Growth charts

Concerns about a child's growth are one of the most common topics parents voice during general pediatric office visits and are a leading cause for referral to a pediatric endocrinologist. There are a variety of conditions that lead to short stature in children; however, in the absence of true pathology, idiopathic short stature and constitutional delay are the most frequent causes. This article reviews the general approach to evaluating the short child and clinical signs that should prompt further evaluation and referral. We also address the unique psychological issues that these children face and approaches to counseling families with a child with idiopathic short stature.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentiles of weight for age in cerebral palsy according to gender and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level and to identify weights associated with negative health outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study consists of a total of 102 163 measurements of weight from 25 545 children with cerebral palsy who were clients of the California Department of Developmental Services from 1988 through 2002. Percentiles were estimated using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape. Numbers of comorbidities were compared using t tests. The effect of low weight on mortality was estimated with proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: Weight-for-age percentiles in children with cerebral palsy varied with gender and GMFCS level. Comorbidities were more common among those with weights below the 20th percentile in GMFCS levels I through IV and level V without feeding tubes (P < .01). For GMFCS levels I and II, weights below the 5th p...

Objective: Standard deviation score or Z-score reference charts are used in some countries in preference to percentile charts and are considered as better tools in assessing children with measurements outside the accepted limits of normality. Growth data for Istanbul children have previously been reported as percentiles; hence, the aim of this study is to present these data in Z-score reference tables. Data on secular trend in height in Turkish children will also be presented. Methods: Height and weight data based on a total of 11 664 height and 11 655 weight measurements in 1100 boys and 1020 girls between 6 and 18 years of age obtained by biannual visits to schools were analyzed. All children came from well-to-do families and were all healthy. All measurements were made by two trained technicians. The LMS method was used in the analyses. The results were expressed as Z-score values for age. Results: Heights of the boys and girls in all age groups were close to the updated USA grow...

AIMS To provide head circumference references for school-aged children in western Romania, and compare them with references from other European countries. METHODS A total of 2742 children, aged 6-19 years, from Timis county, were examined by medical students, between February 2010-June 2011. Head circumference references were constructed by Cole's LMS method with LMSChartMaker software. The Romanian 3rd, 50th and 97th percentiles for head circumference were compared with recent references from Belgium and Germany. RESULTS Generally, boys show significantly larger head circumference compared to girls at any age. The head circumference increments between 6 and 19 years are < 1 cm/year. Head circumference increments decrease in increasing age of the children. In girls, adult head circumference is reached at the age of 16 years, whereas head circumference growth continues, in boys, slowly until 18 years. The comparison of Romanian head percentiles with those from Belgium and Germ...

Aim: The aim of the present study was to validate the Mosteller formula for the estimation of body surface area (BSA) in various childhood ages. Many physiological processes including drug metabolism correlate with values for BSA. In addition, dosing of many drugs, especially drugs with low therapeutic index, for example, anti-neoplastics, are based on estimated values of BSA.

Background: Growth references are useful for the screening, assessment and monitoring of individual children as well as for evaluating various growth promoting interventions that could possibly affect a child in early life. Aim: To determine the growth centiles of Malaysian children and to establish contemporary cross-sectional growth reference charts for height and weight from birth to 6 years of age based on a representative sample of children from Malaysia. Methods: Gender-and age-specific centile curves for height and weight were derived using the Cole's LMS method. Data for this study were retrieved from Malaysian government health clinics using a two-stage stratified random sampling technique. Assessment of nutritional status was done with the SD scores (Z-scores) of WHO 2006 standards. Results: Boys were found to be taller and heavier than girls in this study. The median length of Malaysian children was higher than the WHO 2006 standards and CDC 2000 reference. The overall prevalence of stunting and underweight were 8.3% and 9.3%, respectively. Conclusions: This study presents the first large-scale initiative for local reference charts. The growth reference would enable the growth assessment of a Malaysian child compared to the average growth of children in the country. It is suggested that the use of WHO 2006 Child Growth Standards should be complemented with local reference charts for a more wholesome growth assessment.

