Anthropometry and the Prevalence of Child Protein–Energy Malnutrition in China and Japan

Abstract

Protein–energy malnutrition (PEM) remains the top leading cause of death in children in the world. Stunting, underweight, and wasting are common indicators for estimating the prevalence of PEM. Anthropometrical indices (length/height-for-age, weight-for-age and weight-for-length/height) and BMI (body mass index)-for-age of children (0–18) are prerequisites for malnutrition screening. This chapter presents PEM relating anthropometrical indices (in Z-scores and percentiles) and cut-offs for PEM in Chinese and Japanese children. Most data were based on national data sets, and the cut-offs for PEM were recommended by the academic associations in the two countries. Prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight in 2002 was 14.3%, 2.5%, and 7.8%, respectively, in Chinese children under 5 years old as estimated by the Z-score criterion recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1978. For children and adolescents aged 7–17 years, the prevalence of stunting and wasting was estimated as 2.7% and 10.5% in urban boys and 3.0% and 9.7% in urban girls in rural areas, the prevalence was 7.4% and 14.6% in boys, and 7.7% and 11.5% in girls, as estimated by the new WHO criterion (2006). Although the nutritional status in Chinese children has improved remarkably in the past two decades, it still remains a problem – especially in the rural areas of Western China. In Japan, the prevalence of thinness in boys and girls has been very low (under 4%) in the past three decades as estimated by the percentage of standard weight-for-height (POW).