Emergency Nutrition Network, Oxford, UK.
The Demographic and Health Surveys Program, ICF, Rockville, MD, USA.
Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2022 Oct;6(10):738-746. doi: 10.1016/S2352-4642(22)00196-1. Epub 2022 Aug 24.
Recognition of the importance of nutrition during middle childhood (age 5-9 years) and adolescence (age 10-19 years) is increasing, particularly in the context of global food insecurity and rising overweight and obesity rates. Until now, policy makers have been slow to respond to rapidly changing patterns of malnutrition across these age groups. One barrier has been a scarcity of consistent and regular nutrition surveillance systems for these age groups. What should be measured, and how best to operationalise anthropometric indicators that have been the cornerstone of nutrition surveillance in younger children and in adults, has been the topic of ongoing debate. Even with consensus on the importance of a given anthropometric indicator, difficulties arise in interpreting trends over time and between countries owing to the use of different terminologies, reference data, and cutoff points. In this Viewpoint we highlight the need to revisit anthropometric indicators across middle childhood and adolescence, a process that will require WHO and UNICEF coordination, the engagement of national implementors and policy makers, and partnership with research communities and donors.
人们越来越认识到儿童中期（5-9 岁）和青少年期（10-19 岁）营养的重要性，尤其是在全球粮食不安全和超重及肥胖率不断上升的背景下。迄今为止，决策者对这些年龄段不断变化的营养不良模式反应迟缓。一个障碍是缺乏针对这些年龄段的一致和定期营养监测系统。应该衡量什么，以及如何最好地运作在年幼儿童和成年人营养监测中作为基石的人体测量指标，一直是一个持续争论的话题。即使人们一致认为某一人体测量指标很重要，但由于使用不同的术语、参考数据和临界值，在解释随时间和国家间的趋势时仍会遇到困难。在本观点文章中，我们强调需要重新审视儿童中期和青少年期的人体测量指标，这一过程将需要世卫组织和儿基会的协调，需要国家执行者和决策者的参与，并需要与研究界和捐助方建立伙伴关系。
