Regional differences in short stature in England between 2006 and 2019: A cross-sectional analysis from the National Child Measurement Programme.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Short stature, defined as height for age more than 2 standard deviations (SDs) below the population median, is an important indicator of child health. Short stature (often termed stunting) has been widely researched in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but less is known about the extent and burden in high-income settings. We aimed to map the prevalence of short stature in children aged 4-5 years in England between 2006 and 2019.

Methods and findings

We used data from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for the school years 2006-2007 to 2018-2019. All children attending state-maintained primary schools in England are invited to participate in the NCMP, and heights from a total of 7,062,071 children aged 4-5 years were analysed. We assessed short

SUBMITTER: Orr J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8478195 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature