body mass index (BMI; weight/height2) and triceps and subscapular skinfold thicknesses were examined for the 7052 Mexican Americans, 1307 Cubans, and 2690 Puerto Ricans for whom each of these measurements were available.