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A longitudinal study of the physical growth of Japanese infants

N Kato1, M Takaishi

  • 1National Institute of Public Health, Tokyo, Japan.

Annals of Human Biology
|August 26, 1999
PubMed

Insights

This study analyzed physical growth in 3183 Japanese infants, comparing their body weight, length, and head circumference to NCHS standards. Japanese infants showed smaller length and head circumference but varied body weight patterns compared to the NCHS standard.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Anthropometry

Background:

  • Understanding typical physical growth patterns in infants is crucial for early identification of developmental issues.
  • Existing growth standards, like the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), may not fully represent diverse populations.
  • Japanese infant growth characteristics require specific data for accurate health assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the physical growth of Japanese infants up to one year of age.
  • To compare Japanese infant anthropometric data with the NCHS standard.
  • To investigate the influence of birth weight and feeding methods on infant growth.

Main Methods:

  • Data from 3183 Japanese infants across 53 hospitals were collected.
  • Percentile values for body weight, recumbent length, and head circumference were calculated.
  • Infants were grouped by birth weight to analyze fetal growth influence; feeding methods were also considered.

Main Results:

  • Japanese infants exhibited smaller recumbent length and head circumference compared to NCHS standards throughout the first year.
  • Body weight was higher in Japanese infants from 0-6 months but lower from 8-12 months relative to NCHS.
  • Growth curves showed parallel 50th percentiles across birth weight groups, with widening percentile intervals in the first six months.
  • No significant differences in body weight were observed based on feeding methods.

Conclusions:

  • Japanese infants demonstrate distinct growth patterns compared to the NCHS standard, particularly in length and head circumference.
  • Birth weight influences growth trajectories, with distinct percentile ranges observed.
  • Feeding methods did not significantly impact body weight within the studied age range.

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