Secular Trend in Growth and Nutritional Status in Argentina Over the Last Three Decades

Abstract

Most of the Latin American countries share a common colonial history, as well historical trajectories often marked by recurring political and economic crises. Despite the global economic development, crucial problems in the region still persist. It is well known that child growth and nutritional status are the indicators of population well-being while reflecting social inequalities concerning the access to nutrition and health. This chapter analyzes some of the changes that occurred in growth and nutritional status in a community of Argentinian schoolchildren over the last 30 years, based on series of cross-sectional studies carried out between 1990 and 2016. For the analysis of secular change, data from the national growth reference and school health records were used as baseline data. The results suggest a preadolescent secular acceleration with no notable changes in final height. In contrast, body mass index-based obesity rate shows significant increase during the whole period, with a marked acceleration in the last decade. These indicators show variation among socioeconomic subgroups, which may be traced back to mid-2000, with a conspicuous increase in obesity among the lower socioeconomic status population. New COVID-19 post-pandemic scenarios will probably affect both health and nutrition transition in the region and will require further research in this matter.