Secular Change in Growth over One Decade (1980-1990) in Shanghai Infants

Abstract

The aims of this study were to describe secular changes in body size in Shanghai infants, to compare the growth pattern between Shanghai children and Swedish children, and to explore the association of growth rate with parental body size, feeding practice and child health status. The study series consisted of 6,018 longitudinally followed full-term children, born between 1st January 1980 and 31st December 1990 in Fenglin Community, Shanghai. The data clearly show a positive secular trend in growth in Shanghai over the decade of observation; at 12 months, the mean increase in weight and length were 0.32 kg and 0.64 cm, and at 24 months they were 0.54 kg and 1.29 cm. The general growth pattern observed in the children in comparison with the Swedish reference was of fast growth in the first few months of life, and faltering between 9 and 24 months of age. Age at introduction of solid food, weaning age and parental body size were related to growth velocity in the first two years. There was little cumulative effect of diarrhoea on growth in the first two years of life.

Estimating secular changes in longitudinal growth patterns underlying adult height with the QEPS model: the Grow Up Gothenburg cohorts

“…26 Height at 2 years of age was also found to be greater for boys in the 1990 cohort than in the 1974 cohort, consistent with previous reports from other European countries based on repeated use of cross-sectional data. 15,30,31 In addition, our results are consistent with the longitudinal studies of total growth for growth patterns by Xu et al 32 showing increased growth in height and weight, together with increased birth A faster tempo of early growth (in the present study expressed as a faster Etimescale) leads to an earlier transition between infancy and childhood (ICT) growth estimated by the ICP model. 4,11,18,33 Earlier timing of ICT has been related to increased adult height.…”