A comparative study of south Indian children with Tamil children born in France

A comparative database with Tamil children [(0 to 6 yr old, south Indian (n=13) and Sri Lanka (n=69)] born in France (Paris and its suburbs, first generation) and those living in south India [(Tamil Nadu (n=43) and Kerala (n=66)] was created with the ultimate purpose of preventing deficiencies in children’s health. Two main methods were used for collection of socio-demographic data as parents and body mass index of children. In France, Tamil boys (n=42) and girls (n=40) had almost the same percentage for obesity (about 5%), adiposity rebound was more for girls (7%) than for boys (2%). But thinness (between the 3^rd and 10^th percentile) was more in boys (22%) and girls (24%). In India (boys n=48, girls n=61), obesity was more in girls than those born in France; as also adiposity rebound, and underweight was noticed in a third of both girls and boys. In France, cultural impact of immigration is very important and can explain the stress of immigrant families. This may account for the thinness of the children.