Physical growth of Ecuadorian Chachi Amerindians.

Measurments of height, weight, arm circumference, and triceps and subscapular skinfolds were collected on 457 Ecuadorian Chachi Amerindians between the ages of 4 and 64 years. Compared to US reference values, the Chachi are very small in terms of height-for-age, but have normal or above normal weight-for-height. The Chachi are also in the lower part of the distribution of body size among South American Indians. In terms of body composition, Chachi arm circumferences and triceps skinfolds are below the US 50th percentile. The estimated upper arm muscle area of Chachi males is below the US median, but Chachi females older than the age of 15 have arm muscle areas exceeding the US median. One reason for the greater arm muscle area of adult Chachi females may be that they perform much more physical activity involving the upper body than do US women. Problems in the interpretation of anthropometric indicators of nutritional status among South American Indian populations limit the conclusions about Chachi nutritional status that can be drawn from these results.