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Secular change in the growth status of urban and rural schoolchildren aged 6–13 years in Oaxaca, southern Mexico

Background: Populations in the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico are at high risk for malnutrition and marginalization. Aim: The study compared secular changes in the growth status of urban and rural schoolchildren in the Valley of Oaxaca between the 1970s and 2000. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional surveys of boys and girls aged 6–13 years (n = 1472) were carried out in an urban colonia populares in 1972 and 2000 and a rural indigenous community in 1978 and 2000. Height, sitting height and weight were measured; leg length, sitting height ratio, BMI, and prevalence of stunting, underweight, overweight and obesity were calculated. Sex-specific ANCOVA controlling for age was used. Results: Both urban and rural children experienced significant secular gains in linear dimensions, body weight and the BMI between the 1970s and 2000. Estimated rates of secular gain overlapped considerably between urban and rural children. Secular gains in the BMI are significantly greater in urban than rural boys and girls. Urban–rural differences in linear dimensions and body weight in 2000 compared to the 1970s do not differ in either sex, but urban–rural differences in the BMI are greater in boys and girls in 2000 compared to the 1970s. The prevalence of stunting declined while that of overweight and obesity increased. Conclusions: Significant secular increases in body size occurred between the 1970s and 2000, but there was considerable overlap between urban and rural children. Only secular gains in the BMI were significantly greater in urban than rural boys and girls and the magnitudes of urban–rural differences in the BMI were greater in 2000 than in the 1970s.