Indonesia's Crisis Causes Considerable Weight Loss among Mothers and Adolescents.

Abstract

In July 1997, a severe economic and political crisis hit Indonesia. The currency devaluated 3-4 fold, prices of foods and basic commodities increased markedly, and many people lost their jobs. Indonesia was one of many countries in Asia and Latin America that suffered, and still suffers, the consequences of an economic crisis. The impact of such a large reduction of purchasing power on nutrition and health has started to emerge. It is likely that, due to the crisis, access to food at household level was reduced in almost all socio-economic strata. This may have affected both the quality as well as the quantity of the diet. A poorer quality can lead to micronutrient deficiencies and their consequences, such as more illness, reduced vertical growth, and slower psychomotor and cognitive development. A reduction of the quantity will primarily reduce weight gain, or even cause weight-loss, in children and adolescents, and cause weight-loss in adults, which will lower their BMI (body mass index, kg/m