Stunting: Its relation to overweight, global or localized adiposity and risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases

Abstract

This article discloses and discusses recent findings that have associated stunting - which still represents the most prevalent deviation from normal body measurements among children living in developing countries - with overweight and higher adiposity, mainly in the central region of the body, and their clinical and physio-pathological consequences. Although there is need for further studies to clarify these associations, there is a tendency for the weight/height index and body fat topography to behave differently in short and normal stature individuals, mainly in females. This review, therefore, alerts health professionals this characteristic, given that this anthropometric profile may be linked to the widespread occurrence of chronic noncommunicable diseases and/or to risk factors for these conditions and that stunting is still a reality in developing countries.