The association between primary hypothyroidism and precocious puberty secondary to ovarian hyperstimulation has been recognized for over a century. Here, we report the case of a 9-year-old girl with severe primary hypothyroidism, who presented with premature menarche, enlarged pituitary gland, enlarged ovaries with multiple cysts, and elevated prolactin and α -feto protein levels. Pituitary and ovarian radiology findings, and α -feto protein levels normalized a few weeks after hypothyroidism treatment was started. Reviewing the literature we found several reports of increased levels of tumor markers in girls with this association. Thyroid function tests should be always part of the evaluation of patients with precocious puberty especially if the bone age is delayed. Tumor markers and liver function tests may be abnormal in patients with severe hypothyroidism and improve soon after thyroid hormone replacement is started.

Growth charts are the mainstay of monitoring growth in babies who were born small or preterm. A variety of different charts are available, each with specific limitations. Most birthweight centile charts underestimate growth restriction in preterm babies and there are few good charts for monitoring longitudinal growth in preterm babies; it is important to be aware of the limitations of using cross-sectional data for monitoring longitudinal growth. Customised centile charts of fetal growth are used increasingly for antenatal monitoring for small-for-gestational age fetuses despite a lack of robust evidence. It is also unclear whether customised centile charts should be used for assessing birthweight, particularly in babies born at term. Faltering post-natal growth in preterm babies is very common but need not be universal with close attention to nutrition. Monitoring of growth trajectories through infancy following either fetal growth restriction or post-natal faltering growth is important to ensure proportional growth, particularly during periods of accelerated growth. This review will discuss these issues in the context of current practice in Australia and New Zealand.

ObjectiveHealth and nutritional information for many countries in the South-East Asian region is either lacking or no longer up to date. The present study aimed to calculate length/height percentile values for the South-East Asian Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS) populations aged 0·5–12 years, examine the appropriateness of pooling SEANUTS data for calculating common length/height percentile values for all SEANUTS countries and whether these values differ from the WHO growth references.DesignData on length/height-for-age percentile values were collected. The LMS method was used for calculating smoothened percentile values. Standardized site effects (SSE) were used for identifying large or unacceptable differences (i.e.$\mid\! \rm SSE \!\mid$>0·5) between the pooled SEANUTS sample (including all countries) and the remaining pooled SEANUTS samples (including three countries) after weighting sample sizes and excluding one single country each time, as well as with WHO growth references.Set...

The aim of the current study was to provide wrist circumference (WrC) and body frame size (Height/WrC) percentile values in Turkish children and adolescents aged 6-to-17 years. In this cross-sectional study, the data of "the Determination of Anthropometric Measures of Turkish Children and Adolescents" study (DAMTCA II) in Kayseri/Turkey was used. A total of 4330 observations were recorded (1931 boys, 2399 girls). The WrC and frame size references were produced with generalized additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS). The WrC percentiles (3rd-97th) were calculated. The frame size (Height/WrC) was determined as small, medium and large (<15th, 15-85th and ≥85th percentiles, respectively). For both genders, WrC linearly increased with age (13.0-16.8 cm for boys and 12.5-15.5 cm for girls, respectively). In boys and girls, the mean±standard deviation of WrC is 13.00±0.89 cm and 12.48±0.93 cm (6 years) and increases to 16.83±1.16 and 15.58± 0.86 cm (17 years), ...

Evaluation of a child's growth is one of the most important aspects of the general pediatric visit. Concerns about abnormal growth are the leading reasons general pediatricians refer patients to a pediatric endocrinologist. There is wide variation in normal growth patterns and an even greater variety of conditions that manifest with growth abnormalities. Here, we review patterns of normal growth in the pediatric and adolescent populations. We then review abnormal patterns of growth that require further evaluation and possible treatment.

