Body mass index reference curves for Chinese children

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S S Leung1, T J Cole, L Y Tse

  • 1Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, PR China.

Annals of Human Biology
|April 9, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Reference curves for body mass index (BMI) in Hong Kong Chinese children aged 0-18 years were established. Findings indicate lower obesity rates compared to Western children, with early growth patterns similar to Japanese children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Anthropometry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Establishing accurate growth reference curves is crucial for monitoring child development.
  • Previous growth data for Hong Kong Chinese children was limited, necessitating updated reference standards.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To construct reference curves for body mass index (BMI) for Chinese children in Hong Kong from birth to 18 years.
  • To compare the growth patterns of Hong Kong Chinese children with international standards.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Hong Kong Growth Survey 1993, including weight and height measurements.
  • Sample size: 11,797 boys and 12,168 girls.
  • Employed the LMS (Least Mean Squares) method for smoothing percentile curves.

Main Results:

  • Developed reference curves for BMI in Hong Kong Chinese children (0-18 years).
  • Observed a distinct growth pattern: rise to 6 months, trough at 6 years, followed by a rise towards adulthood.
  • Hong Kong Chinese children, especially girls, exhibited lower obesity rates compared to US, British, French, and Swedish children.
  • Median BMI curves in the first two years were comparable to Japanese children.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides essential BMI reference curves for Hong Kong Chinese children.
  • Findings suggest a unique growth trajectory and lower obesity prevalence in this population compared to Western counterparts.
  • Early childhood growth similarities exist between Hong Kong Chinese and Japanese children.

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