Evolution of the nutritional situation of indigenous and non-indigenous Chilean schoolchildren

Abstract

The marked decrease in stunting in children with a strong indigenous background seems related to a decrease in poverty over the period. Yet, the increase of obesity in all groups deserves further analysis.

From foundling homes to day care: a historical review of childcare in Chile

“…For example, several studies have analyzed physical growth and mental development in Mapuche children, the largest ethnic group in Chile that represents 4.6% of the total population. Bustos et al 35,36 and Amigo et al 33 reported that stunted growth and low weight in Mapuche children were not so much the result of hereditary differences but of conditions of poverty, and under ideal circumstances there should be no difference between anthropometric measures of indigenous and non-indigenous children, which is consistent with the results of studies reported in the WHO Child Growth Standards 58 .…”

Socioeconomic status and age at menarche in indigenous and non-indigenous Chilean adolescents

“…Lifestyle changes in recent decades have led to an obesogenic environment which could result in earlier pubertal development and younger age at menarche 13 . In Chile, higher obesity prevalence has been reported among Mapuche (indigenous) as compared to non-Mapuche girls, and this trend is increasing 14,15 . Meanwhile, menarche reportedly occurs later in Mapuche girls 16 .…”

Postmenarche growth: cohort study among indigenous and non-indigenous Chilean adolescents

“…Classification in a specific socioeconomic level was used as a control variable because of the association between low socioeconomic level and low stature, which had been observed in previous studies in Chile [16,31-34]. Due to the high proportion of poverty, the indigenous girls would be expected to be shorter at the onset of puberty and to present later onset of puberty and subsequently later age at menarche.…”