GROWTH OF PAKISTANI CHILDREN IN RELATION TO THE 1990 GROWTH STANDARDS

This study was designed to compare the growth of Pakistani schoolchild ren in the UK with the 1990 UK growth standards. Measurements of heigh t, weight, and sitting height were performed on 785 Pakistani schoolch ildren aged 5-14 years with the mean values for each age and sex being plotted on the UK growth standards. The results were expressed as SD scores relative to the 1990 reference data. The mean height for the bo ys was only 0.2 SD scores below the mean for the new growth standards with the mean height for the girls being 0.4 SD scores below the mean. The mean values for weight and body mass index were 0.3 and 0.5 SD sc ores less than the mean for boys and girls respectively. This study de monstrates that the growth of Pakistani schoolchildren in the UK is co mparable to the 1990 UK growth standards with only minor differences. It is not safe to assume that short stature or low body weight in a Pa kistani child is due to his or her ethnic background.