Growth of the Czech child population 0-18 years compared to the World Health Organization growth reference

Nationwide anthropological surveys of 0-18-year-old children were carried out in the Czech Republic (former Czech regions of Czechoslovakia) five times during the last 40 years, at 10-year intervals. The measurements provide reference data for the growth of the Czech child population and at the same time ample material for comparison with other populations. A comparison of the results of such nationwide anthropometric surveys with the World Health Organization (WHO) growth reference implies that the growth trend of Czech children is comparable with the WHO reference. The greatest similarity in the shape of the WHO height curves and the results obtained in Czechoslovakia was in 1971. The results obtained in the nationwide surveys also imply that the secular trend still exerts its effect. In the case of height, this finding is consistent during the whole period of 40 years. Concerning weight in higher age categories, especially in girls, the trend slowed down or stopped. Furthermore, there is no problem of malnutrition in the Czech child population. Similarly, as in any other developed nations, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is the problem that merits attention. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 9:459-468, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.