Background: Most breast-fed newborns get the milk they need. However, very rarely milk intake is insufficient mostly as a result of poor breastfeeding techniques. Dramatic weight loss and hypernatremic dehydration may occur. Our aim was to construct charts for weight loss. Methods: A case-control study was performed. Charts with standard deviation score (SDS) lines for weight loss in the first month were constructed for 2,359 healthy breast-fed term newborns and 271 cases with breastfeeding-associated hypernatremic dehydration with serum sodium level > 149 mEq/L. Day 0 was defined as the day of birth. Results: Many cases with (or who will develop) hypernatremic dehydration (84%; +1 SDS line) fell below the À1 SDS line at day 3, the À2 SDS line at day 4, and the À2.5 SDS line at day 5 in the chart of the healthy breast-fed newborns. Weight loss of cases with permanent residual symptoms was far below the À2.5 SDS. Conclusions: Already at an early age, weight loss differs between healthy breast-fed newborns and those with hypernatremic dehydration. Charts for weight loss are, therefore, useful tools to detect early, or prevent newborns from developing, breastfeeding-associated hypernatremic dehydration, and also to prevent unnecessary formula supplementing. (BIRTH 2014)

Aims To determine a range of anthropometric measurements including skinfold thickness measurements in four different areas of the body, to construct population growth charts for body mass index (BMI), skinfolds, and to compare these with growth charts from other countries. One aim was also to validate body fat charts derived from skinfold thickness. Methods A national cross-sectional growth survey of children, 0-18 years old, was conducted using multistage stratified random sampling. The sample size included at least 200 children in each age-sex group. Height, weight, biceps skinfold, triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold, suprailiac skinfold, and mid-upper-arm circumference were measured in each child. We describe correlation, standard deviation scores relative to the other standards, and calculation of body density in the United Arab Emirates population. We determined whether any of the above is a good indicator of fatness in children. Results BMI, upper-arm circumference, sum of four skinfolds, and percentage body fat charts were constructed using the LMS method of smoothing. BMI was very significantly correlated with sum of skinfold thicknesses, and mid-upper-arm circumference. Prevalence of obesity and overweight in ages 13-17 years was respectively 9.94% and 15.16% in females and 6.08% and 14.16% in males. Derived body fat charts were found not to be accurate Conclusion A national BMI, upper-arm circumference, and sum of four skinfolds chart has been constructed that can be used as a reference standard for the United Arab Emirates. Sum of four skinfold thickness charts can be used as crude determinants of adiposity in children, but derived body fat charts were shown to be inaccurate.

In tro duc ti on Body weight, length and head circumference at birth are measurements used in the assessment of peri-and postnatal growth and health. However, for evaluation of fetal growth, it is essential to know the gestational age-adjusted birth weight, length and head circumference (1). It is known that there is a significant relationship between preterm birth and neonatal complications, mortality and developmental delay (2). The abnormal birth weight of infants who are small for gestational age (SGA) or of those who are large for gestational age (LGA) is also related with birth complications as well as with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and hypertension in later life (3,4,5). Producing gestational age-specific percentiles provides the opportunity to determine SGA and LGA infants. Another application of intrauterine percentiles is in predicting whether a preterm infant will be able to maintain his/her growth velocity or achieve catch-up growth in postnatal life (6). In 1966, Lubchenco et al (7) produced the first intrauterine growth reference charts which were based on a small sample of newborns whose mothers' socioeconomic level was low. These were the first and most frequently used reference charts until 1976, when another set of reference charts based on a relatively large sample size was published (8). Neither of these references may be representative of current populations. ABS TRACT Ob jec ti ve: Intrauterine growth references are primarily useful indicators in the assessment of the general health status of newborn infants. Although Lubchenco's references are still used in many neonatal care units, we believe that there is a need for up-to-date intrauterine growth references specific for different populations. To develop gestational age-and gender-specific national references for birth weight, birth length and head circumference. Met hods: Data were collected from neonatal records of perinatology services of eleven hospitals from January to December 2009. The anthropometry of a total of 4750 singleton live births born between 28 and 41 weeks of gestation were recorded. Means and standard deviations were calculated, and percentiles for each gender and gestational week were produced using the LMS program. The results were compared with US infants and also with local data. Re sults: Gestational age-and gender-specific 3 rd , 5 th , 10 th , 15 th , 25 th , 50 th , 75 th , 85 th , 90 th , 95 th and 97 th percentile values were produced. Comparison of the 10 th , 50 th and 90 th percentile values showed that the boys were heavier and longer than the girls. Head circumference values were also higher in the boys. Proportions of small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) infants in the sample were 10.1%, 79.1% and 10.8%, respectively. Conc lu si on: These gender-and gestational age-specific references will be of use in clinical practice and also for research purposes until more comprehensive, reliable and accessible national data pertaining to the intrauterine growth of Turkish infants are produced.

