A sample of 113 boys and 101 girls of the Caracas Mixed-Longitudinal Study was grouped into early, average, and late maturers according to selected cut-off points of the 10th and 90th centiles for age at peak height velocity (APHV). Individual curves were fitted with the cubic spline function, in which height velocity corresponds to the first derivative. Age at menarche (AM) was estimated by recall in a longitudinal context. Differences between groups were assessed with F and t-tests. Girls were approximately 2 years earlier than boys in APHV and thus significantly shorter; their estimated PHV was also significantly lower. APHV in boys and girls occurred 0.4-0.6 years earlier than in European children, which is consistent with a faster tempo of growth of Venezuelan youth. The three maturity groups differed significantly in timing, stature, and AM. Early maturers were taller than average maturers, and the latter were taller than late maturers with maximal differences between the extreme groups at ages 13-14 in boys and 11-12 in girls. Early maturers grew at a faster rate than average maturers, and the latter grew at a faster rate than late maturers up to 13 years in boys and 10-11 years in girls. Despite difficulties encountered in the analysis of mixed-linked longitudinal data, meaningful growth differences were found between maturity groups of urban Venezuelan children. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Changes between pubertal stages (PS) are best analyzed in a longitudinal context. A sample of 67 boys and 48 girls from the Caracas Longitudinal Study who presented data for the full range of pubertal development: genitalia (G2–G5), breast (B2–B5), pubic hair (PH2–PH5), axillary hair (AH2–AH3), and age at menarche (AM) during follow‐up, were assessed at clinical examination. Medians and standard errors for ages at each stage were estimated with the logit method. For length of intervals between stages of genitalia, breast, pubic hair and axillary hair, intervals B2–M and PH2–M, survival analysis was used according to life tables and Cox regression analysis. In boys, G2 occurred at 11.61 years; in girls, B2 occurred at 10.35 years and AM at 12.55 years of age. In both sexes, length of the intervals PS 2–3 and 3–4 were approximately 1 year, while PS 4–5 was 1.5 years. Duration of puberty reached 3.7 years in boys (G2–G5) and 3.3 years in girls (B2–B5); corresponding intervals for PH2–PH5 were 3.1 and 3.0 years in boys and girls, respectively. B2–AM was 1.8 years (with a range of 0.3–3.6 years) and PH2–AM was 1.5 years (with a range 0.3–3.5 years). These results are useful for screening and monitoring: identifying abnormal pubertal patterns in subjects who are advanced or delayed with respect to their peers, together with other pubertal events such as age at peak height and weight velocity and skeletal age. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:88–96, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Background:The Venezuelan Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is the first assessment of information related to physical activity in Venezuela. It provides a compilation of existing information throughout the country and assesses how well it is doing at promoting opportunities for children and youth. The aim of this article is to summarize the information available. Methods: Thirteen physical activity indicators were graded by a committee of experts using letters A to F (A, the highest, to F, the lowest) based on national surveys, peer review studies, and policy documents. Results: Some indicators report incomplete information or a lack of data. Overweight and Obesity were classified as A; Body Composition and Nongovernmental Organization Policies as B; Municipal Level Policies as C; and Overall Physical Activity Levels and National Level Policies as D. Conclusions: 63% of children and youth have low physical activity levels. Venezuela needs to undergo a process of articulation between the several existing initiatives, and for said purposes, political will and a methodological effort is required. Investments, infrastructure, and opportunities will be more equal for all children and youth if more cooperation between institutions is developed and communication strategies are applied. Keywords: obesity, epidemiology, sedentary behavior, fitness, policyThere is no doubt that noncommunicable diseases (NCD) are a global health concern and that obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases have been on the rise during the last decades at an alarming rate. In Venezuela, the leading cause of death is cardiovascular diseases, and the rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity have been increasing during the past decade. 1 The cost of the high prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes is not only economic, but also results in a deteriorated quality life for those who suffer from these diseases. It is a major topic of scientific, social, and policy making discussions, especially when there are concerns about productivity and wellbeing of societies. Thus, Venezuela is facing increases of these NCD while still dealing with undernutrition and communicable diseases. 2 This has been a complex scenario when addressing the right interventions because at least ideally the aim should be to provide care for those who are overweight and/or obese and compensate those who are undernourished while attending to the normal population.Besides these challenges, the country is facing a relevant economic and social crisis in which the increase of poverty results in social disparities, constituting an obstacle for achieving the established international recommendations of physical activity (PA). 3 The last Standard Life Conditions Survey for Venezuelans 2015, conducted by 3 major universities in the country, reported that 53% of Venezuelan adults are not physically active, and the intensity of PA increases as socioeconomic status improves. 4 Similarly, childhood physical inactivity has reached levels that deserve media at...
Life conditions are key factors for defining growth and development of future generations. Exposure of parents to alcohol, tobacco, food insecurity conditions and adverse socioeconomic environment as part of their lifestyle and quality of life, have been reported to affect their children’s health and wellbeing. Prenatal exposures have been extensively documented, but less is known about influences from parental harmful habits and disadvantaged environment during children‘s school years. The aim of this study is to examine potential associations between parental habits and environmental socioeconomic conditions, including food security status, and anthropometric characteristics of their children. Parental smoking, alcohol intake, food security, and socioeconomic status (SES) were explored in parents of 1730 children recruited at private and public schools in eight Venezuelan cities. These qualitative variables were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Weight, height and body mass index were measured using standardized methods in children. Height and BMI were converted to z-scores according to WHO international growth reference. Low BMI z-scores in children were significantly associated with mothers consuming alcohol. The frequency of children with short height was higher in households with impaired access to quality foods and where mothers reported low and very low food security status. In brief, our study indicates that social environment could have detrimental effects on child anthropometry thus, affecting their wellbeing.
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