Rises in schoolchildren's anthropometry: what do they signify in developed and developing populations?

Abstract

Recent reports indicate continuing rises in the height and weight of schoolchildren in both developed and developing populations. Also indicated are increases in the body mass index of children, and of adults, despite all public health warnings to the contrary, as well as personal desires of huge proportions of children, and of adults, to be slim. A little researched question concerns which level of schoolchildren's growth is consistent in later life with least occurrence of degenerative diseases. In developing populations, lack of knowledge prevails regarding the current and future health of the large proportions, and huge numbers, of schoolchildren who, judging from Western anthropometric standards, are categorized as suffering from mild to moderate malnutrition. It is questioned whether greater growth is essentially better. As to the future, in Western and in urban developing populations, attempts to control greater attainment of weight for height in schoolchildren, as well as adults, are unlikely to be rewarding, due to unpopularity of a 'prudent' diet on the one hand, and the still diminishing physical activity on the other. Notwithstanding, educational and other efforts to improve the composition of diets and encourage greater physical activity must be energetically pursued.