The study aims to assess the effects of switching from National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth references to World Health Organization (WHO) growth standards on health-care workers' decisions about malnutrition in infants aged <6 months. Methods: We conducted a single blind randomised crossover trial involving 78 health-care workers (doctors, clinical officers, health service assistants) in Southern Malawi. Participants were offered hypothetical clinical scenarios with the same infant plotted on NCHS-based weightfor-age charts and again on WHO-based charts. Additional scenarios compared growth charts with a single final weight against charts with the same final weight plus a preceding growth trend. Reported (i) level of concern, (ii) referral suggestions and (iii) feeding advice were elicited with a questionnaire. Results: Even after adjusting for health-care worker type and experience, using WHO rather than NCHS charts increased: (i) concern: aOR 4.4 (95% CI 2.4-8.1); (ii) odds of referral: aOR 5.1 (95% CI 2.4-10.8); and (iii) odds of feeding advice which would interrupt exclusive breastfeeding (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.9). A preceding steady growth trend line did not affect concern, referral or feeding advice. Conclusions: Health-care workers take insufficient account of linear growth trend, clinical and feeding status when interpreting a low weight-for-age plot. Because more infants <6 months fall below low centile lines on WHO growth charts, their use may increase inappropriate referrals and risks undermining already low rates of exclusive breastfeeding. To avoid their being misinterpreted in this way, WHO charts need accompanying guidelines and training materials that recognise and address this possible adverse effect.

This study evaluated the agreement of growth charts proposed by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS/1977), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/2000) and World Health Organization (WHO/2006). Were assessed children between 0 and 5 years old, hospitalized in the pediatric wards of a Brazilian school hospital. Z-score indexes: stature/age (S/A), weight/age (W/A) and weight/stature (W/S) was evaluated, in each of the three references (NCHS, CDC and WHO). ANOVA and test Bland & Altman and Lin plots were used in the comparison of the 3 charts. The agreement of the nutritional state categories was also evaluated, through kappa coefficient. The study was approved by the Institution&#39;s Research Ethics Committee. The study analyzed 337 children, whose median age was 0.52 (IQR: 0.21-1.65) years, 65.3% of them were below 1 year old, 60.2% were male and 50% hospitalized due to acute respiratory disease. Lower Z-scores of W/A and S/A were obtained with the WHO charts an...

Intrauterine growth restriction may be reduced by supplementing maternal diets during pregnancy, but few studies have assessed the impact of combined prenatal and postnatal interventions on child growth. We tested a hypothesis that provision of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements (SQ-LNSs) to mothers in pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum and to their infants from 6 to 18 mo of age would promote infant and child growth in the study area in rural Malawi. We enrolled 869 pregnant women in a randomized trial in Malawi. During pregnancy and 6 mo thereafter, the women received daily 1 capsule of iron-folic acid (IFA), 1 capsule containing 18 micronutrients (MMN), or one 20-g sachet of SQ-LNS [lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS), containing 21 MMN, protein, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, and 118 kcal]. Children in the IFA and MMN groups received no supplementation; children in the LNS group received SQ-LNSs from 6 to 18 mo. Primary outcome was child length at 18 mo. At 18 ...

