Socioeconomic variation in the growth status of urban school children 6-13 years in Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1972 and 2000

Socioeconomic variation in the growth status of urban school children 6–13 years of age in 1972 and 2000 was compared. The children were resident in the city of Oaxaca and were students in the same primary school in each year. Socioeconomic status (SES) was based on parental occupation. Height, sitting height, estimated leg length, weight, and the body mass index in 218 boys and 191 girls in 1972 and 173 boys and 166 girls in 2000 were compared. Sex‐specific MANCOVA was used to evaluate SES differences within each year, while sex‐ and SES‐specific MANCOVA was used to evaluate differences between years. The prevalence of stunting, overweight and obesity was estimated. There were no SES differences among boys and girls in 1972 and boys in 2000; low‐middle and middle SES girls were significantly taller and heavier with longer legs than low SES girls in 2000. Within each SES group, children in 2000 were significantly larger in body size and segment lengths except for sitting height in low SES children of both sexes. Estimated secular gains increased from low to low‐middle to middle SES in both sexes. Inequitable gains by SES contributed to an increase in the magnitude of differences between SES groups, especially between low SES children on one hand and low‐middle and middle SES children on the other hand. The prevalence of stunting declined while the prevalence of overweight and to a lesser extent in obesity increased from 1972 to 2000, more so in low‐middle and middle SES than in low SES children. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.