Effectiveness of a stunting recovery program for children treated in a specialized center

BACKGROUND: Stunting is still very prevalent in many poor and developing regions in the world. This study assessed the effectiveness of a stunting recovery program in children and its associated factor. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted in a center of stunting recovery. There, children stayed in a day hospital system (9h per day5 days per week), and received five meals per day, pioviding 80% of their energetic daily needs. The main outcome was the stunting recovery rate (i.e., the child present a height for age index (HAZ) > - 1.0 at the time of data collection). A total of 75 children treated for at least 24 months, aged between 6 and 48 months and with an HAZ 24 months" (prevalence rate (PR) = 0.39, 95% confidence interval (Cl): 0.15-0.99P = 0.04) and the variable "Household crowding index" (PR = 0.65, 95% Cl: 0.44-0.95, P = 0.03) were associated with the success of the treatment. CONCLUSION: The environmental conditions in which the children live in their households and late admission to the center negatively influenced the success of stunting recovery, even with an intensive treatment.Univ Fed Alagoas, Fac Nutr, Ctr Recuperacao & Educ Nutr, Cidade Univ, Maceio, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Fisiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Fisiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

The bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) international database: aims, scope, and call for data

Background: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a technique widely used for estimating body composition and health-related parameters. The technology is relatively simple, quick, and non-invasive, and is currently used globally in diverse settings, including private clinicians’ offices, sports and health clubs, and hospitals, and across a spectrum of age, body weight, and disease states. BIA parameters can be used to estimate body composition (fat, fat-free mass, total-body water and its compartments). Moreover, raw measurements including resistance, reactance, phase angle, and impedance vector length can also be used to track health-related markers, including hydration and malnutrition, and disease-prognostic, athletic and general health status. Body composition shows profound variability in association with age, sex, race and ethnicity, geographic ancestry, lifestyle, and health status. To advance understanding of this variability, we propose to develop a large and diverse multi-country dataset of BIA raw measures and derived body components. The aim of this paper is to describe the ‘BIA International Database’ project and encourage researchers to join the consortium. Methods: The Exercise and Health Laboratory of the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon has agreed to host the database using an online portal. At present, the database contains 277,922 measures from individuals ranging from 11 months to 102 years, along with additional data on these participants. Conclusion: The BIA International Database represents a key resource for research on body composition