Zebrafish is one of the most used vertebrate model organisms in molecular and developmental biology, recently gaining popularity also in medical research. However, very little work has been done to assess zebrafish as a model species in nutritional studies in aquaculture in order to utilize the methodological toolbox that this species represents. As a starting point to acquire some baseline data for further nutritional studies, growth of a population of zebrafish was followed for 15 weeks. Furthermore, whole body proteome was screened during development by means of bi-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Fish were reared under best practice laboratory conditions from hatching until 103 days postfertilization (dpf) and regularly fed ad libitum with Artemia nauplii from 12 dpf. A growth burst occurred within 9-51 dpf, reaching a plateau after 65 dpf. Fork length and body weight were significantly lower in males than in females from 58 dpf onwards. Proteomics analysis showed 28 spot proteins differently expressed through development and according to sex. Of these proteins, 20 were successfully identified revealing proteins involved in energy production, muscle development, eye lens differentiation, and sexual maturation. In summary, zebrafish exhibited a rapid growth until approximately 50 dpf, when most individuals started to allocate part of the dietary energy intake for sexual maturation. However, proteomic analysis revealed that some individuals reached sexual maturity earlier and already from 30 dpf onwards. Thus, in order to design nutritional studies with zebrafish fed Artemia nauplii, it is recommended to select a period between 20 and 40 dpf, when fish allocate most of the ingested energy for non-reproductive growth purposes.

Kidney length is the most useful parameter for clinical measurement of kidney size, and is useful to distinguish acute kidney injury from chronic kidney disease. In this prospective observational study of 437 normal children aged between 0 and &lt; 13 years, kidney length was measured using sonography. There were good correlations between kidney length and somatic values, including age, weight, height, and body surface area. The rapid growth of height during the first 2 years of life was intimately associated with a similar increase in kidney length, suggesting that height should be considered an important factor correlating with kidney length. Based on our findings, the following regression equation for the reference values of bilateral kidney length for Korean children was obtained: kidney length of the right kidney (cm) = 0.051 × height (cm) + 2.102; kidney length of the left kidney (cm) = 0.051 × height (cm) + 2.280. This equation may aid in the diagnosis of various kidney disor...

Background: The new growth charts in the UK, the UK-WHO charts, comprise prescriptive data from the WHO standard between two weeks and four years of age. Little is known about the development of obesity risk in normal UK infants, who are necessarily not fed according to the WHO recommendations and do not live in constraint-free environments (the selection criteria of the WHO standard source sample), using the new charts. Here, we investigated infant growth trajectories and traits indicative of childhood obesity using the UK-WHO charts, with the aim to clearly document the implications of adopting the new charts on UK growth monitoring practice. Methods: Mixed effects models were applied to serial weight and length data from 2181 infants (1187 White; 994 Pakistani) in the Born in Bradford birth cohort study to produce curves from 10 days to 15 months of age. Individual monthly estimates were converted to Z-scores and were plotted by sex and ethnic group. The relative risks (RR) of traits indicative of childhood obesity, including high BMI and rapid weight gain, using the UK-WHO charts compared to the previously used UK90 reference were calculated for all infants together and for White and Pakistani infants separately. Results: Both ethnic groups demonstrated patterns of growth similar to the UK-WHO charts in length but not in weight. The resulting pattern for BMI was remarkable, with an average gain of 1.0 Z-score between two and 12 months of age. The UK-WHO charts were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely than the UK90 reference to classify BMI above the 91 st centile after age six months (RR 1.427-2.151) and weight and BMI gain between birth (one month for BMI) and 12 months of age greater than two centile bands (RR 1.214 and 1.470, respectively). Conclusions: The change to the UK-WHO charts means that normal UK infants risk being diagnosed as being on a trajectory toward childhood obesity. National estimates of obesity will have to be recalculated for previous years to allow longitudinal comparison. The new charts do not allow a focused prevention effort for targeting programmes at infants most at risk of becoming obese, because the use of the 91 st or 98 th centile on the UK-WHO charts will identify many more infants as being at risk than the same centiles on the UK90 reference. Now more than ever, research is needed to develop a large scale childhood obesity prevention programme which could ideally be integrated with routine infant growth monitoring practice.

