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April 10, 2026Open Access

Growth pattern of school children of age group six to ten years in Kerala, South India

LVLaji VarghesePushpagiri Medical College ASAleyamma SebastianPushpagiri Medical College MEManju George ElenjickalPushpagiri Medical College

Key Points

The aim was to assess the growth patterns and prevalence of undernutrition and obesity in children aged 6 to 10 from low-income backgrounds.
Cross-sectional study of 2065 healthy school children aged 6 to 10 years.
Data collected on weight, height, family details, dietary habits, socioeconomic and environmental conditions.
Comparison with 2000 CDC growth tables for weight, height, and body mass index.
Undernutrition defined as weight below the 3rd percentile and overnutrition as BMI above the 85th percentile.
Chi-square test used to analyze factors influencing nutritional status.
67.1% from lower middle-class families; 32.9% from low-income families.
Yearly weight increments ranged from 2-3 kg until 9 years, increasing to 4-4.5 kg between 9-10 years.
Height increments were 5-6 cm for boys and 5-7 cm for girls annually.
28.8% of children were undernourished, with 6.8% stunted and 3.7% overweight.
A significant relationship observed between low income and maternal education below 6th grade with wasting.

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the growth pattern and the prevalence of under nutrition and obesity in children of age group 6 to 10 years from low and low middle income groups.Methods: 2065 healthy school children (995 boys and 1070 girls) were cross sectionally studied in one month for weight and height by standard techniques.Family details, dietary habits, socioeconomic and environmental conditions etc., were collected from a pre-tested proforma.The data were compared with 2000 CDC growth tables for weight, height and body mass index.rd Undernutrition was diagnosed as weight below 3 percentile and over nutrition as th body mass index more than 85 percentile of CDC 2000 data.Socioeconomic grading was assessed by modified Kuppuswami scale.The factors influenzing under nutrition and over-nutrition of the children were statistically analyzed using chi-square test.Results: 67.1% were from lower middle class families and 32.9% were from low-income families.Yearly increments in weight were 2 to 3 kg in boys and girls up to 9 yrs.Between 9-10 yrs it was 4 to 4.5 kg.Yearly increments in height were 5 to 6 cm in boys and 5 to 7 cm in girls.The mean values of weight in th th the study group were coinciding between 10 and 25 percentiles and of height th th between 25 and 50 percentiles of CDC 2000 values for both sexes.28.8% of the rd study group (31.6% boys and 26.1% girls) were below 3 percentile of CDC 2000 values for weight i.e., undernourished or wasted.6.8% of study children (6.6% rd boys and 7.1% girls) were below 3 percentile of CDC 2000 for height i.e., stunted.3.7% were over weight (4% boys and 3.4% girls) and 1.3% were obese (1.5% boys and 1.1% girls) according to body mass index.Statistical significance was th observed independently between low income and maternal education below VI standard in children with wasting.Conclusions: The mean weight and height of th children of 6-10 years from a developing country were coinciding between 10 and th th th 25 percentiles, and 25 and 50 percentiles of CDC 2000 data respectively.The overall prevalence of under nutrition, overweight and obesity were 28.8%, 3.7% th and 1.3% respectively.Low family income and maternal education below VI standard had significant relation with wasting.

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