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Updated: Jul 1, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Use of anthropometric indices to reveal nutritional status: normative data from 10,226 Chinese neonates
Tai-Fai Fok1, Kam-Lun Hon, Pak-Cheung Ng
1Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. taifaifok@cuhk.edu.hk
Insights
The weight-to-length (W/L) index best reflects intrauterine nutritional status in Chinese neonates. This study establishes gender-specific reference curves for six anthropometric indices, aiding in prenatal growth evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal anthropometry
- Prenatal growth assessment
- Intrauterine nutritional status evaluation
Background:
- Birth size measurements are crucial for assessing prenatal growth.
- Existing interpretation methods for these measurements have limitations.
- Accurate assessment of intrauterine nutrition is vital for neonatal health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish percentile curves for six common anthropometric indices in Chinese neonates.
- To identify the most effective anthropometric index for evaluating intrauterine nutritional status.
- To provide gender-specific reference data for neonatal anthropometry.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cross-sectional anthropometric study was conducted.
- Measurements were performed on 10,226 neonates (28-42 weeks gestation) within 48 hours of birth.
- Six anthropometric indices were analyzed, including ponderal index (PI), body mass index (BMI), and weight/length (W/L).
Main Results:
- All six anthropometric indices showed significant correlation with total skinfold thickness (T-SF).
- The weight/length (W/L) index demonstrated the highest correlation with T-SF across all infant groups (preterm, term, and whole).
- Gender-specific percentile curves were generated for the evaluated indices.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully established gender-specific reference curves for six key anthropometric indices in Chinese infants.
- The weight/length (W/L) index is recommended as a readily available and effective measure of intrauterine nutritional status at birth.
- These findings enhance the evaluation of prenatal growth and neonatal nutritional assessment.
Background:
Measures of body size at birth are widely used for the evaluation of prenatal growth but limitations exist in their interpretation.
Objective:
To establish the percentile curves for the six common anthropometric indices (PI: ponderal index, BMI: body mass index, THR: thigh circumference/head circumference ratio, MAC/OFC: mid-arm circumference/head circumference, W/OFC: weight/head circumference, and W/L: weight/length) and determine the best anthropometric index for evaluating intrauterine nutritional status in Chinese neonates.
Methods:
A prospective cross-sectional anthropometric study was carried out. The anthropometric measurements were performed according to the Hall's guidelines within 48 h of birth.
Results:
10,226 infants (5,422 males, 4,804 females) with gestation 28-42 weeks from 12 hospitals were included for analysis. All of the six anthropometric indices correlated well with total skinfold thickness (T-SF, the sum of triceps skinfold thickness and subscapular skinfold thickness; p < 0.0001). Among the six anthropometric indices, W/L showed the highest correlation coefficient with T-SF (r = 0.622; p < 0.0001 in whole group, r = 0.653; p < 0.0001 in preterm infants, r = 0.612; p < 0.0001 in term infants).
Conclusion:
The present study establishes the gender-specific reference curves for the six important anthropometric indices in Chinese infants. W/L is a readily available index at birth that reflects the intrauterine nutritional state.