Very low birth weight and growth to age 8 years. I: Weight and height.

We determined the heights and weights at ages 2, 5, and 8 years for the following three cohorts of children: group 1 with birth weights between 500 and 999 g; group 2 with birth weights between 1000 and 1499 g; and group 3 with birth weights more than 2500 g. By age 8 years, group 3 children were significantly heavier and taller than all children in groups 1 and 2 combined; group 1 children were significantly shorter than those in group 2, but their weights were similar. From ages 2 to 5 years, annual increments in weight and height were similar in all three groups; however, between ages 5 and 8 years, children in group 3 grew faster than those in groups 1 and 2 combined, and children in group 1 had smaller height increments than those in group 2. Of children with birth weights less than 1500 g, with a weight or height under the 10th percentile at age 2 years, only approximately one half were still below the 10th percentile for the corresponding measurement at age 8 years. Health variables determined before birth, such as maternal height or birth weight ratio, were more important than health after birth in predicting a height or weight below the 10th percentile at age 8 years in children with birth weights less than 1500 g.