Nutritional status, body indices, and somatotype in Aymara and Quechua children from high Andean areas of Peru

Abstract

Infants born at high altitudes, such as in the Puno region, typically exhibit higher birthweights than those born at low altitudes; however, the influence of ethnicity on childhood anthropometric patterns in high-altitude settings remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterise the nutritional status, body composition and indices, and somatotype of Quechua and Aymara children aged 6-10 years. A cross-sectional, descriptive, and comparative design was employed, with a simple random sampling of children from six provinces representative of the Puno region, including 1,289 children of both sexes. Twenty-nine anthropometric measurements were taken, and fat, muscle, and bone components were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Standardised equations were applied to determine body indices. Among the findings, most children presented normal nutritional status according to BMI-for-age and height-for-age Z-scores. However, high rates of overweight and obesity were observed in Aymara (39%) and Quechua (28.4%) children, with differences in fat content between ethnic groups at the 5th, 10th, 50th, and 75th percentiles. Both groups were characterised by brachytypy and brachybrachial proportions; Quechua children were mesoskelic and Aymara brachyskelic, with macrocormic proportions, rectangular trunks, and broad backs. The predominant somatotype was mesomorphic, with a stronger endomorphic tendency among Aymara. It is concluded that both groups exhibit normal nutritional status; however, Aymara children show a greater tendency towards fat accumulation and notable morphological differences. Differences were also observed in limb proportions, particularly a relatively shorter lower limb.

Keywords: % BF, body fat percentage; % BM, bone mass percentage; % MM, muscular mass percentage; AII, acromio–iliac index; BI, brachial index; BII, biiliocrestal iliac index; BM, bone mass; BMI, body mass index; BS, bone structure; Body composition; Body indices; CI, cormic index; EPAS, endothelial PAS domain-containing protein; Ec, ectomorph; En, endomorph; FM, fat mass; HIF, hypoxia inducible factor; High altitude; IP, ponderal index; ISAK, International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry; MM, muscle mass; Me, mesomorph; P, percentile; R, resistance; RBI, relative biacromial index; RLLE, relative length of lower extremities; RLUE, relative length of upper extremities; SD, standard deviation; SI, schelic index; Somatotype; V, volume; VM, visceral mass; WHI, waist–hip index; WHO, World Health Organization; WHeI, waist–height index; Z-score, standard score; p, resistivity.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1.

Sample selection flow chart. From the population of children aged 6 to 10 years enrolled in the school education system in 13 provinces of the Puno Region, two-stage cluster sampling was applied to select three provinces with predominantly Quechua-speaking ethnicity (Azángaro, Melgar, Lampa) and three Aymara-speaking ethnicity (Chucuito, El Collao, Puno) for a sample of 1289 children (608 Aymara and 681 Quechua). One of the inclusion criteria was Quechua or Aymara origin of the children up to two generations.

Fig. 2.

(a) Nutritional status according to BMI/Age indicator in children aged 6 to 10 years in Aymara and Quechua high Andean areas. Children at 6 years of age show a predominance of normal nutritional status in both ethnic groups; at 10 years of age the percentage is lower in the Aymara. According to age, overweight and obesity is ascending in the Aymara, while in the Quechua, this state is expressed from the age of 6, increasing the obese state at the age of 10. (b) Nutritional status according to Height/Age indicator in children aged 6–10 years in Aymara and Quechua high Andean areas. The highest percentage of children show normal growth in both ethnic groups. Short stature is evident in both ethnicities.

Fig. 3.

(a) Heath-Carter Somatotype Chart of Quechua Children. The somatochart of Quechua children displays a point cloud predominantly located in the mesomorphic region, with a moderate endomorphic inclination relative to the Aymara, and reduced ectomorphic representation. (b) Heath-Carter Somatotype Chart of Aymara Children. The somatochart of Aymara children reveals a cluster of points predominantly within the mesomorphic component, exhibiting a marked endomorphic trend in comparison to the Quechua group, with lower ectomorphic distribution.