Objective. To describe preschool malnutrition prevalence and trends in Mexican children for the 1988, 1999 and 2006 Mexican National Nutrition Surveys using WHO-2006 standards and National Center for Health Statistics/ WHO (NCHS/WHO) references. Material and Methods. Prevalence of undernutrition (< minus 2 z-score for weight/ age, height/age and weight/height) and overweight (> plus 2 z-score for weight/height) were calculated. Results. Height/ age and weight/height have increased over time (p< 0.05). Using WHO-2006 standards, stunting in children less than 5 years years old was 26.9%, 21.5% and 15.5% in 1988, 1999 and 2006, respectively; values for wasting were 6.2%, 2.1% and 2.0%, respectively. Wasting in the very young (< 6 mo) in 2006 is high (4.9%). Overweight increased from 1988 to 1999 (6.1% to 7.5%) and stabilized in 2006 (7.6%). Gaps among ethnic and socioeconomic groups have decreased over time. Conclusions. Stunting has decreased markedly but continues to be the main malnutrition problem. Overweight has emerged as a public health problem in the young. Lower NCHS/WHO estimates previously published underestimated true prevalence. Length deviations in attained height after 12 months indicate poor infant feeding practices, probably coupled with early infections. Results reinforce the need to improve the quality of nutrition programs and to promote adequate lactation and infant feeding practices in Mexico.

PurposeC-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and its principal receptor, natriuretic peptide receptor B (NPR-B), have been shown to be important in skeletal development. CNP and NPR-B are encoded by natriuretic peptide precursor-C (NPPC) and natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) genes, respectively. While NPR2 mutations have been described in patients with skeletal dysplasias and idiopathic short stature (ISS), and several Npr2 and Nppc skeletal dysplasia mouse models exist, no mutations in NPPC have been described in patients to date.MethodsNPPC was screened in 668 patients (357 with disproportionate short stature and 311 with autosomal dominant ISS) and 29 additional ISS families in an ongoing whole-exome sequencing study.ResultsTwo heterozygous NPPC mutations, located in the highly conserved CNP ring, were identified. Both showed significant reductions in cyclic guanosine monophosphate synthesis, confirming their pathogenicity. Interestingly, one has been previously linked to skeletal...

Children with Turner syndrome (TS) have a specific growth pattern that is quite different from that of healthy children. Many countries have population-specific growth charts for TS. Considering national and ethnic differences, we undertook this multicenter collaborative study to construct growth charts and reference values for height, weight and body mass index (BMI) from 3 years of age to adulthood for spontaneous growth of Turkish girls with TS. Methods: Cross-sectional height and weight data of 842 patients with TS, younger than 18 years of age and before starting any therapy, were evaluated. Results: The data were processed to calculate the 3 rd , 10 th , 25 th , 50 th , 75 th , 90 th and 97 th percentile values for defined ages and to construct growth curves for height-forage , weight-forage and BMI-forage of girls with TS. The growth pattern of TS girls in this series resembled the growth pattern of TS girls in other reports, but there were differences in height between our series and the others. Conclusion: This study provides disease-specific growth charts for Turkish girls with TS. These disease-specific national growth charts will serve to improve the evaluation of growth and its management with growth-promoting therapeutic agents in TS patients.

