Differences in magnitude of nutritional status in Chilean school children according to CDC and WHO 2005-2008 reference Diferencias en magnitud de estado nutricional en escolares chilenos según la referencia CDC y OMS 2005-2008

Abstract

Introduction: Further discussions are needed regarding the magnitude of nutritional problems diagnosed using CDC or WHO, against the existence of new biological or statistical definitions of obesity. Objective: To compare the evolution of the prevalence of nutritional status among schoolchildren in first grade, from 2005 to 2008, according to CDC and WHO. Methods: Retrospective cohort study, of 140.265 students of both sexes of first grade, evaluated from 2005-2008, whose anthropometric data (weight and height), were obtained from annual registration system of school nutrition. To classify the nutritional status of children, CDC and WHO patterns were used. Results: The mean BMI was slightly different and lower in girls than in boys, in 2005 and 2006. During 2007 and 2008 the average BMI in girls reached the observed in males. There was a higher prevalence of underweight according to WHO (p=0,03), with a tendency to decrease in the subsequent years. The prevalence of normality was great