De Onis 2019 Public Health Nutrition
de Onis M, Borghi E, Arimond M, Webb P, Croft T, Saha K, De-Regil LM, Thuita F, Heidkamp R, Krasevec J, Hayashi C, Flores-Ayala R (2019) Prevalence thresholds for wasting, overweight and stunting in children under 5 years. Public Health Nutrition 22:175-9. |
ยป Open Access
de Onis M, Borghi E, Arimond M, Webb P, Croft T, Saha K, De-Regil LM, Thuita F, Heidkamp R, Krasevec J, Hayashi C, Flores-Ayala R (2019) Public Health Nutrition
Abstract: Objective: Prevalence ranges to classify levels of wasting and stunting have been used since the 1990s for global monitoring of malnutrition. Recent developments prompted a re-examination of existing ranges and development of new ones for childhood overweight. The present paper reports from the WHOโUNICEF Technical Expert Advisory Group on Nutrition Monitoring.
Design: Thresholds were developed in relation to sd of the normative WHO Child Growth Standards. The international definition of โnormalโ (2 sd below/above the WHO standards median) defines the first threshold, which includes 2ยท3 % of the area under the normalized distribution. Multipliers of this โvery lowโ level (rounded to 2ยท5 %) set the basis to establish subsequent thresholds. Country groupings using the thresholds were produced using the most recent set of national surveys.
Setting: One hundred and thirty-four countries.
Subjects: Children under 5 years.
Results: For wasting and overweight, thresholds are: โvery lowโ (<2ยท5 %), โlowโ (โ1โ2 times 2ยท5 %), โmediumโ (โ2โ4 times 2ยท5 %), โhighโ (โ4โ6 times 2ยท5 %) and โvery highโ (>โ6 times 2ยท5 %). For stunting, thresholds are: โvery lowโ (<2ยท5 %), โlowโ (โ1โ4 times 2ยท5 %), โmediumโ (โ4โ8 times 2ยท5 %), โhighโ (โ8โ12 times 2ยท5 %) and โvery highโ (>โ12 times 2ยท5 %).
Conclusions: The proposed thresholds minimize changes and keep coherence across anthropometric indicators. They can be used for descriptive purposes to map countries according to severity levels; by donors and global actors to identify priority countries for action; and by governments to trigger action and target programmes aimed at achieving โlowโ or โvery lowโ levels. Harmonized terminology will help avoid confusion and promote appropriate interventions.
โข Bioblast editor: Gnaiger E
Labels:
Pathology: Obesity
Organism: Human
Preparation: Intact organism
BMI, BMI-cutoff