INDICATIONS OF EARLY OBESITY IN LOW-INCOME HMONG CHILDREN
Author(s):
Himes, Jh; Story, M.; Czaplinski, K.; Dahlbergluby, E.
Format:
Journal article
Citation:
American Journal Of Diseases Of Children, Volume 146, Issue 1 (1992-01). pp. 67-69.
Language:
English
Abstract:
Objective.-To determine if there is evidence of obesity in low-income Hmong children. Design.-Cross-sectional survey. Setting.-Women, Infants, and Children clinics in Mineapolis, Minn. Participants.-271 US-born Hmong children, ages 1.00 through 4.99 years. Selection Procedures.-Consecutive sample of all Hmong children seen in two clinics between September and December 1989. Interventions.-None. Measurements/Main Results.-Heights and weights were measured and converted to National Center for Health Statistics z scores of weight for age, height for age, and weight for height. Relative to National Center for Health Statistics reference data, mean height-for-age z scores decline progressively after age 2 years to - 1.2 z at age 4.5 years. Mean weight-for-height z scores exceeded the National Center for Health Statistics reference significantly at ages 3 and 4 years, and there was more than a fourfold excess of Hmong children beyond the 95th percentile in weight for height at these ages. Conclusions.-There is evidence of early obesity in Hmong children, an ethnic group heretofore considered to be a low risk for obesity.