SWEDISH POPULATION REFERENCE-STANDARDS FOR HEIGHT, WEIGHT AND BODY-MASS INDEX ATTAINED AT 6 TO 16 YEARS (GIRLS) OR 19 YEARS (BOYS)

Swedish population reference standards for height, weight and body mas s index (BMI) attained at 6 to 16 years (girls) or 19 years (boys) are presented. Data were obtained from two independent nationwide samples of Swedish children; one (740 children) born in 1955, the other (2907 children) born in 1967. The weights of the children born in 1955 were adjusted to equal those born in 1967; heights did not differ. These r eference standards refer therefore to Swedish children born at around 1970. The observations were fitted by the power transformation, or L, M, S method of Cole and Green. Weights and BMIs were thus normalized a nd valid SD scores for individuals obtained. Gentile charts are given for clinical use. The means of the present, nationwide standards were 1-2 cm and 1-2 kg greater than those of the Solna-based standards curr ently in use.