Sascha Hein1, Jodi Reich2, Philip E Thuma3, Elena L Grigorenko4. 1. Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT. 2. Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT; Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. 3. Macha Research Trust, Macha, Zambia. 4. Child Study Center, Yale University, New Haven, CT; Moscow State University for Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia. Electronic address: Elena.Grigorenko@yale.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate normative developmental body mass index (BMI) trajectories and associations of physical growth indicators--height, weight, head circumference (HC), and BMI--with nonverbal intelligence in an understudied population of children from sub-Saharan Africa. STUDY DESIGN: A sample of 3981 students (50.8% male), grades 3-7, with a mean age of 12.75 years was recruited from 34 rural Zambian schools. Children with low scores on vision and hearing screenings were excluded. Height, weight, and HC were measured, and nonverbal intelligence was assessed using the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test, Symbolic Memory subtest and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, Triangles subtest. RESULTS: Students in higher grades had a higher BMI over and above the effect of age. Girls had a marginally higher BMI, although that for both boys and girls was approximately 1 SD below the international Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization norms. When controlling for the effect of age, nonverbal intelligence showed small but significant positive relationships with HC (r = 0.17) and BMI (r = 0.11). HC and BMI accounted for 1.9% of the variance in nonverbal intelligence, over and above the contribution of grade and sex. CONCLUSION: BMI-for-age growth curves of Zambian children follow observed worldwide developmental trajectories. The positive relationships between BMI and intelligence underscore the importance of providing adequate nutritional and physical growth opportunities for children worldwide and in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Directions for future studies are discussed with regard to maximizing the cognitive potential of all rural African children.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate normative developmental body mass index (BMI) trajectories and associations of physical growth indicators--height, weight, head circumference (HC), and BMI--with nonverbal intelligence in an understudied population of children from sub-Saharan Africa. STUDY DESIGN: A sample of 3981 students (50.8% male), grades 3-7, with a mean age of 12.75 years was recruited from 34 rural Zambian schools. Children with low scores on vision and hearing screenings were excluded. Height, weight, and HC were measured, and nonverbal intelligence was assessed using the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test, Symbolic Memory subtest and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, Triangles subtest. RESULTS: Students in higher grades had a higher BMI over and above the effect of age. Girls had a marginally higher BMI, although that for both boys and girls was approximately 1 SD below the international Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization norms. When controlling for the effect of age, nonverbal intelligence showed small but significant positive relationships with HC (r = 0.17) and BMI (r = 0.11). HC and BMI accounted for 1.9% of the variance in nonverbal intelligence, over and above the contribution of grade and sex. CONCLUSION: BMI-for-age growth curves of Zambian children follow observed worldwide developmental trajectories. The positive relationships between BMI and intelligence underscore the importance of providing adequate nutritional and physical growth opportunities for children worldwide and in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Directions for future studies are discussed with regard to maximizing the cognitive potential of all rural African children.
Authors: Aitziber Azurmendi; Francisco Braza; Aizpea Sorozabal; Ainhoa García; Paloma Braza; María R Carreras; José M Muñoz; Jaione Cardas; José R Sánchez-Martín Journal: Horm Behav Date: 2005-08 Impact factor: 3.587
Authors: Daniza M Ivanovic; Boris P Leiva; Hernán T Pérez; Manuel G Olivares; Nora S Díaz; María Soledad C Urrutia; Atilio F Almagià; Triana D Toro; Patricio T Miller; Enrique O Bosch; Cristián G Larraín Journal: Neuropsychologia Date: 2004 Impact factor: 3.139
Authors: Debbie A Lawlor; Jake M Najman; G David Batty; Michael J O'Callaghan; Gail M Williams; William Bor Journal: Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol Date: 2006-03 Impact factor: 3.980
Authors: Sally Grantham-McGregor; Yin Bun Cheung; Santiago Cueto; Paul Glewwe; Linda Richter; Barbara Strupp Journal: Lancet Date: 2007-01-06 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Catalina Mourgues; Mei Tan; Sascha Hein; Emma Ojanen; Jodi Reich; Heikki Lyytinen; Elena L Grigorenko Journal: Learn Individ Differ Date: 2016-02
Authors: Abdullah Shinwari; Alain Véron; Mohammad Haris Abdianwall; Elisabeth Jouve; Remi Laporte Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-06 Impact factor: 4.614