DOI: 10.1017/s1368980026103589 ISSN: 1368-9800

Stunting and weight gain in paediatric refugees after US immigration

Madison Searles, Adeenah Ahmed, Paula Rosenbaum, Andrea Shaw, Christina Campagna
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Abstract

Objective:

This cohort study aims to explore weight gain and stunting in the Syracuse, NY paediatric refugee population.

Design:

Demographics, height and weight were collected through chart review and electronic abstraction in 2019–2020 for N 941. BMI was calculated using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention software and metrics; obesity was defined as a BMI ≥ 95 th percentile while overweight was a BMI percentile ≥85 th but <95 th percentile. Stunting was based on the WHO’s definition of a height-for-age Z score <−2·0. Differences in BMI percentiles were assessed using chi-square tests, t-tests or one-way ANOVA while BMI change over time was analysed using linear mixed modelling.

Setting:

Pediatric International Health Clinic at an academic medical centre from 2012 to 2017.

Participants:

Paediatric refugees.

Results:

The cohort was 49 % female with a mean age (

sd
) upon arrival of 8·9 (4·7) years. Sixty-one percent of refugees were from Africa, with 33 % from the Middle East. Stunting was observed in 9·7 % of participants upon arrival and varied significantly by region of origin. Obesity was observed in 24 % of refugees after living in the US for 5 or more years while the frequency of overweight at 5 plus years was 19·4 %. In linear mixed modelling, stunting, region of origin and duration of residence in the US were found to be significant predictors of BMI change over time.

Conclusions:

Results support implementing targeted obesity prevention interventions in the Pediatric International Health Clinic refugee population and highlight additional risk for those arriving with stunting.

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