Body mass index reference curves for Chinese children.

The Hong Kong Growth Survey 1993 provided data for the construction of reference curves for body mass index (BMI) of Chinese children from birth to 18 years. Data on weight and height was obtained from 11797 boys and 12168 girls. The LMS method was used to smooth the percentile curves. These curves showed a definite physiological rising pattern to a peak at 6 months, then fell to a trough at 6 years, before another rise towards adulthood. Compared to published reports from the US, Britain, France and Sweden, Hong Kong Chinese children, particularly the girls, were less obese. In the first 2 years median curves of Hong Kong Chinese were similar to those of the Japanese.