Given Hapunda

218 of the children are still stunted, however, showing a decrease in underweight and wasting with 5% and 3% respectively (SANHNES 2015:210). The MUAC measurements did not confirm the parameters of the WHO growth standards in this study, as the majority of the children in all three groups were within the normal range when compared with the UNICEF MUAC cut-off points. However, a positive relationship was found between MUAC, underweight and wasting in Soshanguve at baseline. No significant relationships were observed between MUAC and the parameters of the WHO growth standards in Evaton West and the Vaal region at baseline. Additionally, the MUAC results in this study were similar to those in a study conducted in the Greater Accra region of Ghana by Adom et al ., (2010), who reported that only 4% of the children between the ages of 6 and 18 months were severely malnourished. Poor socio-demographic and economic factors were reported to be influential determinants of underweight and stunting in previous studies (Steyn et al . 2005), this might be similar in this study as these factors were observed. Over-nutrition Overweight and obesity is increasing all over the world, with 20 developing countries already reporting rates of more than 5% (UNICEF, 2007). Similar trend was observed in SA, where overweight and obesity are prevalent among 10% and 4% of all children aged 1–9 years (Labadarios et al ., 2008). This was also observed in this study, in both experimental groups. Furthermore, this was confirmed by Kelishadi (2007) and Oldewage-Theron & Egal in Qwa-Qwa (2010), where children were reported to be overweight or obese. These results indicate that obesity may start at an early age and can escalate as the children grow older. Biochemical results Iron deficiency anaemia has been reported to be one of the most prevalent health problems worldwide, affecting 600 million children (Maslova et al ., 2009). The National Food Consumption Survey found that almost one-third of all the children aged 1–9 years old were anaemic, based on serum Hb concentration (Labadarios et al ., 2008). The children in urban areas were most affected (DoH & UNICEF, 2008). Although IDA was also observed in this study, the prevalence rate was much lower than the NFCS rate, however higher than recent findings of 11% reported by SANHNES (2015). Iron deficiency anaemia was observed in all three study groups. However, no significant difference between the prevalence rates