Physical Growth, Biological Age, and Nutritional Transitions of Adolescents Living at Moderate Altitudes in Peru

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Marco Cossio-Bolaños³  Rossana Gómez Campos⁴  Cynthia Lee Andruske⁶  Antonio Viveros Flores¹  Cristian Luarte-Rocha²  Pedro R. Olivares⁵  Javier Garcia-Rubio⁵  Miguel de Arruda⁴ 

[1] Education Center Antonio José de Sucre, Leon Velarde Street s/n, Yanahuara, Arequipa, Perú; E-Mail:;Faculty of Physical Activity, San Sebastian University, General Cruz n 1577, Concepción, Chile; E-Mail:;Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Catholic University of Maule, Av. San Miguel 3605, Talca, Chile;Faculty of Physical Education, State University of Campinas, Avenida Érico Veríssimo, 701, Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Barão Geraldo, CEP 13.083-851, Campinas, Brazil; E-Mails:;Instituto de Actividad Física y Salud, Universidad Autonoma de Chile, 5 Poniente 1670, Talca, Chile; E-Mails:;Research Network on Human Biological Development, Urb. Amauta C-6, Jose Luis Bustamante y Rivero, Arequipa, Peru; E-Mail:

关键词: physical growth;    biological age;    nutritional transitions;    adolescents;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph121012082

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Background: Peru is experiencing a stage of nutritional transition where the principal characteristics are typical of countries undergoing development. Objectives: The objectives of this study were the following: (a) compare physical growth patterns with an international standard; (b) determine biological age; and (c) analyze the double nutritional burden of adolescents living at a moderate altitude in Peru. Design: Weight, standing height, and sitting height were measured in 551 adolescents of both sexes (12.0 to 17.9 years old) from an urban area of Arequipa, Peru (2328 m). Physical growth was compared with the international standard of the CDC-2000. Biological age was determined by using a non-invasive transversal technique based on years from age at peak height velocity (APHV). Nutritional state was determined by means of weight for age and height for age. Z scores were calculated using international standards from the CDC-2000. Results: Body weight for both sexes was similar to the CDC-2000 international standards. At all ages, the girls’ height (p < 0.05) was below the standards. However, the boys’ height (p < 0.05) was less at ages, 15, 16, and 17. Biological age showed up in girls at age 12.7 years and for boys at 15.2 years. Stunted growth (8.7% boys and 18.0% girls) and over weight (11.3% boys and 8.8% girls) occurred in both groups. A relationship existed in both sexes between the categories of weight for the age and stunted growth by sex. Conclusions: Adolescents living at a moderate altitude exhibited stunted linear growth and biological maturation. Furthermore, adolescents of both sexes showed the presence of the double nutritional burden (stunted growth and excessive weight).

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.