Introduction. Causes and mechanisms of linear growth retardation (stunting).

A workshop held 6 years ago examined the epidemiology and natural history of stunting in Third World children. Although this condition is extremely common and is usually regarded as a manifestation of chronic malnutrition, in fact almost nothing is known about its causes and mechanisms in nutritional, biochemical, or metabolic terms. The objective of the present workshop is to fill these gaps and to identify, if possible, critical mechanisms by which environmental factors might affect linear growth. An example is described of a longitudinal study which attempted to examine, in more detail than has been done before, what is happening to children during the process of becoming stunted.