Dietary Determinants of Stunting and Anaemia Among Preadolescents in Morocco (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Malnutrition is widespread in Morocco, like in many other developing countries and Africa in particular. The 1990-1991 survey on living standards in Moroccan households reported a stunting rate (height-for-age z-score -2.0) of 23.9% among children under the age of 11 [1]. Among pre-school age children, the rate went from 28.3% in 1990 to 23% in 1998 [2]. The most recent national study, conducted in 1998, also revealed that 5.4% of adults are underweight [3], while isolated studies reveal the progression of obesity in adulthood, especially among women, with the nutritional transition experienced by the population in Morocco [4]. Micronutrient deficiencies are also widespread: 31.6% anaemia [5] and 40.9% vitamin A deficiency [6] among pre-school age children.