Secular change in growth over one decade (1980-1990) in Shanghai infants

The aims of this study were to describe secular changes in body size in Sha nghai infants, to compare the growth pattern between Shanghai children and Swedish children, and to explore the association of growth rate with parent al body size, feeding practice and child health status. The study series co nsisted of 6,018 longitudinally followed full-term children, born between 1 (st) January 1980 and 31(st) December 1990 in Fenglin Community, Shanghai, The data clearly show a positive secular trend in growth in Shanghai over t he decade of observation; at 12 months, the mean increase in weight and len gth mere 0.32 kg and 0.64 cm, and at 24 months they were 0.53 kg and 1.29 c m, The general growth pattern observed in the children in comparison with t he Swedish reference was of fast growth in the first few months of life, an d faltering between 9 and 24 months of age. Age at introduction of solid fo od, weaning age and parental body size were related to growth velocity in t he first two years. There was little cumulative effect of diarrhoea on grow th in the first two years of life.