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Updated: Feb 20, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
An anthropometric survey of US pre-term and full-term neonates
Susan M Abdel-Rahman1, Ian M Paul2, Paula Delmore3
1a Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Innovation, Department of Pediatrics , Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Medicine , Kansas City , MO , USA.
Insights
This study provides new population curves for infant anthropometric measures, including limb lengths and circumferences, up to 90 days post-natal. These data expand reference charts for preterm and full-term infants, aiding in medical screening.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric anthropometry
- Growth monitoring
- Neonatal research
Background:
- Anthropometric data are crucial for medical screening and monitoring in infants.
- Existing public databases lack comprehensive anthropometric measures beyond weight, length, and head circumference for neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize length and circumferential anthropometric measures in preterm and full-term infants up to 90 days post-natal.
- To generate population-specific growth curves for a wider range of infant anthropometric traits.
Main Methods:
- Trained raters collected data on limb lengths (humeral, ulnar, femoral, tibial, fibular) and circumferences (mid-upper arm, mid-thigh, chest, abdominal, neck) across eight US medical centers.
- Data were analyzed using the lambda, mu, and sigma (LMS) method to create population curves based on post-menstrual age.
- Goodness-of-fit was assessed using de-trended quantile-quantile plots and Q statistics.
Main Results:
- The study enrolled 2097 infants with a mean gestational age of 37.1 weeks and post-natal age of 27.3 days.
- Population curves were generated for anthropometric measures between 33-52 weeks post-menstrual age, with reliable characterization.
- Models showed less certainty at the extreme ranges of 27-55 weeks post-menstrual age.
Conclusions:
- The generated population curves significantly expand existing reference data for infant anthropometry.
- This comprehensive dataset covers various anthropometric traits for infants in the first 90 days of life.
- The findings support improved screening and monitoring of infant growth and development.
Background:
Anthropometric data prove valuable for screening and monitoring various medical conditions. In young infants, however, only weight, length and head circumference are represented in publicly accessible databases.
Aim:
To characterise length and circumferential measures in pre-term and full-term infants up to 90 days post-natal.
Subjects And Methods:
In eight US medical centres, trained raters recorded humeral, ulnar, femoral, tibial and fibular lengths along with mid-upper arm, mid-thigh, chest, abdominal and neck circumference. Data were pooled by post-menstrual age into 1-week intervals and population curves created using the lambda, mu and sigma (LMS) method. Goodness-of-fit was assessed by examining de-trended quantile-quantile plots, Q statistics and fitted centiles overlaid on empirical centiles.
Results:
In total, 2097 infants were enrolled in this study with a mean ± SD gestational age and post-natal age of 37.1 ± 3.3 weeks and 27.3 ± 25.3 days, respectively. A re-scale option was used to describe all curves. The resultant models reliably characterised anthropometric measures from 33-52 weeks PMA, with less certainty at the extremes (27-55 weeks).
Conclusion:
The population curves generated under this investigation expand existing reference data on a comprehensive set of anthropometric traits in infants through the first 90 days post-natal.
