Abstract
We measured heights and weights of 5056 children, from birth to 18 years of age, in the vicinity served by our hospital. On all children body mass index (BMI) was calculated (Kg/m2). Children younger than 3 years of age were measured in the recumbent position, older children were measured by an upright portable harpenden stadiometer. All children were measured barefoot with light underwear. Ages in children younger than 2 years were calculated in 3 months intervals, in older children the age was calculated in yearly intervals. Heights were normally distributed in both sexes in all age groups. Heights were normally distributed up to the age of 6. In children older than 6, skewness to the right in weights was noted in both sexes. Log transformation of weight data in children older than 6 years of age gave a normal distribution. BMI beat fitted with a 4th degree polynom, were BMI decreased progressively up to the age of 6 and increased progressively thereafter. It is possible that the skewness to the right of weight measurements can be explained by environmental factors like food consumption habits in a society in which under-nutrition is rare and overfeeding is a problem. This can also explain the progressive increase in BMI which can be as a result of a greater increase in weight gain as compared to height gain.
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Zadik, Z., Dovev, R. ARE HEIGHTS AND HEIGHTS NORMALLY DISTRIBUTED?. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S54 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00307
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00307