{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Updated Japanese growth references for infants and preschool children, based on historical, ethnic and environmental characteristics.
{Author}: Kato N;Takimoto H;Yokoyama T;Yokoya S;Tanaka T;Tada H;
{Journal}: Acta Paediatr
{Volume}: 103
{Issue}: 6
{Year}: Jun 2014
{Factor}: 4.056
{DOI}: 10.1111/apa.12587
{Abstract}: OBJECTIVE: To provide updated growth references for Japanese children from birth to 6 years of age, for use in both growth monitoring and child care.
METHODS: We analysed data from two national representative surveys that provided cross-sectional data on 3000 areas in the 2005 national census and longitudinal data from 136 hospitals. Growth references for length/height, weight, head circumference and chest circumference were constructed using the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method, with estimates of the L, M and S parameters. These updated values were then compared with growth references published by the World Health Organization.
RESULTS: The 3rd, 50th and 97th smoothed percentile values of length/height, weight, head circumference and chest circumference for boys and girls from birth to 6 years are presented. The comparisons show some large differences in median measurements between the charts.
CONCLUSIONS: Our growth references are based on a current, nationally representative sample of Japanese children. The results provide deep insight into child growth from a historical, ethnic and environmental point of view.