Colombian reference growth curves for height, weight, body mass index and head circumference

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Anthropometry
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited growth references exist for Latin American children, with few studies from Colombia.
• Existing data often lacks comprehensive growth parameters for diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reference growth curves for Colombian children.
• To provide tools for individual growth monitoring and public health surveillance.
• To address the scarcity of region-specific pediatric growth data.

Main Methods:

• Utilized prospective measurements from 27,209 Colombian children.
• Employed Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) for data analysis.
• Focused on children from middle and upper socio-economic backgrounds.

Main Results:

• Developed reference curves for height, weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), and head circumference.
• Presented growth data in a ± 3 Standard Deviation (SD) format with logarithmic axes.
• Reported final height and weight at 18 years for boys and girls.

Conclusions:

• The new growth curves serve as a foundation for monitoring secular trends in Colombia.
• The presented format offers an effective clinical tool for healthcare providers.
• These references are crucial for assessing child growth and development within the Colombian context.