Research

Hormonal

Childhood stunting is associated with altered metabolic profiles in adulthood, including lower fasting insulin, higher insulin sensitivity, and abnormal beta cell function, which may predispose stunted individuals to obesity and insulin resistance later in life.

For parents in low-resource settings, addressing childhood stunting is crucial not just for height, but for long-term metabolic health. Stunted children may have altered insulin sensitivity and beta cell function, increasing their risk of obesity and diabetes later in life.

LimitedQualifiesLOW confidence
It was concluded that the environment in shantytowns impairs growth potential and that stunted children growing up in these environments have abnormal beta cell function and lower fasting insulin and higher insulin sensitivity.
Prakash Shetty et al. · Food and Nutrition Bulletin · 2002

Why this rating

Observational study with a small sample size (58 children) and specific to a shantytown environment in Brazil.

Source

Application of Stable Isotopic Techniques in the Prevention of Degenerative Diseases like Obesity and NIDDM in Developing Societies

Prakash Shetty et al. · Food and Nutrition Bulletin · 2002

DOI 10.1177/15648265020233s134

narrative_reviewCited 6×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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