BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Growth curves require regular updates due to secular trends in linear growth. We constructed contemporary growth curves, assessed secular trends in height, and defined body mass index (BMI) cut-off points for thinness, overweight, and obesity in Finnish children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mixed cross-sectional/longitudinal data of 73,659 healthy subjects aged 0-20 years (born 1983-2008) were collected from providers in the primary health care setting. Growth references for length/height-for-age, weight-for-length/height, and BMI-for-age were fitted using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS). BMI percentile curves passing through BMIs 30, 25, 18.5, 17, and 16 kg/m(2) at the age of 18 years were calculated to define limits for obesity, overweight, and various grades of thinness. RESULTS: Increased length/height-for-age was seen in virtually all age-groups when compared to previous Finnish growth data from 1959 to 1971. Adult height was increased by 1.9 cm in girls and 1.8 cm in boys. The largest increases were seen during the peripubertal years: up to 2.8 cm in girls and 5.6 cm in boys. Median weight-for-length/height had not increased. CONCLUSIONS: New Finnish references for length/height-for-age, weight-for-length/height, and BMI-for-age were constructed and should be implemented to monitor growth of children in Finland.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Growth curves require regular updates due to secular trends in linear growth. We constructed contemporary growth curves, assessed secular trends in height, and defined body mass index (BMI) cut-off points for thinness, overweight, and obesity in Finnish children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Mixed cross-sectional/longitudinal data of 73,659 healthy subjects aged 0-20 years (born 1983-2008) were collected from providers in the primary health care setting. Growth references for length/height-for-age, weight-for-length/height, and BMI-for-age were fitted using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS). BMI percentile curves passing through BMIs 30, 25, 18.5, 17, and 16 kg/m(2) at the age of 18 years were calculated to define limits for obesity, overweight, and various grades of thinness. RESULTS: Increased length/height-for-age was seen in virtually all age-groups when compared to previous Finnish growth data from 1959 to 1971. Adult height was increased by 1.9 cm in girls and 1.8 cm in boys. The largest increases were seen during the peripubertal years: up to 2.8 cm in girls and 5.6 cm in boys. Median weight-for-length/height had not increased. CONCLUSIONS: New Finnish references for length/height-for-age, weight-for-length/height, and BMI-for-age were constructed and should be implemented to monitor growth of children in Finland.
Authors: Anna Viitasalo; Jussi Pihlajamäki; Jussi Paananen; Mustafa Atalay; Virpi Lindi; Timo A Lakka Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2016-01-12 Impact factor: 3.756
Authors: Anna Viitasalo; Aino-Maija Eloranta; Mustafa Atalay; Stefano Romeo; Jussi Pihlajamäki; Timo A Lakka Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2016-07-13 Impact factor: 3.756
Authors: Henrikki Nordman; Raimo Voutilainen; Tomi Laitinen; Leena Antikainen; Jarmo Jääskeläinen Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2018-02-28 Impact factor: 3.756
Authors: Hanna Lagström; Samuli Rautava; Helena Ollila; Anne Kaljonen; Olli Turta; Johanna Mäkelä; Chloe Yonemitsu; Julia Gupta; Lars Bode Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2020-04-01 Impact factor: 7.045