time. These secular cbanges. a roll: ! iii ihutcd t() ljipro)nImcnts in the quaht\ ol hi iic. Secular chaiges were demnorsir;itcd in Jpanvc A.dh iledn li. iig in Ja pan and C Ihlorniai. In I9)57 Japanese children living in Xiihlormia **cFc** tal kr (ha those liirn in Japan' FI lteen sr ;rrs **laicr** the same researcher found that thcrc Acrc no Jilccrinccs in hcni1ht because<sup>sccular changes had</sup> occurred in Japani hut ni)t mn (alilrm, a.' wAeiaht for height is a measure ot acute nltritional well-heing. When children<sup>are lacedAith</sup> chronic bLu. moderate nutritional deficiencN they groA less proportionatcl in both kcight and height. As the se\crity and duration of nutritional iel'iciency increases<sup>children cea;\e to) ro%w</sup> allogether and tissue resernes are broken down to supplh cnergs andi<sup>the proc</sup> nss otine occurs." Children 12-24 months ol aIge show a peak prevalence of1<sup>inaidequite</sup> eieghI-heigh because of high diarrheal burden, inadequate food during Aeaning, ~inorexia<sup>fromhOUlS</sup><sup>**Of**</sup> diarrhea or intection, and increaseLi requirements during episodes ol<sup>iuilection. *h.n</sup> vscight lbr height is high, obesity occurs. Ohesitl dala are not available for most<sup>Jeveloping countries, but</sup> because overnuirition is a growing problem it is anticipated that more .ention<sup>will he given to</sup> expressing this information in the f'uture.

heiglht for aue is a measure ol linear growth. Nutritional deprivation<sup>rapidly aff'ects skeletal</sup> growth and causes stunting. Growth is compromised usually from severelv<sup>low intakes of food.</sup> and frequent bouts of infection. In most developing countries, the proportion of<sup>stunting in</sup> children increases up to the age ol' 24 to 36 months and then remains<sup>constant.' Children who</sup> are stunted at the age of three \kill probabiv be small adults." ,heicht for ace (undcrseight) ri a composite of "eight lor height and height lor age. Because oi the difficulty ol assessing height accurat;el. weight lor age has been the<sup>most commonly used</sup> measure of nuirinonal **Status** and has heen widely used in clinics lor<sup>growth monitoring. In\er\</sup> small children weight is as sensiui%c a measure of nutrilional status as height. In older<sup>children</sup> low wcight for age reflects largely stunting because weight for height is usually normal. Veight for ag e has been used in these tables because it is the most common indicator a%ailable<sup>across</sup> countries.

WVhen assessing nutritional status, it is best to examine the indicators for both stunting (height 'Martorell, R. (1985). Child growth retardation: a discussion of its causes<sup>and its</sup> relationship to helalth. In: (K. Blaxter & J.C. Waterlov. cds. ). Nutrition AdaVtation<sup>in Man,</sup> London N: Paris; John Lihhbe.

'Greulich, W.W. (1957). A comparison of the phvsical growth and development<sup>ol</sup> American-born and native Japanese children. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 15:489-516.

iGreulich, W.W (1976). Some secular changes in the gro\kth of American-born<sup>and nalike</sup> Japanese children. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 45:553-568.

'Martorell. R. (198I5) op. cit.

WHO. IS6. op cit.

Nlartorell. R. ( 1991)). Importance of' childhood retardation for adult<sup>bodv size. Statement</sup> prepared for the Expert NMeeting on Economic Consequences of' Health Programs in LDCs. Committee on Population. National Academy of Sciences, June 25-26.