[Secular growth trends in children and youth of Warsaw in the last twenty years].

The aim of the study was to preliminarly evaluate the secular trend in Warsaw children and youth during the last 20 years. Mean values of body height, weight and chest circumference and weight to height percentile curves of children and youth aged I month to 18 years, examined in Department of Growth and Development of Children and Youth of the Institute of Mother and Child in Warsaw in 1976-80 and 1996-99, were compared. Secular changes in body height and weight and especially in chest circumference were observed in the studied population during the last 20 years. In children and youth growth acceleration occurred, but in infants a deceleration was observed. At all ages a slight tendency toward slimness was visible. The changes in the values of anthropometric growth indices, which occurred during the last 20 years have shown that there is a need for prospective growth monitoring and upgrading of growth standards.