Growth of remote Australian aborigines from birth to two years

Lengths and weights have been measured every month from birth to two years of age in 48 Aboriginal children born into six remote communities in the Kimberley region in the far north of Western Australia. Birthweights, on average, were slightly less than international reference values but growth rates in the first 3 months of life exceeded those reference values. However, between 3 and 6 months of age rates of weight gain and linear growth fell below those expected at that age and after 9 months of age Aboriginal infants were lighter than reference values and remained so throughout the first two years of life. By 2 years of age the Kimberley children were more than 1 kg lighter and 4.5 cm (boys) and 3.6 cm (girls) shorter than the international reference values. Monthly means and standard deviations for weight and length velocities are given. Environmental factors, particularly infections and inadequate nutrition, are important contributors to impaired growth in Aboriginal infants and young children.