Abstract

PIP: Several important studies within the past 20 years have examined the impact of acute nutrient deficiencies upon physical work capacity. Spurr et al. and Satyanarayana et al. extended that line of research to explore the apparent effects of chronic or lifelong undernutrition upon the work capacity of adolescent males. These studies conducted in Colombia and India, as well as others in Tanzania and Guatemala, are discussed. The authors believe that there is enough evidence to conclude that poor early childhood nutritional status, as indicated by the low dietary energy intakes and subsequent stunted growth, leads to many undesirable functional consequences. The studies of physical work capacity, together with other measures such as cognitive functioning and reproductive performance, provide strong evidence in support of policies and programs designed to eliminate the causes of environmental stunting in poor populations.