Objective: to evaluate sexual and linear growth in kidney transplant ( KTX) children under cyclosporine A (CsA) , low dose prednisolone and azathioprine (Aza) Study Design: Prospective case-control study Setting University affiliated Urology & Nephrology Center & Ob.Gyn. Departments Patients: 18 girls & 21 boys with successful KTX before age of 16 years. Control: Normal age matched 200 girls and 171 boys. Interventions: assessment of sexual maturation by Tanner staging and linear growth by height standard deviation score (HSDS) and height increment (HI). Main outcome measures: Pubertal age in KTX vs. control, ratios of KTX with normal and retarded sexual maturation and linear growth. Results: Puberty in KTX children was significantly delayed compared to controls. Delayed sexual maturation was found in 22.2% of girls & 19.1% of boys, poor HSDS in 38.9% of girls & 33.3% of boys

WHAT'S KNOWN ON THIS SUBJECT: Better postnatal growth, especially head growth, associates with better cognitive development in preterm infants. Suboptimal postnatal growth is more common in infants with poor antenatal growth than in infants with normal growth.

The purpose of this work was to create growth curves specific to the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Growth parameters on 188 patients (86 females, 102 males) followed by a group of three dysmorphologists were collected by retrospective chart review. Growth charts for body mass, length/height, and head circumference were generated using a semi-parametric model with goodness-of-fit tests. The resulting charts show that between 25 and 50% of children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome fall below the 2nd centile for the normal population for all growth parameters. Establishing norms of growth for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome allows the clinician to identify and investigate those children who deviate substantially from the growth profile of this condition.

Twenty-five scientists met at Aschauhof, Altenhof, Germany, to discuss various aspects of the complex network of modern health screening, focusing on current scientific topics including medical sciences, human biology, and mathematics; on problems in implementing these results at the practical level of physicians, nurses, technicians, and engineers; and the level of administrative and political decisions. Whereas major scientific advancements have been published in the understanding and the bio-statistical evaluation of anthropometric screening parameters such as serial measurements of height and weight for preventive medical check-ups, BMI screening and surveillance in schools, etc., the implementation of these advancements into current health screening concepts, strategies and decision-making is poor. Fear of discrimination, misperception of body image, behavioural responses and political concerns, meanwhile dominate and negatively interfere with the implementation of recent scien...

The African pygmy phenotype stems from genetic foundations and is considered to be the product of a disturbance in the growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor (GH-IGF) axis. However, when and how the pygmy phenotype is acquired during growth remains unknown. Here we describe growth patterns in Baka pygmies based on two longitudinal studies of individuals of known age, from the time of birth to the age of 25 years. Body size at birth among the Baka is within standard limits, but their growth rate slows significantly during the first two years of life. It then more or less follows the standard pattern, with a growth spurt at adolescence. Their life history variables do not allow the Baka to be distinguished from other populations. Therefore, the pygmy phenotype in the Baka is the result of a change in growth that occurs during infancy, which differentiates them from East African pygmies revealing convergent evolution.

To measure Anthropometric data (Height and Weight) of Pakistani school children (of different socioeconomic and cultural background) 3-16 year, to develop growth centile charts, based on the above measurement and to document obesity and stunting in Pakistani Paediatric population, based on the above measurement. A Cross-sectional study with multistage stratified sampling was done in a Nationwide project of Higher Education Commission (HEC, Ref no: 20-441/R&D/2008) to develop growth centile charts of Pakistani paediatric population. Study was conducted from 2006-2009. Children studying in private and government schools of the four provinces of Pakistan were included. Prior to starting the study permission from the principal of the respective school and parents was taken. A total of 12837 children with normal birth weight, complete immunization, no history of chronic infection from 36-192 months (3-16 year) were included. Heights (cms), weight (kg), for Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2), ...

