An evaluation of the associations between socioeconomic status and the growth of Mexican-American children: data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES 1982–1984)

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 944S - 952S
• Main Authors: Ryan, Alan S, Martinez, Gilbert A, Roche, Alex F
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.05.1990; American Society for Clinical Nutrition
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Medical sciences; Mexican Americans; Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement; Poverty; skinfold thickness; stature; weight; weight/stature2; stature; weight; Mexican Americans; Poverty; skinfold thickness; weight/stature2
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/51.5.944

This study considers the associations between 1) various measures of growth (triceps, subscapular, medial calf, and suprailiac skinfold thickness; stature; weight; and weight/stature2) and 2) poverty status in a sample of 3587 Mexican-American children from HHANES (1982-1984). Comparisons are made with data for white children and black children in NHANES II (1976-1980). Differences between poor (at or below the poverty line) and nonpoor (above the poverty line) Mexican-American children were small and not statistically significant for most of the variables that were compared. Poor adolescent Mexican-American girls, however, had significantly greater mean skinfold thicknesses than nonpoor Mexican-American girls. When poverty status was held constant, Mexican-American children tended to be shorter but heavier and fatter than white children and black children. Across poverty status groups, weight/stature2 tended to be relatively high in Mexican-American children.