Combined stunting and overweight in young children – a paradox?

Abstract

The paper by Mamabolo and co-workers1 in this issue of the Journal raises some important questions around the pathogenesis and significance of stunting and apparent obesity in young children in rural South Africa, and the long-term consequences related to these. It has been established clearly in a number of studies conducted in South Africa (including the current one) that stunting is the major clinical form of undernutrition present in children in many parts of the country, with nearly 20% being stunted by 2 years of age.