Follow-Up Study of Children with Growth Deficiency

This follow-up study revealed that all the children with growth deficiency in the original study had slower growth velocity after termination of the study. Two years later, 56% of the sample was located and the measures were repeated. The experimental group had diets significantly higher in fat and zinc than did the control group. The amount of fat, calories, zinc, and protein intake in all the children's diets was significantly related to their percentile level for weight. The stress of all the mothers, both experimental and control, had increased, and there was a significant increase in stress in the experimental mothers. There was no difference in the children's home environments, but the parent-child interactions were significantly more positive between the experimental children and their mothers. This follow-up study demonstrates that children with growth deficiency benefited over time from the original intervention but need continued intervention for positive significant changes to persist.