REFERENCE VALUES FOR INCREASE IN HEIGHT A ND WEIGHT, AND GROWTHS RATEFOR BELGIAN BOYS AND GIRLS AGED 3-18 YEARS

Background. Belgian growth standards have until now been based on cros s-sectional studies. This paper describes the first Belgian longitudin al growth standards for height and height velocity and recent cross-se ctional standards of weight-for-age. Population and methods. The study was conducted between 1955 and 1975, initially on 259 Belgian boys an d girls born in Brussels between 1955 and 1958. Only 48 boys and 50 gi rls were still being checked for height and weight at the end of the s tudy. The distance charts show the classical centile lines; the height standards are provided with growth curves for the typical early avera ge and late-maturing child in the population. The velocity charts show centiles for whole-year increments in height. Individual-type velocit y curves are also provided. Results. Comparison between these standard s and those for British children shows that the Belgian children (esse ntially the girls) are taller than the British, probably due to more r apid maturation.