Growth charts for use in Australia

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Anthropometry

Background:

• Australian growth charts are essential tools for monitoring child development.
• Previous charts relied on older data, necessitating an update for improved accuracy.
• The inclusion of a first centile for height is critical for specific clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update Australian growth charts using contemporary data.
• To incorporate a first centile for height for screening purposes.
• To address limitations of previous growth chart methodologies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 growth data.
• Updated height-for-age, weight-for-age, and body mass index-for-age charts.
• Incorporated LMS (Lambda-Mu-Sigma) values for precise centile calculations.

Main Results:

• Revised charts are based on more current CDC 2000 growth data.
• A first centile for height-for-age has been successfully implemented.
• Weight-for-age and BMI-for-age charts exclude the most recent anthropometric data to avoid skewing due to obesity rates.

Conclusions:

• The updated Australian growth charts provide a more contemporary reference standard.
• The inclusion of a first centile enhances screening for conditions like growth hormone deficiency.
• Exclusion of recent weight data aims to maintain chart integrity amidst rising obesity levels.