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Growth of Pakistani children in relation to the 1990 growth standards
A M Kelly1, N J Shaw, A M Thomas
1City Hospital, Birmingham.
Insights
Pakistani schoolchildren in the UK show growth comparable to UK standards, with minor differences in height and weight. This suggests that short stature in Pakistani children isn't solely due to ethnicity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Growth and Development
- Anthropometry
- Public Health Nutrition
Background:
- Assessing growth patterns in diverse pediatric populations is crucial for identifying potential health disparities.
- Establishing reference growth standards is essential for accurate monitoring of child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the growth parameters (height, weight, sitting height) of Pakistani schoolchildren residing in the UK against established 1990 UK growth standards.
- To determine if ethnic background alone accounts for observed differences in growth metrics.
Main Methods:
- Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, and sitting height were collected from 785 Pakistani schoolchildren aged 5-14 years.
- Mean values for each age and sex were calculated and plotted against the 1990 UK growth standards.
- Results were expressed as standard deviation (SD) scores relative to the reference data.
Main Results:
- Pakistani boys' mean height was 0.2 SD below the UK standard; girls' mean height was 0.4 SD below.
- Mean weight and body mass index (BMI) for both boys and girls were within 0.3 to 0.5 SD of the UK standard.
- The growth of Pakistani schoolchildren in the UK closely aligns with the 1990 UK growth standards.
Conclusions:
- The growth of Pakistani schoolchildren in the UK is comparable to the 1990 UK growth standards, with only minor deviations observed.
- It is not accurate to assume that short stature or low body weight in a Pakistani child is solely attributable to their ethnic background.
- These findings highlight the importance of using appropriate growth references and considering environmental factors over ethnicity in pediatric assessments.
Abstract:
This study was designed to compare the growth of Pakistani schoolchildren in the UK with the 1990 UK growth standards. Measurements of height, weight, and sitting height were performed on 785 Pakistani schoolchildren aged 5-14 years with the mean values for each age and sex being plotted on the UK growth standards. The results were expressed as SD scores relative to the 1990 reference data. The mean height for the boys was only 0.2 SD scores below the mean for the new growth standards with the mean height for the girls being 0.4 SD scores below the mean. The mean values for weight and body mass index were 0.3 and 0.5 SD scores less than the mean for boys and girls respectively. This study demonstrates that the growth of Pakistani schoolchildren in the UK is comparable to the 1990 UK growth standards with only minor differences. It is not safe to assume that short stature or low body weight in a Pakistani child is due to his or her ethnic background.