Physical activity and anthropometric and functional characteristics of mildly malnourished Senegalese children

This study examines the effects of chronic malnutrition on the functional capacities and physical activity patterns of a group of 100 healthy Senegalese children between the ages of 10 and 13 years. Anthropometric measurements, a sub-maximal step test, spirometric tests and testing of four motor skills (foot races, jumping, throwing, gripping) were conducted and their physical activity was monitored by recording of heart rate every minute for 6 hours. The weights of two-thirds of these children fell below -1 SD from the WHO/NCHS* norm for their ages, their test results were inferior to those of Western children, and the level of their physical activity appeared also to be low. When these children are divided on the basis of weight deficits for age into well nourished and malnourished groups, malnourished children register poorer functional performances than well nourished children, but no difference exists with respect to the intensity of physical activity. These results highlight the negative effect of malnutrition on children's physical performance. The consequences are disturbing as the subsistence in the Sahelian Region depends on substantial physical labour.