Body mass index reference curves for Chinese 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.