To explore the possibility for a statistically appropriate value of mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) to identify the state of severe undernutrition, based on very low BMI, among adult Indian slum dwellers.

Cross-sectional study on adults. Height and MUAC were recorded and BMI was computed. Chronic energy deficiency (CED) was determined using the WHO international guidelines as BMI<18·5 kg/m2 and normal as BMI≥18·5 kg/m2. Besides calculating mean, sd and 25th, 50th and 75th percentile values, multiple linear regression analysis was undertaken to assess the associations between age, MUAC and BMI. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the best MUAC cut-off to identify CED status. The χ2 test was used to assess significance of the difference in CED prevalence across MUAC categories.

An urban slum in Midnapore town, West Bengal State, India.

Male (n 467) and female (n 488) Indian slum dwellers.

MUAC of 22·7 and 21·9 cm, respectively, in males and females were the best cut-off points to differentiate CED from non-CED.

Results supported the validity of the WHO-recommended MUAC cut-offs for adults. There is still a need to establish statistically appropriate MUAC cut-offs to predict undernutrition and morbidity.

To assess trends in nutrient intakes and nutritional status of rural adult women (≥18–60 years) and the association of sociodemographic characteristics with overweight/obesity.

Community-based cross-sectional studies carried out during 1975–79 to 2011–12 by the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) were used. Anthropometric measurements such as height, weight and waist circumference, carried out during the surveys, were used. Association and logistic regression analyses between sociodemographic characteristics and overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity were conducted using a complex samples procedure.

Ten NNMB states of India.

Non-pregnant and non-lactating rural women aged ≥18–60 years covered during the above periods from ten states in India.

The prevalence of chronic energy deficiency has declined from 52 % during 1975–79 to 34 % during 2011–12, while that of overweight/obesity has increased from 7 % to 24 % during the same period. Median intakes of most of the nutrients have increased over the same period, although they were below recommended levels. The chance of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity was significantly (P<0·01) higher among women aged 40–60 years, those belonging to Christian religion and other backward communities, women living in pucca houses, literate women, women engaged in service and business, and those having higher per capita income.

Prevalence of chronic energy deficiency has declined significantly; however, overweight/obesity has increased during the same period. This increase in overweight/obesity may be attributed to increased consumption of fatty foods, sedentary lifestyle and improved socio-economic status. There is a need to educate the community about regular physical exercise, low intakes of fats and oils, and a balanced diet.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of settlement on the nutrition and health status of pastoral women of reproductive age.

A cross-sectional survey that included a 24 h dietary recall was administered to 224 randomly selected Gabra women. Height and weight were used to compute BMI. Whole capillary blood was used to measure Hb. Additional capillary blood was collected on filter paper and dried blood spots were analysed for transferritin receptor, C-reactive protein and α1-acid glycoprotein. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse population characteristics. The t test and the χ2 test were used to determine population differences. Multiple criteria models were used to determine the prevalence of Fe deficiency, anaemia and inflammation.

Settled and semi-settled women in Kalacha Location in Marsabit County, Kenya.

Non-pregnant women aged 15–49 years.

Fe repletion was observed in 43 % of settled and 40 % of semi-settled women. Fe-deficiency erythropoiesis in was found in 18 % of settled and 20 % of semi-settled women, whereas 15 % of settled compared with 25 % of semi-settled women were suffering from Fe-deficiency anaemia. Anaemia due to chronic diseases was more prevalent in semi-settled women than in settled women, and more common than Fe-deficiency anaemia.

Settled women were significantly less anaemic than semi-settled women, but had similarly high levels of chronic energy deficiency. While anaemia and Fe deficiency were more pronounced in semi-settled than settled women, anaemia of chronic disease and chronic infection were highly prevalent in both communities. Policies should be put in place to improve overall nutrition among pastoral women.

To evaluate changes over 1 year in weight and body mass index (BMI) among a population-based sample of non-pregnant women in Indonesia and to identify risk factors for developing under- and overnutrition.

Cross-sectional studies in 1996 and 1997 in the same population.

Purworejo District, central Java, Indonesia.

Non-pregnant women (n = 4132) aged 15–49 years of age who participated in both 1996 and 1997. Based on BMI, women were classified as having chronic energy deficiency (CED), and as being either of normal weight or obese.

The mean height of the women was below the fifth percentile of international standards. In 1996, 16.2% had CED, 72.2% were normal and 11.6% were obese. In 1997, the corresponding figures were 14.4%, 71.2% and 14.3%, respectively, revealing a significant mean increase in weight and BMI. Among women classified as normal in 1996, 3.0% developed CED in 1997. Significant risk factors for developing CED were experiences of child deaths and non-use of contraceptives. Among women classified as normal in 1996, 5.3% developed obesity in 1997. Here, significant risk factors included most indicators of wealth as well as occupation.

The results should be important for future efforts to prevent CED and obesity in the general population; conditions which are both associated with health risks.

To understand the role of women's input into household decisions as a possible factor contributing to women's undernutrition in settings where HIV/AIDS and drought have constrained household resources.

Three cross-sectional surveys of non-pregnant women in partnerships without a birth in the last 3 months were analysed. Factors associated with chronic energy deficiency (CED), defined as body mass index of < 18.5 kg m−2, were assessed among 1920 women in Zimbabwe, 2870 women in Zambia and 6219 women in Malawi.

Prevalence of CED was 4.2% in Zimbabwe, 13.5% in Zambia and 6.7% in Malawi. In Malawi, women with less input into decisions were more likely to have CED. After multivariable adjustment, each additional decision made by the partner increased the odds of CED in Malawi by 1.08 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.15); each additional decision made by the woman decreased the odds of CED by 0.90 (95% CI 0.88–0.97). Malawian women with all the final say or with partners with no final say had significantly more CED than expected (odds ratio (OR) = 2.88, 95% CI 1.42–5.83 and OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.06–2.52, respectively), and removing these points increased the magnitude and significance of the linear trends. In Zambia, the relationship was found for urban women only and no associations were found in Zimbabwe.

Input into household decisions may be a key factor in the cycle of drought and CED. Women with both low input and CED may lose productive capacity, putting them at greater risk of food insecurity and potentially HIV/AIDS in high prevalence settings.