History, Design, and Objectives of the Incap Follow-Up Study on the Effects of Nutrition Supplementation in Child Growth and Development

Abstract

The 1988–1989 INCAP follow-up study on the effects of early nutrition supplementation in child growth and development was the first long-term, comprehensive follow-up of a nutrition intervention. The subjects were former participants in the longitudinal study of 1969–1977, who were 10–26 years old at the time of measurement. The hypothesis of the follow-up study was that improved nutrition in early childhood leads to enhanced human capital formation. Cross-sectional data were collected on physical growth and body composition, maturation, work capacity, intellectual performance, and school achievement.