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Canadian babies and toddlers are heavier and longer than WHO Child Growth Standards

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Healthy Canadian infants and toddlers are heavier and longer than the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards (CGS) according to a new study by researchers at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and St. Michael’s Hospital.

In 2006, the WHO released universal CGS, intended to describe the optimal growth of children. The WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study took place between 1997 and 2003, and included children from Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the USA, who were deemed to be free of health or environmental constraints on growth, such as, maternal smoking or malnutrition.

“Measuring a child’s weight and height is an important and routine aspect of monitoring early growth, but the WHO CGS may not reflect the growth of healthy Canadian children,” says Dr. Joel Ray, lead author on the study and a researcher at ICES and the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital.

The study published today in Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology compared the WHO-CGS to the postnatal growth of 9,964 healthy Ontarian children up to 2-years-old between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2013, including various feeding practices and maternal place of birth.

The study found:

  • Canadian children were markedly longer than the WHO-CGS before 18 months, regardless of feeding practice.
  • Canadian children had a higher 50th percentile (i.e., median) weight at birth, and again, after 6 months.
  • By age 2 years, the 50th percentile weight of Canadian males was 823 grams heavier than the WHO-CGS 50th percentile.

The researchers add that the differences in percentiles of weight, length and BMI of young Canadian children compared to the WHO-CGS, regardless of infant feeding practice may impact how the “normal” growth of Canadian children is interpreted.

“Differences in growth of Canadian children compared to the WHO 2006 Child Growth Standards,” was published today in Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology.

Author block: Alison L. Park, Karen Tu and Joel G. Ray for the Canadian Curves Consortium.

The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) is an independent, non-profit organization that uses population-based health information to produce knowledge on a broad range of healthcare issues. Our unbiased evidence provides measures of health system performance, a clearer understanding of the shifting healthcare needs of Ontarians, and a stimulus for discussion of practical solutions to optimize scarce resources. ICES knowledge is highly regarded in Canada and abroad, and is widely used by government, hospitals, planners, and practitioners to make decisions about care delivery and to develop policy. For the latest ICES news, follow us on Twitter: @ICESOntario

St. Michael’s Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future healthcare professionals in 29 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the hospital’s recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael's Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Deborah Creatura
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Kelly O’Brien
Communications Advisor – Media
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