There is no consensus with regard to which charts are most suitable for monitoring the postnatal growth of preterm infants. We aimed to assess the strategies used to develop existing postnatal growth charts for preterm infants and their methodologic quality. A systematic review of observational longitudinal studies, whose primary objective was to create postnatal growth charts for preterm infants, was conducted. Thirty-eight items distributed in 3 methodologic domains (&quot;study design,&quot; &quot;statistical methods,&quot; and &quot;reporting methods&quot;) were assessed in each study. Each item was scored as a &quot;low&quot; or &quot;high&quot; risk of bias. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, assessed the risk of bias, and extracted data. A total quality score [(number of &quot;low risk&quot; of bias marks/total number of items assessed) × 100%] was calculated for each study. Median (range, IQR) quality scores for each methodologic domain and for all included st...

There is no consensus with regard to which charts are most suitable for monitoring the postnatal growth of preterm infants. We aimed to assess the strategies used to develop existing postnatal growth charts for preterm infants and their methodologic quality. A systematic review of observational longitudinal studies, whose primary objective was to create postnatal growth charts for preterm infants, was conducted. Thirty-eight items distributed in 3 methodologic domains (&quot;study design,&quot; &quot;statistical methods,&quot; and &quot;reporting methods&quot;) were assessed in each study. Each item was scored as a &quot;low&quot; or &quot;high&quot; risk of bias. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, assessed the risk of bias, and extracted data. A total quality score [(number of &quot;low risk&quot; of bias marks/total number of items assessed) × 100%] was calculated for each study. Median (range, IQR) quality scores for each methodologic domain and for all included st...

Our objective was to draw growth curves and assess obesity prevalence in adolescents of public schools, and to explore selected food consumption frequency and physical activity. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lebanese public schools. From the list of schools provided by the Ministry of Education, a random sample of 20 schools was chosen, distributed in all Lebanese regions. Participants were 2547 adolescents, aged between 11 to 18 years. Anthropometric measures of height and weight were taken, growth curves were drawn. Obesity and at risk of obesity prevalences were also calculated. Selected food intake frequency, physical activity and sedentary behavior were also analyzed. Growth curves were drawn for boys and girls. Overall, 6.6% of adolescents were obese, while 20.5% were at risk of obesity. There were significant differences in obesity prevalence estimates between age groups in girls : increased age was associated with higher obesity (3.8% in those &lt; or =13 years of...

Growth failure remains a persistent challenge in many countries, and understanding child growth patterns is critical to the development of appropriate interventions and their evaluation. The interpretation of changes in mean height-for-age z scores (HAZs) over time to define catch-up growth has been a subject of debate. Most studies of child growth have been cross-sectional or have focused on children through age 5 y.OBJECTIVE: The aim was to characterize patterns of linear growth among individuals followed from birth into adulthood.DESIGN: We compared HAZs and difference in height (cm) from the WHO reference median at birth, 12 mo, 24 mo, mid-childhood, and adulthood for 5287 individuals from birth cohorts in Brazil, Guatemala, India, the Philippines, and South Africa.RESULTS: Mean HAZs were &lt;0 at birth in the 3 cohorts with data and ranged from -0.6 (Brazil) to -2.9 (Guatemala) at age 24 mo. Between 24 mo and mid-childhood, HAZ values increased by 0.3-0.5 in South Africa, Guate...

This study aimed to provide height, body mass, BMI and waist circumference (WC) growth centile charts for school-children, aged 4-17 years, from central Peru, and to compare Peruvian data with North-American and Argentinean references. The sample consisted of 8753 children and adolescents (4130 boys and 4623 girls) aged 4 to 17 years, from four Peruvian cities: Barranco, La Merced, San Ramón and Junín. Height, body mass and WC were measured according to standardized techniques. Centile curves for height, body mass, BMI and WC were obtained separately for boys and girls using the LMS method. Student t-tests were used to compare mean values. Overall boys have higher median heights than girls, and the 50th percentile for body mass increases curvilinearly from 4 years of age onwards. In boys, the BMI and WC 50th percentiles increase linearly and in girls, the