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Percentile curves for body-mass index of Punjabi infants

A K Bhalla1, B N Walia

  • 1Advanced Pediatrics Center, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.

Indian Pediatrics
|June 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

This study tracked Body Mass Index (BMI) in Punjabi infants, finding a rapid increase in the first six months, followed by stabilization. These growth patterns differ from Western infants, offering a new reference for infant adiposity assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Establishing normative growth data is crucial for assessing infant health.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) is a key indicator of adiposity in infants.
  • Understanding population-specific growth patterns is essential for accurate interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the percentile distance growth pattern of Body Mass Index (BMI) in Punjabi male and female infants.
  • To compare infant BMI growth trajectories between sexes and with Western populations.
  • To provide reference percentile grids for assessing infant adiposity in the first year of life.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study design was employed.
  • 154 Punjabi infants (86 male, 68 female) aged 0-12 months were recruited from a Growth Clinic.
  • Nude body weight and crown-heel length were measured monthly by a single investigator.

Main Results:

  • Mean BMI at birth was 12.2 kg/m² for males and 12.5 kg/m² for females, increasing to 16.5 kg/m² for both sexes by 12 months.
  • Infant BMI showed a rapid increase from birth to approximately six months, followed by a plateau until 12 months.
  • These BMI trends differed from Western infants, who exhibited a continuous increase throughout the first year; sex differences were not significant.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides percentile grids for BMI in Punjabi infants, representing a healthy, well-nourished population.
  • These grids can be utilized to evaluate the adiposity status of male and female infants during their first year.
  • The findings highlight population-specific variations in infant BMI growth patterns.
Abstract

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