Growth and nutritional status of Bedouin infants in the Negev Desert, Israel: evidence for marked stunting in the presence of only mild malnutrition.

Growth and feeding practices of 353 Bedouin infants from the Negev Desert, Israel, were compared to those of 302 Jewish infants from the same area and to American standards. These two populations differed in their cultures and educational backgrounds. The use of medical and health services was lower among the Bedouin population. The feeding practices of the Bedouin infants were markedly different from those of their controls. The Bedouin infants show a progressive decrease in weight, length, and head circumference (means of all three parameters were around the 5th percentile) while the Jews were comparable to Americans. The nutritional status was assessed by three different anthropometric measurements. The weight to length ratio showed that 88% of Bedouin and 96% of Jewish infants were above the 10th percentile. Tricep skinfold measurements showed that 96% of the Bedouins and 99% of the Jews were above the 5th percentile. The midarm circumference to head circumference ratio was in the range between 0.280 and 0.310 (mild malnutrition range) while that of the Jews was above 0.310 (well-nourished range). These data show marked stunting in the presence of only mild malnutrition. This observation argues against the general belief that marked stunting is the result of prolonged severe malnutrition. Differences in cultural and genetic backgrounds, as well as different feeding practices and increased morbidity, could contribute to this phenomenon.