Being short is not in itself a result of malnutrition, nor does it limit a person’s ability to learn or their career, public health nutrition expert Omar Dary explained at a talk at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG).
According to the researcher, growth can reflect the body’s biological response to demanding environmental conditions. Above 1,500 metres, for example, less oxygen is available, and the body may adapt its size to save energy.
The talk marked the 10th anniversary of the Sustainable Economic Observatory and the university’s 60th anniversary, after a decade of work on evidence-based development.
