Growth rates in children recovering from protein-calorie malnutrition

Abstract

1. Compensatory, or ‘catch-up’, growth in eight malnourished children has been studied in relation to food intake, efficiency of food utilization and changes in body composition.2. During recovery, growth rates were fifteen times as fast as those of normal children of similar age, and five times as fast as those of normal children of a similar height or weight.3. Rapid growth was associated with a high food intake.4. When the expected weight for height was reached food intakes fell abruptly by 30% and growth rates dropped to a level comparable with those of normal children of that height and weight.5. Food conversion figures suggest an over-all increase in the efficiency of food utilization during rapid growth.6. The percentage body fat increased, once the expected weight for height was reached.7. Differences in the rates of weight gain from those predicted by the Miller-Payne equation were difficult to interpret: problems associated with the equation are discussed.