Growth velocity standards from longitudinally measured infants of age 0-2 years born in Shiraz, southern Iran.

This paper presents growth velocity data for a cohort of 317 infants (164 girls and 153 boys) born in Shiraz, southern Iran, in 1996 and followed longitudinally for 2 years. The growth velocity of five anthropometric measurements (height, weight, arm, head, and chest circumferences) declined rapidly from 2 weeks to 7 months of age and less steeply thereafter for both sexes. Growth velocities for boys were higher than girls in the first months but did not differ significantly later on. However, growth velocity centiles for girls lie below those for boys throughout the age range studied. Weight velocities in the Iranian infants were significantly lower than for corresponding infants in the U.K., the Middle East, and Africa, but height velocities were generally higher.